Bere Gratis is a pop-rock band formed in 1998 in Bucharest, Romania. The current members are: Mihai 'Mitza' Georgescu (vocals), Robert Anghelescu (keyboards), Marian Saracu (drums). More informations, pictures and downloads on the official website, www.beregratis.ro. --------- 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 (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 20th , 2000, named “De vanzare” (“For sale”). “Ce misto” (“How cool”) is the first single of the album to be promoted on radio 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 26th 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 26th , 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 7th the DVD “Electrophonica-Live” 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 7th another huge concert took place in the same location, the National Theatre in Bucharest to promote their fourth album. 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 29th. The song is called “Speranta din priviri” (“The hope in your eyes”). On June 1st, 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 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) by Dom Torche and produced by W2prod – Wave2prod SA (Switzerland). On Oct. 30th the video for “In brate” (“In my arms”) is released and in December a new Bere Gratis album is released : “Revolutie de catifea” (“Velvet revolution”). 2008 On March 21st 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 23rd.It was a true spectacle of lights, emotions, great music and lyrics that made this concert unforgettable. In June the boys released the album “Bere Gratis-Live X” (X refering 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 26th with a concert where Bere Gratis sang together with Bucharest Wind Orchestra. 2010 In January Vlad Vedes (guitar) and Nicu Avram (bass) leave the band. Instead, 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. On 1 June 2010 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"). This event was organized by “Salvati-va Ingerii” Foundation ("Save your Angels") with the scope of fundraising for the new Marie Curie Children's Hospital in Bucharest.