Omega was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1962, which has been described as the most successful Hungarian band in history.[1] They have released more than 20 albums both in Hungarian and English. After several early personnel changes, their classic lineup came together in 1971 and was intact for more than forty years. Singer János Kóbor was with the band continuously from 1962 until his death in 2021; keyboardist/singer László Benkő was present from 1962 until his death in 2020. Guitarist György Molnár and bassist Tamás Mihály joined in 1967, and drummer Ferenc Debreczeni joined in 1971. Omega won several prestigious awards for their contributions to Hungarian culture.
Omega was formed in Budapest in 1962 by Benkő and Kóbor, with trombonist Győző Bánkúti, drummer Tamás Künsztler, saxophonist Péter Láng, guitarist Ferenc Tornóczky, and bassist István Varsányi. The members had all been in previous bands at the same grammar school.[2][3][4] Their first concert was at Budapest's University of Technology and Economics in September 1962.[5][6] The band went through many personnel changes in its first several years, and mostly played covers of British rock songs.[1]
Omega first began to write their own songs with the arrival in 1967 of keyboardist/singer Gábor Presser, who was adept in rock, jazz, and folk songwriting.[1] Guitarist György Molnár and bassist/singer Tamás Mihály also joined in 1967. The following year, the band was invited to tour England, where they recorded their debut album Omega: Red Star from Hungary with English lyrics for Decca Records. Later that year, the album was re-recorded in Hungarian and released in the band's home country as Trombitás Frédi és a Rettenetes Emberek (Trumpeter Freddy and the Terrible People).[1][7] The band's sound during this period included experiments in psychedelic rock. Their 1969 song "Gyöngyhajú lány" ("Pearls In Her Hair") was an international hit, and was later covered by the Scorpions (as "White Dove").[1] During this period, members of Omega also gained notice for backing several Hungarian pop singers, most notably Sarolta Zalatnay.[8]
In 1971, Gábor Presser and drummer József Laux (who had joined in 1964) left Omega and formed the progressive rock band Locomotiv GT. (Tamás Somló, who had played saxophone for Omega from 1964 to 1968, became bassist for Locomotiv GT in 1973,)[9] Presser was not replaced, while the band recruited new drummer Ferenc Debreczeni. The resulting lineup of Kóbor (vocals), Benkő (keyboards/vocals), Molnár (guitar), Mihály (bass/vocals), and Debreczeni (drums) remained intact for more than 40 years until Mihály retired from touring in 2014. Presser's jazz- and folk-oriented keyboards and songwriting had been dominant in Omega's sound; after his departure the band moved toward progressive rock and space rock with Benkő's classically-oriented keyboards and Molnár's heavy guitar as the focus.[1]
This incarnation of Omega released ten more albums starting in 1972 until taking an extended break in 1987. Most of those albums were released in both Hungarian and English versions. During the 1970s in particular, some of the band's albums were restricted or banned in Hungary due to the Communist regime's view that hard rock music was subversive.[10][bettersourceneeded]However, they were able to tour in East Germany and recorded some songs in German for their fans in that country.[1] During this period they were also noted for science fiction-oriented lyrics.[11] After their thirteenth album Babylon in 1987, Omega went on hiatus so the members could focus on side projects.[1]
Omega performing in 2010 (L-R: Debreceni, Kóbor, Molnár, Mihály, Benkő)
Omega regrouped in 1994 for a major concert at Népstadion in Budapest, with special appearances by former members Gábor Presser and Tamás Somló, plus Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine of the Scorpions.[12] Following the collapse of Communism in Hungary, most of Omega's previously suppressed albums were released on CD and generated great interest in the band as it returned to performing in 1994.[1] Their first new album after reuniting was Trans and Dance in 1995.[13]
In later years, the nation of Hungary bestowed many awards on the band for their important contributions to the country's music and culture, including the Liszt Ferenc Prize in 1986,[14] the Hungarian National Award in 1998,[1] and the Kossuth Prize in 2013.[15] For their 50th anniversary in 2012, Omega toured with a symphony under the name "Omega Rhapsody". Longtime bassist Tamás Mihály, who had been with the band since 1967, retired from live performances in 2014, though his departure was not officially announced until 2017.[16] The band continued to tour regularly with a rotating cast of sidemen, and the album 55 - Volt Egyszer Egy Vadkelet was released in 2017.
