Bere Gratis

Bere Gratis
Origin	Bucharest, Romania
Genres	Pop-Rock
Years active	1998– present
Labels	Cat Music/Media Services, exclusive EMI licensee for Romania (2009 - present), Nova Music Entertainment (2000-2008)
Website	www.beregratis.ro
Members	Mihai 'Mitza' Georgescu (vocals) Robert Anghelescu (keyboards) Marian Saracu (drums)

Bere Gratis (Romanian for Free Beer) is a Romanian pop-rock band formed in 1998 in Bucharest, Romania.

Members

• Mihai 'Mitza' Georgescu (vocals)
• Robert Anghelescu (keyboards)
• Marian Saracu (drums)

Biography

In 1998, Mihai Georgescu (vocals), Robert Anghelescu (keyboards) and Marius Dobre (guitar) were playing at the time in a band named “Ghost”. Together with Mihai 'Magga' Suciu (drums) and Marius Mirea (bass guitar), they founded a new band, settling for the name Bere Gratis, which was suggested by a good friend, Alexandru Catona (Cato).

• 1998

At the end of 1998 they recorded the single “Fara rusine” (“No shame”), which was released on the compilation album “Tu poti fi vedeta” (“You can be a star”) (A&A Records).

• 1999

In spring 1999 Matei Damian-Ulmu replaces Marius Dobre on the guitar.

The singles “Cea mai frumoasa fata” (“The most beautiful girl”) and “Ce misto” (“How cool”) were recorded in Magic Sound Studio (“East & Art” Production House) and released on the first single CD of the band.

In the summer of 1999 Ovidiu Halmagean becomes the producer of the band. With his help the band starts recording their first studio album (at Voices Studio, Iasi) in November.

• 2000

The first production contract is signed with Nova Music Entertainment Production House. Also their first album is released on May 20, 2000, named “De vanzare” (“For sale”).

“Ce misto” (“How cool”) is the first single of the album to be promoted on heavy rotation radio playlists and TV, followed by “Ultrafete” (“Supergirls”) and “Curtea scolii” (“Schoolyard”).

• 2001

New changes take place regarding the members of the band. Vlad Vedes is the new bassist of the band and Oliver Sterian the new drummer. The second album, “Vino mai aproape” (“Come closer”) is released on Nov. 28th, 2001.

The first single of this album was “Unu mai” (“May 1st”), followed by “Senor, senor”, “Vino mai aproape” (“Come closer”) and “Nebun”(“Crazy”).

• 2002

In February 2002 Marian Saracu takes the place of Oliver Sterian on the drums.

In the summer the band goes to Fribourg, Switzerland. There the boys record three of the songs for their next album: “La tine as vrea sa vin” (“It's you I want to come to”), “Strazi albastre” (“Blue Streets”), and “Cineva ma iubeste” (“Someone loves me”).

Cristi Solomon joins the band as their music producer.

The single “Strazi albastre” (“Blue Streets”) is released in November.

• 2003

The new single “La tine as vrea sa vin” (“It's you I want to come to”) entered the top 10 of Romanian Top 100 and stayed there for several weeks.

The third album (“Acolo Sus” - “Up there”) is released on June 26 in a concert in Bucharest, revealing a richer sound of the band.

In September 2003, the third single of this album, “Poveste de oras” (“City tale”), is released on the celebration of the band's 5 years anniversary.

• 2004

An important event for the band's evolution took place on January 26, 2004. Using the National Theatre in Bucharest for location, the band held a huge concert named “Electrika” to celebrate its 5 years existence. The entire concert was filmed and on July 7 the DVD “Electrophonica - Live la TNB” was officially released. This was the first surround DVD for a Romanian band.

In the fall of 2004 “Post Restant” is released. This is the 4th album of the band. The first single promoted was “Eu nu am sa te las” (“I'm not going to let you”).

• 2005

On February 7 another huge concert took place in the same location, the National Theatre in Bucharest to promote their fourth album. The concert "Post Restant" was broadcast on Romanian Television few days after the show.

In March the single “Campuri de lupta” (“Battlefields”) is released. After a few months the band releases a video on music channels for the song “Post Restant”. The video uses the footage that was shot during the concert in February.

• 2006

The video for their first single from their next album is released on April 29. The song is called “Speranta din priviri” (“The hope in your eyes”).

On June 1, the EP album “Editie de buzunar” (“Pocket Edition”) is released in Music Club, Bucharest.

In September the promotion for the song “Ce n-a vazut Parisul” (“Not even Paris has seen this”) begins.

• 2007

In February new changes in the band take place: Matei Damian-Ulmu leaves the band and Vlad Vedes replaces him on guitar. Nicu Avram joins the band to play bass guitar.

In July the boys go to Switzerland to sing in the International Festival “Ete Tchaux 2007” in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The band played under the name “The Postcards”. Using this name they released an EP containing two songs in English: “Where we go” (“Unde mergem”) and “Rosy” (which is actually the English version of “Battlefields” – “Campuri de lupta”). The EP album was recorded in Relief Studio (Fribourg, Switzerland) by Dom Torche and produced by W2prod – Wave2prod SA (Switzerland).

On Oct. 30th the video for “In brate” (“In my arms”) is released. In December a new Bere Gratis album is released: “Revolutie de catifea” (“Velvet revolution”) in an MTV Romania live show.

• 2008

On March 21 the video for the song “Curcubeu” (“Rainbow”) is filmed.

A new single is released at the end of the year: “Vacanta la Roma” (“Vacation in Rome”).

