Albanian rock

Albanian rock describes music in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and other Albanian-inhabited areas closely related to western rock. It has a wide variety of subgenres like Pop Rock, Alternative Rock, Hard Rock and Metal.

History

1960s

American and British influence marked Albanian rock music in its first steps. The first known Albanian rock band was called Blue Star appeared in 1964 in Prishtinë, later renamed to Modestët (The Modests).

1970s

In the beginning of the 1970s, the rock scene present in Mitrovicë, Kosovo (then Yugoslavia) was made of Albanian and Serbian bands. Some of these bands, like MAK had both Albanian and Serbian musicians. Another bi-ethnic band was FAN also based in Mitrovicë. In 1978 the famous guitarist&composer Nexhat Macula formed one of the best Albanian rock bands of all time, called "TNT" in Mitrovica, from then until the year 2006 the band has published 10 Albums in total.

1980s

Prishtinë was the most important city for Albanian rock music during the 1980s. In the mainstream circles Gjurmët (founded 1981) were among favorites. Their combination of rock with "muzikë qytetare" laid the foundation of Albanian rock. Other known bands that formed during this period were Ilirët, 403, Telex, Seleksioni 039, Minatori and Menkis.