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Eurovision

Athena

Year 1987, when Hakan & Gökhan Özoguz brothers had seriously taken a great interest in creation of music, it is possible to name the year of a birth of Athena band. At that time both brothers was about eleven years old, and they, as well as many other boys at this age, was much less interested in study at school, than in music creation. At the same time they understood, that they should work hard, if they want to become professional musicians. Therefore brothers had started to study guitar-playing under preceptorship of Ümit Yilbar, the ex-guitarist from Pentagram band. Becoming the beginning guitarists, Hakan and Gökhan had begun search the bass - guitarist and drummer, by putting notices everywhere in the Akmar Passage at Kadikoy. Continuing their working as two persons at the first stage, Hakan and Gökhan wondered around by hiring studios and instruments with some friends of theirs in the beginning years.

To disappointment of the brothers, people which joined to them concerned to their creativity as to hobby. Such fact did not allow them to become high-grade band. Realizing, that their love to music is not so time hobby, Hakan and Gökhan persistently worked, despite of failures, which pursuing them. Finally, lady Fortune had smiled to them , and they find the bass - guitarist accidentally depending on a wall announcement in again the Akmar Passage. Hardly issued group was inspired with creativity of such well-known collectives as Megadeth, Metallica, D.R.I., S.O.D., Nuclear Assault and Slayer, therefore the first demo - record of brothers has been made in style of trash. It has consisted of four songs. After that failures began to pursue the band again. Problems with the bass - guitarist and drummer had begun again. It was possible to generate the first professional collective only at 1990, when bass - guitarist Asrin Tuncer and drummer Turgay Gülaydin came in band.

The first professional performance of Athena has taken place on a stage of cafe Bilsak Rock. But the first popularity in the turkish music world to the band was brought with other performance - on stage of Göztepe Park, where Athena acted as sub-group of the other executors - Bulutsuzluk Özlemi and Erkin Koray. The group records a new demo-album, Punished Society, consisting already from seven songs. At June, 14, 1992 Athena acts as sub-group of the German trash-collective Tankard, which has arrived to Turkey to give a concert on stage of Bostanci Show Center.

The band has records the first large album in 1993. It name was “ One Last Breath ” and its style was trash. Shortly before the beginning of record of album Asrin Tuncer has left Athena, therefore all bass parties in the “ One Last Breath ” are played by Hakan Özoguz. Soon a new bass-guitarist - Ozan Karaçuha has come to the band .

The summer of 1994 was very successful for the band. Athena performs with the own program in club Berfendi Bar at Marmaris (Marmaris - one of the most ancient settlements in Turkey, it is known approximately from 3 400 before AD, at present time - an excellent resort, “ the pearl ” of southern coast of Turkey). Their program has consisted of various songs of such popular groups, as Madness, Busters, The Specials, Bad Manners, Clashp, RATM, The Cure, Sex Pistols. Due to such list (well and due to excellent performance, of course ;-) the group has managed to involve in club not only the big number of tourists, but also many fans of music from Izmir, Istanbul and other cities of Turkey.

Work at Marmaris promoted the even greater growth of popularity of Athena. Therefore, when the collective has returned to Istanbul, guys at once have received set of offers of work from various Istanbul night clubs. Having considered all variants, Athena has accepted offers to act within three nights in a week in such clubs, as Kemanci, Mandala and Gitar which at that time were heart of a night life of Istanbul. Thus Athena has got the even greater number of admirers.

Later, in 1995, Athena began to act in club Captain Hook Bar, having brought wide popularity to it. The band was a star of club. There new songs of the band - “ Holigan ”, “ Skalonga ” and “ Devam Bosver ”, which subsequently had come to the first high-grade album o f the band - “ Holigan ” for the first time have sounded at this place. Holigan’s works started in 1997. At that time the sound recording companies preferred to not contact with executors, which creativity was not known to a turkish audience. However there was company NR1, which was engaged in alternative projects. First such project became record of album “ Holigan ”. It has been released at spring of 1998. The first presentation of the album has take place in club Captain Hook. In the same place the first videorecording of a concert has been made. In this club Athena acted till 1999. Then, the end of the Athena period in the Captain Hook nights came. Captain Hook closed its doors after Athena program ended.

Album “ Holigan ” has brought the big popularity across all Turkey to the band. At 1999 Athena beguns concert round on the country. During this round in Istanbul the group appears on stage of Open Theater with own concert programm, and at stadium Ali Sami Yen Athena acts as sub-group of Rolling Stones.

At November, 1999 the band records the new album - “ Tam Zamaný Timdi ” under Universal label. This album has been made in the new style, created by musicians. Soon after that, for New Year, Athena appears on stage of Taksim Square, having met 2000 year together with thousand admirers. Channel NTV broadcast this concert as a live program. In this year, 2000, the band acts at Köln, in Germany, at annual festival Popkomm Festival. At this festival Athena acted together with Beastie Boys. Performance was broadcast by one of leading German radio stations - WDR as a live program. After that festival the bande recive suggested to organize concert tour in Germany. This tour has been organized at 2001, Athena has viweb-sited three cities. During this tour the Fritz, group, which playing in ska-style acted with Athena. After these concerts leading ska-company - Pork Pie Records - has included two songs of Athena - “ Holigan ” and “ Devam Bosver ” - to the “ 11th series of the World of Ska ” compilation album series.

For a turkish basketball team Athena has composed a march - “ 12 Giand Men ” (“ 12 Dev Adam ”). After the team has taken the second place in the European Championship, the group had been handed a honourable cup for this victory and a prize. It is considered, that exactly the march “ 12 Giand Men ” has inspired turkish combined team on a victory.

At the end of 2001 there were some changes in group members. Ozan Karaçuha and Turgay Gülaydin had left Athena.s At the beginning of 2002, when brothers Özoguz had found new the bass-guitarist - Canay Cengen and drummer - Dogaç Titiz, the band started work at new album. This work went difficultly, and the album has been released only at April, 2002 under the name “ Hertey Yolunda ” (“ Everything is OK ”). After that the band had travel to the USA on the World Basketball Championship together with the turkish combined team.

In 2003 Athena had the big concert tour. As the guest artist the group has taken part in the project “CityForest”. Also the group has acted at huge H2000 Festival. Besides members of Athena had shown the civic stand, having joined to the anti-war project, protesting against the war in Iraq. The same year there were next changes in band, instead of Canay Cengen, who had left the group, staff of the Athena included the new bass-guitarist - Ozan Musluoglu.

In the summer of 2003 band Athena, which music style is the soft punk / ska, has been chosen the representative of Turkey at 49-th Eurovision Song Contest 2004. The band hopes to change recognition of turkish music. “ Many Turks like rock music. Now turkish actors want to show it to Europe” - has told Demir Demirkan, the co-author of the song Every Way That I Can, with which Sertab Erener had won the past, 48-th Eurovision Song Contest 2003.

There are discography, lyrics, many concert photos on a web-site of the band. In the same place it is possible download mp3-version of all (I repeat, ALL!!!) songs of the Athena band.

Source: web-site of Athena band

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