Founding keyboardist/singer László Benkő died at age 77 on 18 November 2020; he had been with Omega consistently since 1962.[17] Just three days later, on 21 November 2020, longtime bassist Tamás Mihály died at age 73.[18] The album Testamentum was released less than a week later, though its release date had been scheduled long in advance.[19] The album has been described as a "farewell" record and contains contributions from both Benkő and Mihály.[20]
Founding singer János Kóbor died at age 78 on 6 December 2021 after contracting COVID-19.[21][22] The band's manager has indicated that the remaining members will not perform under the Omega name in the future but tribute concerts in different formations may occur.[23] As a finale to the band's 60-year history and in memory of the deceased band members, the remaining musicians together with friends performed as "Omega Testamentum Orchestra" at a three-day festival in Őriszentpéter from August 12 to 14, 2022.[24][25]
Personnel
Members
Last lineup
Ferenc Debreczeni – drums, percussion (1971–1987, 1994–2021)
László Benkő – keyboards, flute, trumpet, lead & backing vocals (1962–1987, 1994–2020; died in 2020)
János Kóbor – lead & backing vocals (1962–1987, 1994–2021; died in 2021)
Tamás Mihály – bass, cello, lead & backing vocals (1967–1987, 1994–2017; died in 2020)
György Molnár – guitars (1967–1987, 1994–2021)
Last touring musicians
Tamás Szekeres – guitars (1994–2007, 2011–2021)
Katy Zee (Kata Szöllösy) – bass (2011–2021)
Albert Földi – keyboards (2011–2021)
Levente Csordás – vocals (2016–2021)
Mónika Bárkányi – vocals (2019–2021)
Former touring musicians
Vivien Minya – vocals, violin (2016–2019)
Miklós Küronya – bass (1998–2013, in the studio; died in 2015)
Zsolt Gömöry – keyboards (1999–2005, 2012–2015)
Béla Jankai – keyboards (2006–2013)
Ildikó Keresztes – vocals (1999–2007)
György Demeter – vocals, acoustic guitar, trumpet, rattle (1999–2007)
Tamás Demeter – vocals, acoustic guitar, trumpet, rattle (1999–2007, deputy for Ildikó Keresztes and György Demeter)
Former members
Győző Bánkúti – trombone (1962)
Tamás Künsztler – drums, percussion (1962–1964)
Péter Láng – saxophone (1962–1963)
Ferenc Tornóczky Sr. – guitars (1962, died in 2020)
István Varsányi – bass (1962–1967)
András Kovacsics – guitars (1962–1967)
László Harmat – saxophone (1963–1964)
József Laux – drums, percussion (1964–1971; died in 2016)
Gábor Presser – keyboards, lead & backing vocals (1967–1971)
200 évvel az utolsó háború után (recorded in 1972, but not released until 1998 due to government censorship; Élő Omega, a fake "live" recording of the original studio material was released instead)
Omega 5 (1973) later remixed, remastered and released as Szvit
Omega 6: Nem tudom a neved (1975); later remixed, remastered and released as Tűzvihar - Stormy Fire
Omega 7: Időrabló (1977);
Omega 8: Csillagok útján (1978); later remixed, remastered and with its English-language version released as Csillagok útján - Skyrover
Gammapolis (1979); later remixed, remastered and with its English-language version released as Gammapolisz - Gammapolis
Omega X: Az arc (1981)
Omega XI (1982)
Omega 12: A föld árnyékos oldalán (1986)
Omega XIII: Babylon (1987)
Trans And Dance (1995); later remixed, remastered and released as Transcendent - Hungarian version
Élő Omega (1972, released instead of their 4th studio album, first LP with Debreczeni on drums; on official band's site is included on the Studio Albums list)
Élő Omega Kisstadion 79 (1979; a 2-LP set)
Live At The Kisstadion 79 (1979; a 2-LP set, including some tracks dubbed with English vocals)
Kisstadion '80 (1981; 5 titles by Omega, and rest of the album by 2 other performers of joint show, Locomotiv GT and Beatrice)
Beatrice is a Hungarian rock band. It was founded in 1969 as a women's band, and played mostly cover songs. In 1971, Nagy Feró joined the band as a frontman. In the following years, the members were gradually replaced, and from 1974 they began to write their own songs in the then popular glam rock style. In order to get a record deal the band became oriented towards disco music from 1976.
Hungarian rock has been a part of the popular music of Hungary since the early 1960s. The first major bands were Illés, Metró and Omega. At the time, rock was not approved of by the Hungarian Communist authorities. In the 1970s, the Communists cracked down on rock, and Illés was banned from recording. Some members of the other bands formed a supergroup called Locomotiv GT, while the band Omega became very popular in Germany.
