Sociological and musical projects

Collective autobiographical project with participation of Josef Alan, Miroslav Disman (since 1993), Karel Holý, Jiří Kabele (since 1995), Jaroslav Kapr, Eva Stehlíková, Olga Šmídová.

A group research exercise in sociological autobiographies. The project was originally inspired by the preparation of a large-scale multidisciplinary research of the transformation of the social structure in Czechoslovakia that took place in 1991-92. However, it soon took shape of an independent and autonomous research project called SAMISEBE (an awkward translation into English would perhaps be: OURSELVES' SELVES). Within the project, a small group of Czech sociologists had been writing and analysing - step by step and within an interactive cooperative regime - their own autobiographical narratives. On the basis of this common background, each participant had been developing her/his own research topic and her/his own methodology. All the participants were interested, most of all, in various aspects of "ordinary life" under state socialism and after. At the end of 1992, we organized an international workshop on the project. Scholars form Slovakia, United States, Finland, United Kingdom and Hungary participated in the meeting. On the basis of the project, I edited a volume, which exists in both Czech and English versions: Our lives as database (Praha: Charles University Press, 2000) / Otevřená minulost (Praha: Charles University Press, 1999).

Reincarnation of the former new wave band: Radomil Uhlíř - vocals; Martin Vik - guitar, keyboards; Zdeněk Konopásek - drums; Josef F. Matoušek (Ferda) - bass (in 1989).

Alternative rock band established already in 1980s, but renewed a few years later with different lineup. The style was wilder and darker - written songs were injected with improvised passages. In early 1990s the band transformed into a loosely linked group of musicians entitled Kvartet Dr. Konopného [Dr. Konopny Quartet].

Musical collaboration with guitar player Pavel Richter (one of the legends of the Czech alternative scene) and his friends

In the mid of 1980s I participated in some projects of the Czech guitarist (actually, multiinstrumentalist), Pavel Richter and of some other related musicians. I met Pavel Richter when he was helping us as sound engineer and producer during recording sessions of Dvouletá fáma, my first Prague-based band. After Dvouletá fáma (its first incarnation) splitted up, I spent several years by doing music at home and by occasional collaborations, such as: recording music of Pavel Richter and Pavel Švec for theatrical version of The Hobbit, there and back again (dir. by Ctibor Turba in 1984); recording sessions with Pavel Richter and friends; as guest-drummer, playing occasionally with bands such as Vyšší populár (Luboš Fidler, Franta Skála, Lesik Hajdovský and others) and Zapomenutý orchestr země snivců (Jaroslav Kořán and others).

New wave band of early 80s: Jana Macháčková - vocals; Martin Vik - guitar; Ivan Benda - bass; Zdeněk Konopásek - drums, vocals.

My first band in Prague. We played concerts mainly at the legendary Chmelnice club in Prague, occasionally elsewhere. Our favorite bands of the time were, for instance, The Residents and Snakefinger, XTC, B52s, Public Image Ltd - and all this somehow melted together in our music. Several years after this lineup splitted up, in late 1980s, the band was reformed and got darker and rougher - see Dvouletá fáma II.).

New wave band based in Karlovy Vary: Ivan Kováč - vocals, guitar, keyboards; Milan Voříšek - bass; Zdeněk Konopásek - drums, vocals

One of the first new wave bands in the country, established and run in Karlovy Vary (Western Bohemia). Three private concerts and several demos, out of which Milan Vorisek compiled a home-made CD-R many years later. At the end, trumpet player Marek Kraus joined the band. Inspirations and favorite bands of the time: Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Police, Talking Heads, The Specials, Madness. The band ceased to exist in 1981, when I left to Prague where Dvouletá fáma, another band of mine, was established.