The Red Roosters (rock / blues band from Osijek, Croatia) is more than just a group - it is a way of life! Its music is a mixture of various influences and with own compositions sound like classics, at the first listening. Believe me, although I can't be objective because I'm very close to the group, they got Soul!!, something very rare in contemporary music. And their songs are not just a mere tribute to their idols, I would dare to say they are even exceeding them at their best! These works (take a listen and you'll understand) have a certain warmth that I miss so much each time I get a chance to listen to the radio or new stuff on TV. But I'll leave that to you, bring your own verdict while I tell you their story in short...

The Red Roosters are the ultimate r&b / rock and roll / blues band from Osijek, Croatia. The band was formed in the Summer of 2003 as a result of plans of Josip Horvat (guitar and back vocals) and Ljudevit Lausin (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), two friends from high school, hooking up with Ivan Radoja (bass guitar and vocals) after a long and frustrating search for a proper bass player. Soon the band had a complete line up when Kresimir Pajtler (piano & keyboards) and Bojan Psenianik (drums) joined the following months. After a few months they spent on rehearsing and shaping their style, the band held its first concert in local rock club. Followed a change of drummer (Milan Ivanic took the job in fall of 2004).

The Red Roosters recorded a promo disc - live on one of their rehearsals. It featured 7 tracks of which one was their original, Lausin's boogie rocker "Good evenin' people". The band gigged constantly during that time and soon earned a name as a live attraction. As a way of payment for a concert held at their hometown's square organized by their local radio station, The Roosters got a chance of recording one song in a professional studio. They settled on the track named "I was wrong", a beatlesque tune penned by Lausin and after finishing added it to the previously recorded tracks.

The Red Roosters started to get attention from across the country and during the 2005 / 2006 season they visited most of the bigger cities in Croatia. After one more lineup change (they become a quartet with Pajtler handling the drums), in May of 2006, the band members again started recording session (in Lausin's old house). This time the focus was on their own compositions. They completed the disc after a four month stretch and their new promo CD contained 15 songs of which 10 were their own.

Their fast spreading audience granted it with enthusiasm and some fans even bought the CD (although it wasn't published by anyone). Later that year, they debuted on national TV with "I was wrong" video made for teenage TV show. They changed lineup again at the end of 2006. Darko Susovsek (bass) and Dino Bandic (drums) joined as replacements and that's the lineup that works now.

At the moment, the band members are working on demos for some new songs (fenomenal stuff I'd say!). Their biggest problem is presenting their music to the larger number of possibly interested listeners and I sincerely hope they shall overcame it! (Elmo Lewis)

The Red Roosters line-up: Ljudevit Laušin, Josip Horvat, Goran Pavlović, Milan Ivanić

Kontakti: www.myspace.com/theredroostersosijek