The Hungarian rock band Omega became the first of its kind among Eastern European performers of this direction.
Hungarian musicians have shown that rock can develop even in socialist countries. True, censorship put endless spokes in the wheels, but this did them even more credit - the rock band withstood the conditions of strict political censorship in their socialist homeland.
Many famous musicians, faced with difficulties, were forced to cease their existence or change direction in the XNUMXst century.
How it all began?
September 23, 1962 was officially considered the date of birth of the team. It was on this day that the Omega band performed their first concert in front of a small audience at the Polytechnic Institute.
The backbone of the group can be considered finally formed with the appearance of bass guitarist Tamas Mihaj in the Omega group, keyboardist and composer Gabor Presser joined the group along with him.
Student Anna Adamis was chosen as the author of the texts in their native Hungarian language.
Their creative tandem with Gabor is not in vain considered the most successful in the history of Hungarian rock music. The group acquired a classic look after the arrival of another legendary member - György Molnar, who took the vacant position of a solo guitarist.
So, the groups Omega, Illes, Metro have become symbols of youth culture not only in Hungary, but also in other countries of Eastern Europe.
Initially, rock performers in Hungary processed "for themselves" and used hits from Western musicians.
The first single released by Omega was a cover version of the famous single Paint It Black Rolling Stones, where the vocal part belongs to Janos Kobor.
The popularity of the Omega group outside the homeland
In 1968, the group reached a new level of popularity - international. The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic groups came to Hungary on tour.
John Martin (the band's manager) was impressed by the local guys who participated in the "opening act" concert. He liked them to such an extent that they were invited with a return creative visit to the UK.
Omega's performance in London went off with a bang, and they were congratulated backstage by George Harrison and Eric Clapton. It was a great honor for young rising stars.
After a brilliant performance on tour in London, the guys were able to conclude an agreement with Decca Records to record their first album with the eloquent title Omega Red Star From Hungary.
However, the native government could not allow the group, which was increasing in popularity, to leave and, by order of order, demanded to return to their homeland.
So the second album was released, but the first in Hungarian Trombitas Fredi was released with a circulation of 100 thousand copies in a short time.
The next album was "10000 Lepes" with the most beautiful and famous ballad Gyongyhaiju Lany (The Girl With The Pearl's Hair), which became the hallmark of the group. For her, the song performers each received a motorcycle at a festival in Tokyo.
And in 1995, the Scorpions remade it for themselves, calling it White Dove.
The next album Ejszakai Orszagut was the last one in the usual traditional line-up. Immediately after its release, the composition of the team thinned significantly - Gabor Presser, Anna Adamisch and Jozsef Lauks left. They created their own group.
"Gray Stripe" by Omega
Here it would have been possible to panic, but the guys managed. Vocalist Janos Kobor wrote the lyrics to the songs Unfaithful friends / Sad Story, and the music was written by György Molnar and Tamas Mihaly, publishing after the departed.
The group was joined by the invited ones - drummer Ferenc Debreceny and keyboardist Laszlo Benkö, and the lyrics were already written by the poet Peter Shuyi. Since 1970, the composition of the group has not changed any more, and has been preserved to this day.
The next blow of fate was the finished album, uncensored and sent to the far shelf in the archive, until 1998.
In 1972, there was another disappointment - the new creation did not give the desired results.
New ups and downs of the group
This was the end of the black streak - in the second half of the 1970s, there were new ups in musicians. Critics attribute this circumstance to the fact that the Omega group has finally found its own unique style.
The year 1980 was marked by the reconciliation of former friends-foes and colleagues, they performed on the same stage (three groups): Omega, LGT, Beatrice. The culmination was the final performance with the performance of the common hit and the anthem of the rock bands Gyongyhaiju Lany.
In 1990, the team went on a seven-year break. A triumphant return to the creative path occurred in 1997. The concert, held at the Nepstadion stadium, gathered 70 spectators.
A star named Gammapolis
No wonder the Omega group is called a pioneer and inspirer. By their example, they increased confidence in other musicians, showed that rock can sound not only in English.
Not every performer can boast that one of the stars in the sky is dedicated to his creation.
The name will be immortalized thanks to a 45th anniversary gift from astronomers who named a star in the constellation Ursa Major Gammapolis. This is the name of the best album of the Omega group.
