Biography
Apaslar stands out as Turkey’s most significant rock & roll act of the 1960s, even though its reputation has long been overshadowed by the fact that it served as the first professional vehicle for Turkish rock star Cem Karaca. The group took its name from the 1960 Shadows instrumental “Apache,” a choice that led many listeners to dismiss the musicians as mere imitators; their brief but striking run of recordings soon proved otherwise. Blending classic rock & roll structures with a beat sensibility, Turkish folk lyrics drawn from the poetry of Karacaoglan and Pir Sultan Abdal, and technically assured instrumental work, the band created a landmark sound in the nation’s musical history.
The roots of Apaslar reach back to 1956, when guitarists Mehmet Soyarslan and Yalcinkaya Tumer assembled the amateur outfit Sen Gencler. Several years later the members of Sen Gencler merged with those of Kuartet-X, formally adopting the name Apaslar in 1961. Their decisive breakthrough arrived during the 1967 “Golden Mic” competition, when the lineup of Soyarslan and Tumer on guitars, Timur Fildisi on drums, Ahmet Tuzcuoglu on bass, and the instantly recognizable Cem Karaca on vocals finished second to Mavi Cocuklar with the single “Emrah.” That placement earned the band a nationwide tour and the beginnings of a devoted following.
Like many Turkish rock musicians of the era, Apaslar relocated to Germany in search of superior instruments and seasoned collaborators. Despite considerable hardships abroad, the musicians secured a recording contract and collaborated with the Ferdy Klein Orchestra, refining their sound to a level of near-perfection. Upon their return they became emblematic figures of the new decade, renowned for flamboyant stage presentations and costumes. Soyarslan adopted guitar theatrics reminiscent of Hendrix, playing behind his back or with his teeth, while fellow members made dramatic entrances by descending from the ceiling; Karaca, meanwhile, established himself as one of the most gifted vocalists Turkey had produced.
At the height of their creative powers, marked by the hit single “Resimdeki Gozyaslari” and the instrumental “Gilgamis,” internal tensions surfaced. Karaca’s growing political involvement, combined with ongoing disputes between the two leaders, Karaca and Soyarslan, sometimes erupted into public arguments even during performances. The group disbanded in 1970. Karaca went on to record with Mogollar and Kurtalan Ekspress, becoming one of the most celebrated figures in Turkish popular music, whereas the remaining members proved unable to sustain the Apaslar name. Karaca died in 2004 following a string of successful albums and singles.
The roots of Apaslar reach back to 1956, when guitarists Mehmet Soyarslan and Yalcinkaya Tumer assembled the amateur outfit Sen Gencler. Several years later the members of Sen Gencler merged with those of Kuartet-X, formally adopting the name Apaslar in 1961. Their decisive breakthrough arrived during the 1967 “Golden Mic” competition, when the lineup of Soyarslan and Tumer on guitars, Timur Fildisi on drums, Ahmet Tuzcuoglu on bass, and the instantly recognizable Cem Karaca on vocals finished second to Mavi Cocuklar with the single “Emrah.” That placement earned the band a nationwide tour and the beginnings of a devoted following.
Like many Turkish rock musicians of the era, Apaslar relocated to Germany in search of superior instruments and seasoned collaborators. Despite considerable hardships abroad, the musicians secured a recording contract and collaborated with the Ferdy Klein Orchestra, refining their sound to a level of near-perfection. Upon their return they became emblematic figures of the new decade, renowned for flamboyant stage presentations and costumes. Soyarslan adopted guitar theatrics reminiscent of Hendrix, playing behind his back or with his teeth, while fellow members made dramatic entrances by descending from the ceiling; Karaca, meanwhile, established himself as one of the most gifted vocalists Turkey had produced.
At the height of their creative powers, marked by the hit single “Resimdeki Gozyaslari” and the instrumental “Gilgamis,” internal tensions surfaced. Karaca’s growing political involvement, combined with ongoing disputes between the two leaders, Karaca and Soyarslan, sometimes erupted into public arguments even during performances. The group disbanded in 1970. Karaca went on to record with Mogollar and Kurtalan Ekspress, becoming one of the most celebrated figures in Turkish popular music, whereas the remaining members proved unable to sustain the Apaslar name. Karaca died in 2004 following a string of successful albums and singles.