Mavi Sakal

MAVİ SAKAL were formed in 1979 by four high school friends at Tarsus American College, Tarsus, Turkey. The band released 2 albums in 1992 and 1993 which have been chartbreakers establishing MAVİ SAKAL as one of the major rock bands in Turkey. MAVİ SAKAL 2, which was released in 1993, became such a success that 2 of the songs from the album hit the Turkish pop charts leading one of the songs to remain in the TOP 10 for 52 weeks for the first time in Turkish pop charts history. Due to the albums success, their record company released the album in CD format which was the first Turkish rock CD to be released. At the end of 1993, because the band's lead singer decided to build a solo career, MAVİ SAKAL halted functions until December 1996. Although the band was not functioning in 1994, 1995 and 1996 the researches made by PEPSI in Turkey in 1996 has shown that MAVİ SAKAL was one of the top 3 rock bands favoured by Turkish consumers. After December 1996 MAVİ SAKAL had started working on their new album. The new album was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Finland and CTS Studios in England during July & August 1997. The album was produced by 3 time Grammy winner Pip Williams who has produced many platinum and gold records for world famous artists as Status Quo, Moody Blues, Jose Feliciano, Brian Johnson (AC/DC) etc. Also Mikko Karmila who has successfully recorded gold albums for world famous heavy metal bands such as Waltari And Stratovarious has co-produced and engineered the whole album. The symphonic parts were recorded by respective London Session Orchestra and piano parts by Bias Boshell Of Moody Blues. STATUS QUO's management has invited MAVİ SAKAL to appear as guest stars on their Wembley Arena shows on December 13-14, 1997, honoring the band to be the "first Turkish artists to go on stage at WEMBLEY"! Their first single "İKİ YOL" released on November 26, 1997 hit the charts by storm and had made 6 releases in just 3 months bringing the band "Best Rock band of 97" and "Best Video" awards. MAVİ SAKAL had released their new album "KAN KOKUSU" on March 12, 1998 entering the charts at No:8, once again the first releases of the album sold out in just six days leading to repeat orders by wholesales. After that album MAVİSAKAL had a break because of Murat Tümer(drums)'s special works in USA.But in 2006 March MAVİSAKAL said were together again..And they released a new single called ".Son,Ki,Beş,On" and they made their first concert (after re-grouping) in an High School's garden,in ÇALDAY '06-Çağrıbey Anadolu Lisesi,in Istanbul..Then they started to make concerts all over th Turkey..they went to wherever they had been called from..And today(10/09/06) new album's studio part is over..They recorded all the songs and at the end of this year they will be on shelves again..