Metró was a Hungarian rock band in the 1960s and early 1970s. Despite the Communist regime's condemnation of rock music, Metró found success and was able to release an album and appear on some television shows, as were their contemporaries Illés and Omega. The band broke up due to the difficulty of promoting their music under Communism. Some members of Metró later formed the long-running hard rock bands Taurus and Locomotiv GT. Band leader Zorán Sztevanovity has pursued an active solo career.
Locomotiv GT was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1971. Starting out as a progressive rock band, they later experimented with many other styles including jazz, funk, and pop. During their heyday they were one of Hungary's most popular rock bands. The band broke up in 2016 after the death of longtime singer/bassist Tamás Somló.
Locomotiv GT is the debut album of Hungarian rock group Locomotiv GT, released in December 1971.
10000 lépés is the second album by the Hungarian rock band Omega. It was released in 1969.
In 1972 Ringasd el magad, the second album of Hungarian rock group Locomotiv GT was released. Its instrumentation was worked out and rehearsed in Budapest, the album was recorded at MHV Studios also in the Hungarian capital, whereas the running order was put together by the band at a restaurant on Oxford Street, London. Although the style of the band was basically the same, the sound and stylistic diversity of the songs show a considerable progress. While on Locomotiv GT they used electric instruments almost exclusively, the instrumentation of Ringasd el magad is much more complex.
Mindig Magasabbra is the fourth studio album by Hungarian rock band Locomotiv GT, released in 1975. It was their first album with János Karácsony.
Miklós Gábor was a Hungarian actor, most remembered for his roles in films Valahol Európában and Mágnás Miska. He was husband to Éva Ruttkai, and later Éva Vass.
Locomotiv GT V. is the fifth studio album by Hungarian rock band Locomotiv GT. It is the band's first double album, which was released in 1976 and was the last LGT album with drummer József Laux and the last featuring lyricist Anna Adamis. The album was banned due to Laux' immigration to the United States, which was illegal at the time.
Zene — Mindenki másképp csinálja is the sixth studio album by Hungarian rock band Locomotiv GT, released in 1977. It was the first LGT album with new drummer János Solti and lyricist Dusán Sztevánovity.
Mindenki is the seventh Hungarian language studio album by Hungarian rock band Locomotiv GT released in late autumn 1978. The band recorded the album without guest musicians. This was the first Locomotiv GT album without guests since the Mindig magasabbra album in 1975. The album was also released in Czechoslovakia.
Éjszakai országút is the third album by the Hungarian rock band Omega, released in 1970. It was the last band album with keyboardist/vocalist Gábor Presser and drummer József Laux, who departed and formed Locomotiv GT.
Thy Catafalque is an avant-garde metal band formed in Makó, Hungary, later based in Edinburgh, Scotland, after the relocation of its founder.
An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival is a Hungarian musical by composer Gábor Presser, lyricist Anna Adamis and book writer Sándor Pós based on the short novel of the same name by Tibor Déry. The musical premiered in 1973, and being the first successful Hungarian rock musical opened the way for popular music to Hungarian theatres and literature. It is set in a U.S. rock festival and tells a story of a married Hungarian immigrant couple.
János Kristóf Bródy is a Hungarian pop singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer and scriptwriter. Successful both with the bands Illés and Fonográf and in his solo career, writing lyrics for singers like Zsuzsa Koncz or for rock operas like István, a király, he was a major figure of the Hungarian music scene in the 60s–90s.
Hungarian pop is the pop music scene of Hungary. It is often associated with Rezső Seress's song "Gloomy Sunday" which was covered by numerous artists. The most notable artists include Zsuzsa Cserháti, Kati Kovács, Zsuzsa Koncz, Judith Szűcs, Péter Máté, Locomotiv GT, Omega, Neoton Família, Karthago, Jimmy Zámbó. Among the new talents are Kállay Saunders and Linda Király.
Károly Frenreisz (born 8 November 1946, Budapest, Hungary) is a Hungarian rock singer and songwriter.
Gábor Presser is a Kossuth Prize winning Hungarian musician, composer, singer. He was a band member in Locomotiv GT and Omega, and has been a prominent personality in Hungarian pop and rock music.
Tamás István Berki is a Hungarian singer, songwriter, guitarist, drummer, television personality and teacher.
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