o! kult

O! KULT was first of all an uncompromisingly direct and politically engaged punk group. It was active from 1982 to 1986. Because of its political engagement, the group O! KULT was one of the more censored and controlled groups in the then Socialist Republic of Slovenian as well as of Yugoslavia. The activity of O! KULT can be divided into two parts, according to their style and content: - punk phase - post industrial phase, when the group changes its name into: Institution O! KULT

O! KULT was first of all an uncompromisingly direct and politically engaged punk group. It was active from 1982 to 1986. Because of its political engagement, the group O! KULT was one of the more censored and controlled groups in the then Socialist Republic of Slovenian as well as of Yugoslavia. The activity of O! KULT can be divided into two parts, according to their style and content: - punk phase - post industrial phase, when the group changes its name into: Institution O! KULT O! KULT was established on May 4 1982 at 3:05pm, on the second anniversary of the death of the president of the then Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, marshal Tito.

The group emerged and was active in Medvode near Ljubljana. The name of the group O! KULT was very carefully selected: O! – as an interjection of approval and of unconditional praise, KULT – as a non-defined name of addressing and praising a cult of personality – unconditional and total leader and creator of the totalitarian system (of left or right orientation). With the choice of their name, the group wanted to call attention to the dialectical opposition and conflicts between the mass, which they represented and emphasized in their explicitly political, socially coloured texts, manifests and statements on the one hand, and the uniformity and ruthlessly in-consistent consideration of accepted political orientations and directives of proclaimed and in the name of higher interests conducted instructions, given either from the congresses of the CP (Communist Party) of Yugoslavia or any other eastern or western party. O! KULT never limited its own creative and reflective inspiration to one side of the so-called “democracy for the people”.

The group O! KULT was established by Brane Zorman, who also wrote the texts, music, concepts and manifests. The first line-up included: Janko Černe - bass, Andrej Petek - guitar, Bogdan Porenta – drums. Each member contributed his creative part to the group's sound. Important shows: Kočevje (first public appearance – May 7 1982) Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana – second and breakthrough appearance (May 13 1982) Disko 112/15 (Student campus Ljubljana) (June 15 and June 23 1982) Novi Rock 1982 (September 10 1982) Hall Šentvid January 21 1983 (live recording of the material: Razredni Boj je edino gibalo zgodovine / Class Struggle is the Only Motive Force of History (ŠKUC 1983) Appearances in Zagreb: Moša Pijade (December 1982), Lapidarij (February 1983), Finale YURM in Kulušič (Jugo rock moment 1983) The group O! KULT finished with its punk phase in 1984.

To great surprise of many fans and critics, it took the so-called pot industrial orientation, which allowed for an incredible spectre of musical possibilities with still highly political texts and manifests and the changed visual image, which were not possible within the ordinary r'n'roll in the first phase of its activity. This new “statement” was emphasized also with the change of the group’s name into Institution O! KULT. Manifesto: WORK! IN THE NAME OF THE REVOLUTION (ARBEIT! IN DER NAMEN DER REVOLUTION, DELO! V IMENU REVOLUCIJE), was written at the same time. High activity of the second phase culminated in the following events: - warm-up band for Einsturzende Neuebauten (Ljubljana Exhibition Centre – Hall B,) - release of a mini vinyl LP for the West Berlin publishing house Dossier records (1986) - solo European tour ARBEIT IN DER NAMEN DER REVOLUTION (Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan) By the end 1986, the Institution O! KULT finally and on its own initiative self-transformed. With this, a platform for the next phase of the on-going project ARBEIT! IN DER NAMEN DER REVOLUTION took place, which presents a shift into an intimate and studio-produced sphere. Only a few demo and studio recordings are preserved from this period, which exist on the tapes of the Radio Student Ljubljana.

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