Locomotiv GT
Locomotiv GT (often abbreviated LGT, and sometimes using the nickname Loksi) was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1971. Starting out as a progressive rock band, they later experimented with many other styles including jazz, funk, and pop. During their heyday they were one of Hungary's most popular rock bands. The band broke up in 2016 after the death of longtime singer/bassist Tamás Somló. History. Early years. The band was formed in April 1971 by members of previously successful Hungarian rock bands. A poll in "Hungarian Youth" magazine listing the nation's favorite rock musicians inspired  several of the winners to form a new band together. Singer/keyboardist Gábor Presser and drummer József Laux had been members of Omega, singer/bassist Károly Frenreisz had been a member of Metró, and singer/guitarist Tamás Barta had been in Hungária. They played their first concert in Budapest in July 1971. Much of their early activity was as a backing band for pop singers, due to Hungary's restrictions on employment for rock musicians; they gained notice in particular for backing Sarolta Zalatnay and Kati Kovács during their first few years of existence. Their self-titled debut album was  released in December 1971, and their second album "Ringasd el magad" was released the following year. They received coverage in "New Musical Express", which called them “The new rock sensation [that] could come from the East!”; traveled to Japan to play at the World Popular Song Festival; and were invited to perform at the Great Western Express Festival in England. In 1973 the band wrote the music for the politicized theater production "An Imaginary Report on an American Pop Festival". This endeavor frustrated Frenreisz who left to form his own band Skorpió; he was replaced by Tamás Somló, another former  member of Omega. The band's third album "Bummm!" was released in 1973. Tamás Barta left the band and defected to the United States, which then caused the Hungarian government to ban "Bummm!" for the next ten years in retaliation. (Barta was murdered in the United States under mysterious circumstances in 1982.) Barta was replaced by János Karácsony. The band's first three albums were compiled in 1974 for an American/British release titled "Locomotiv GT" (not to be confused with their first Hungarian release), which included some new material produced by Jimmy Miller and a guest appearance by Jack  Bruce on harmonica. Their first album with Karácsony, "Mindig magasabbra", was released in Hungary in 1975. During this period, the Hungarian government suppressed much of the band's work, followed by the governments of neighboring countries like Romania and Czechoslovakia, because the band's rock music was considered subversive; most of their sales and acclaim were gained in English-speaking countries. The English-language songs recorded with Jimmy Miller for the 1974 international compilation were not released in Hungary until 1988. Their 1976 release, the double album "Locomotiv GT V.", was also banned in Hungary. József Laux then left the  band, also to defect to the United States. After the band received help from two temporary drummers, Laux was replaced by János Solti. Later years. The lineup of Presser, Somló, Karácsony, and Solti remained intact for forty years until the group disbanded. The band released the albums "Zene – Mindenki másképp csinálja" in 1976", Mindenki" in 1978"," and "Loksi" in 1980. The latter album was the first for which they were paid royalties for retail sales. They toured the Soviet Union in 1980 and were offered an international contract by EMI the following year, with an invitation to record at Abbey  Road Studios in England. The EMI albums "Locomotiv GT X." (1982) and "Ellenfél nélkül" (1984) were unsuccessful and the band gave up their international touring ambitions to focus on the Hungarian market. The band ceased regular activity in 1986 but re-emerged in 1992 for a major concert in Budapest celebrating the downfall of Communism. They released the reunion album "424 – Mozdonyopera" in 1997. They then became a nostalgia touring act, appearing regularly at festivals and holding their own event, the LGT Festival, annually from 1999 to 2007. Former members József Laux and Károly Frenreisz made some special appearances with  the band during this period. The band continued touring until the death of Tamás Somló at age 68 in 2016. Laux also died in 2016 at age 73. Personnel. Timeline. <div> Discography. International albums. US/UK albums in English. None of Locomotiv GT's Western European or American releases charted.