In the mid-1980s, Psihomodo Pop gained the attention of Yugoslav audience and media with their Ramones-influenced punk rock sound, energetic live performances, and cross-dressing image of their frontman Davor Gobac.
With the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, the band continued their activity in independent Croatia by releasing several commercially successful albums, turning towards garage and alternative rock.
The band has released 12 studio albums up to date, featuring a number of popular covers of songs by international artists, and has maintained a cult following in all former Yugoslav republics.
Psihomodo Pop was formed in 1982 from the remnants of bands Neron (Nero), Rokfeler (Rockefeller) and Klinska Pomora (Klin Plague).
[1] By the mid-1980s, the band has reached the status of an attractive live act, entering the finals of the YU Rock Moment festival,[1] although the members' mandatory stints in the Yugoslav army caused discontinuity in their work.
[1] In 1985, the group made their discographic debut, appearing on PGP-RTB various artists compilation Demo Top Vol.3 with the song "Nema nje (Zauvijek)" ("She's Gone (Forever)").
[1] The song featured brass section, Film member Mladen Juričić on guitar, and actresses Mira Furlan, Dubravka Ostojić and Stjepka Kavurić on backing vocals.
[1] The long period of breaking through had an effect on the group's lineup, with Banjeglav and Kepenski leaving the band, the latter dedicating himself to his journalistic career.
[1] For a short period of time, the band worked on their demo recording with writer and former Buldožer member Davor Slamnig playing the guitar,[1] before they were, in 1985, joined by guitarists Saša Novak Radulović, formerly of Nužni Izlaz (Emergency Exit), and Vlatko Ćavar "Brada", formerly of Ritam s Ovoga Svijeta (Rhythm of This World).
[1] At the time, Gobac gained significant popularity owing to his role of Milan Blenton in the musical TV show Stereovizija (Stereovision), for which he recorded the song "Grički izotop" ("Grič Isotope").
[1] The album was produced by Ivan "Piko" Stančić and brought a number of nationwide hits – "Kad sam imao 16" ("When I Was 16"), "Frida" (written by Slamnig during his short-time stint with the band), "Ja volim samo sebe" ("I Love Only Myself") and the new version of "Nema nje (Zauvijek)".
[1] Upon album release, the songs "Volim crtane filmove" ("I Love Cartoons"), "Da nam živi rad" ("Long Live Work") and "Wunderkind" became minor hits.
[1] The album also included the band's versions of the Hill country blues song "You Gotta Move" and Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting for the Man".
[8] The album featured the song "Zagrebačka noć" ("Zagreb Night"), written by Film frontman Jura Stublić in 1979, but previously unrecorded.
[8] In March 2001, following the October 2000 overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, the band performed in Serbia for the first time since 1991, holding concerts in Novi Sad, Belgrade and Subotica.
[8] Guests on the album included Vodička Glazba orchestra, drummer Tin Ostreš (of Pips, Chips & Videoclips), trumbeter Igor Pavlica and trombonist Nikola Santro (both formerly of Haustor), pianist Davor Lozić, and others.
[8] The album was produced by Srđan Sekulović "Skansi" and brought several minor hits – "Zločest k'o pas" ("Evil as a Dog"), "Supstance" ("Substances"), a cover of The Beatles song "Rain" entitled "Kiša", and "Donna", the latter written by the band's original guitarist Neven Kepenski when he was 15.
[8] On 26 June 2014, Psihomodo Pop, alongside the bands Tempera and Dža ili Bu, performed as an opening act for Billy Idol on the Belgrade Calling festival.
[8] After the sudden death of drummer Tigran Kalebota on 11 December 2017,[8] Tin Ostreš, formerly of Pips, Chips & Videoclips, took his place in the band.
[10] A number of songs featured brass section and soul-influenced sound, with guest appearances by Dean Melki (violin), Darko Sedak-Benčić (trumpet), Miron Hauser (trombone) and Vojkan Jocić (saxophone).