• 2009

In the same anniversary location that the Bere Gratis audience got used to, the National Theatre in Bucharest, the band held a 10 years anniversary concert on February 23. It was a true spectacle of lights, emotions, great music and lyrics that made this concert unforgettable. The concert was broadcast on Romanian public TV network, TVR.

In June the boys released the album “Bere Gratis - Live X” (X referring to the 10 years of the band's existence). It is a double audio CD recorded during the February concert. The song promoting this album is “Gloria”.

Between Sept. 2nd and 6th, the International Music Festival “Cerbul de Aur” (The Golden Stag) took place in Brasov. In the beginning of the festival, Mihai interpreted the famous Queen song “I want to break free”. On the first night of the contest the Russian singer Nikolay Demidov sang the Bere Gratis song “Curcubeu” (“Rainbow”) and on the second night, Rolf Jr. from Estonia interpreted the song “In brate” (“In my arms”).

In December a new studio album was released: “Pe marele ecran” (“The world is a stage”). The song promoting it is “Pas in doi” (“Paso doble”).

In 2009 Bere Gratis participated in a few civic actions such as “March on Stage” (for the children with Down syndrome), UNICEF Gala in Romania, “The Recycling Movement” and “ECO Litoral” (an ecological movement for the Romanian seaside). One of the most important humanitarian campaigns of 2009 had the goal of raising funds for the establishment of a cardio-surgery department at the Marie Curie Children's Hospital in Bucharest. The campaign ended on July 26 with a concert where Bere Gratis sang together with Bucharest Wind Orchestra.

• 2010

In January Vlad Vedes and Nicu Avram leave the band. Bere Gratis band continues with two collaborators, Marius “Neuro” Bob (guitar) and Radu Vastag (bass).

In March 2009 “Pas in doi” won the award for “Best Pop Rock Song of the Year” at the gala organized by Radio Romania Actualitati.

In 2010 Bere Gratis’ participation at concerts organized for charity purposes continued. The first concert, organized in February - “Cantec pentru Haiti” (“Song for Haiti”) - had the goal of raising funds for the children of Haiti, a state heavily affected by an earthquake. The humanitarian actions organized by Fundatia “Salvati-va Ingerii” (“Save your Angels” Foundation) for raising funds for the new Marie Curie Children's Hospital from Bucharest continued. These actions undertaken didn’t leave the various personalities from the cultural, social and sports life of Romania untouched. On 1 June Bere Gratis, together with other important names of Romanian pop rock music, participated pro bono at the mega concert “Rock pentru Viata" (“Rock for Life”). On 1 September Mihai played “Fotbal pentru Viata” (“Football for Life”), a game organized for charity purposes. Many artists and sportsmen were reunited on the field, playing for a noble, humanitarian cause.

The second half of December finds the new Bere Gratis album entitled “O colectie” (“A collection”) on the market. The album contains a collection of sensitive songs filled with hope, optimism and has a calming effect on its listeners. Moreover as the winter holidays approach this album is perfect to listen to, near the stove, surrounded by the dear ones. The album contains only ballads, composed during the 12 years activity of the band. The ballads found of the album were rearranged; moreover two new ones were composed: “Stai pe acelasi drum” (“Stay on the same side of the road”) and “Flori de camp la fereastra” (“Field flowers at the window”).

Albums

• De vanzare (LP, 2000)
• Vino mai aproape (LP, 2001)
• Acolo sus (LP, 2003)
• Electrophonica (LP live, 2004)
• Post Restant (LP, 2005)
• Editie de buzunar (EP, 2006)
• Where We Go/Rosy (EP, 2007, "Relief Studio" Fribourg, Switzerland)
• Revolutie de catifea (LP, 2007)
• Vacanta la Roma (Single, 2009)
• Live X (LP live, 2009)
• Pe marele ecran (LP, 2009)
• O colectie (LP, 2010)

Videos

• Ce misto (2000)
• Ultra fete (2000)
• Unu Mai (2001)
• Señor, señor (2001)
• Vino mai aproape (2001)
• Nebun (2002)
• Strazi albastre (2003)
• La tine as vrea sa vin (2003)
• Poveste de oras (2003)
• Cineva mă iubeste (2004)
• Iti mai aduci aminte (2004)
• Eu nu am sa te las (2004)
• Campuri de lupta (2005)
• Post Restant (2005)
• Speranta din priviri (2006)
• In brate (2007)
• Curcubeu (2008)
• Stai pe acelasi drum (2010)

The videos were played on main Romanian musical TV channels (MTV Romania, Kiss TV, U TV Romania and Atomic TV since 2000).

Main events

• participated at very popular Romanian song contest "Mamaia Festival" Mamaia, Romania with songs "Ultrafete" (2000), "Curtea scolii" (2001) and "Vino mai aproape" (2002)
• concerts at Romanian Festival "Callatis" Mangalia, Romania, in 2004, 2007 and 2009
• winners of "Radio Romania Actualitati Music Awards", section "You have a friend" (2007)
• involved in ecological campaigns "Miscarea de reciclare", "ECO Litoral" (2009) and humanitarian actions (UNICEF and "Inima copiilor", 2009)
• collaboration with "Bucharest Wind Orchestra" in the national project "Ce n-a vazut Parisul" (pop-rock and classical music)

External links

• Article "Muzica e mai mult decat un job" in Monitorul de Sibiu

Sources

• Bere Gratis official website
• Artist page on CAT Music website
• Bere Gratis page on MySpace
• Stiumuzica.ro
• Muzicabuna.ro