E (band)
The band "E" was a Czech experimental rock group from Brno, acting between 1984 and 1997. It belongs to wider scope of alternative, underground and post-punk rock musical genres.
Members
- Vladimír Kokolia - vocals, lyrics, percussion
- Josef Ostřanský - guitar, percussion
- Vladimír Václavek - bass guitar, guitar, percussion
Description
Instrumentalists of the group were Josef Ostřanský and Vladimír Václavek, known from the band Dunaj and from their collaboration with the singer Iva Bittová. Frontman of the group was the singer and lyricist Vladimír Kokolia, known primarily as a painter, graphic artist and cartoonist, currently working as the head teacher of graphic studio 2 of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.
The band's music is based upon, mutually interlocking riffs of both instrumetalists, forming elaborated loops together with simple, but sohisticated contrarhythms. Vladimír Kokolia's role consists in very expressive declamation of immaginative and metaphorical existentialist lyrics, often with sarcastic, achingly intelligent humour.
On the stage, both guitarists were also equipped with simple the drum kit (snare, kick drum, tom and hi-hat) and played those instruments simultaneously while Kokolia sometimes operated the foot electronic percussion rug. Two recorded albums represent only a part of the band's repertoire. "E" band is considered one of the most original and benefitial bands in Czech rock music history.
Discography
- E (Live), Globe International, CD, 1990
- I Adore Nothing (I Believe It Does not Exist), Rachot, CD, 1994
Links
- Vladimír Kokolia official site
- History of the group E (in Czech)
- Vladimír Kokolia's poetry