TheForminxFrontIntroduction

“The Forminx” was a Greek rock band in the early 1960s, the first band of Vangelis Papathanassiou, that became hugely popular in Athens and Thessaloniki and then nationwide with their English repertoire, ranging from covers of popular American and English hits, to later also playing their own compositions on stages all over Greece.

The band’s members were Vangelis Papathanassiou on organ, Vassilis Bakopoulos on guitar, Sotiris Arnis on vibraphone / bass, Kostas Skokos on drums and Tassos Papastamatis providing lead vocals. Over time the line-up of the band varied during perfomances, with e.g. Thymios Petrou on guitar and singing Italian lyrics, Titos Kalliris replacing Vassilis Bakopoulos on guitar while he fulfilled his army service, and Eugnomonas on percussion. Vangelis’ older brother Niko helped out with the group’s instruments and performances.

At the peak of their success the band released nine 7” singles and scored hit after hit, the most popular being 'Jeronimo Yanka' which sold an unprecedented number of copies in 1965, and due to its popularity even started a new genre of 'Yanka' songs.

Shortly after recording a feature film “Peripeteies Me Tous Forminx”, which now seems to have been lost, the group disbanded in the spring of 1966 and all members went separate ways.

For more information about The Forminx read the story of The Forminx.

 

TheForminxBackTracklist and credits

The Forminx released a total of 22 songs. Most songs were composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou, except for 'Love Without Love' composed by Vassilis Bakopoulos and 'Somebody Sent Me Love' and 'Say You Love Me' composed by Sotiris Arnis. Some songs are covers of other (Italian) popular songs. The lyrics were usually written by Nikos Mastorakis.

 

Discography

During their active time the band only released songs on 7” singles. Later those songs were collected on a number of compilation albums, as well as included on numerous various artist compilations.

7” single

Greece

DreamInMyHeartLabelOutside of Greece:

EP

  • 1978 It's Christmas Time Again / White Christmas / Jingle Bells / The Sound Of Music (Seagull 3E LOK-82) Greece

Note that this EP includes four songs that were played during the radio show ‘Surprise Party’ by Nikos Mastorakis, long after The Forminx had split up. The songs feature Vangelis on organ and Tassos Papastamatis singing, so technically these songs are not by The Forminx. 

LP

  • 1976 The Forminx (Pan-Vox 16171) Greece (re-issued several times)
  • 2005 The Forminx (Music Box 11073) Greece (10” LP containing 10 songs)

FormidableForminxFrontCD single

  • 2007 Jeronimo Yanka / Dream In My Heart / Ah! Say Yeah / Elephant Twist (Music Box 0507) Greece
  • 2007 Jenka Beat / A Hard Night’s Day / Somebody Sent Me Love / Say You Love Me (Music Box 0508) Greece
  • 2007 Love Without Love / Until The End / Hello, My Love Salonica / Mandjourana’s Shake (Music Box 0509) Greece
  • 2008 Our Last September / And Maybe More / School Is Over / Greek Holidays (Music Box 0510) Greece
  • 2009 Il Peperone / A Precious White Rose / It’s Christmas Time Again / White Christmas / Jingle Bells (Music Box 0511) Greece

CD

  • 1999 The Formidable Forminx (Music Box International 10765) Greece (includes 18 songs) the CD is included in The Ultimate Greek Pop 5CD boxset.
  • 1999 The Forminx (Pan-Vox CD 16171) Greece (includes 14 songs)
  • 2009 The Forminx (Music Box 3301273481) Greece (includes 21 songs, the most complete compilation)

 

Recording Studio

The Forminx recorded their songs in the loft studio of Music Box in the centre of Athens, Greece. 

 

TheForminxPhotoAlso

  • In 1962 The Forminx were asked to perform in a scene of the Greek film “O Thodoros Kai To Dikano” (Theodor And The Gun). The video of the band playing at a dance party in the film is likely the earliest surviving video of the group (Vangelis can still be spotted before he grew a beard).
  • In 1963 the band would even provide the musical score for another Greek film, “O Adelfos Mou... O Trohonomos” (My Brother The Traffic Policeman).
  • In 1965 Greek director Theo Angelopoulos began shooting a film about the Forminx named 'Peripeteies Me Tous Forminx', sometimes also known as “The Forminx Story” or “Troubles”. After a week of filming Angelopoulos was replaced by Kostas Lychnaras, who apparently completed the film. It is rumoured that the film may have been lost, but a number of songs that were specially recorded for the movie have been leaked on the internet and confirm these titles: 'Gipity-Ripity', 'Gud-Bay', 'I Found You Again', 'Lonely Dove', 'Party No.3', 'Tail', 'Train' and 'Trouble' and 'Until The End (instrumental)'.
  • Of one song named 'You're Kidding' the lyrics were published but as of yet it is not clear if the song was also performed or recorded...

 

Links