Hiperbolė

History

They began by covering songs from the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Deep Purple, along with a few original pieces. On September 1 of that year, they gave a more serious performance at a student party. Later that year, Ričardas Bartusevičius came up with the name Hiperbolė, though the group wasn’t widely known by it right away. As their playing improved, the Culture Department of the Center Committee of the Lithuanian Communist Party took notice.

To cope, Hiperbolė began setting Lithuanian poems to music and arranging other Soviet songs. Their own personal music could only be played at unofficial events, and only with the government’s permission. They also performed songs by Nazareth, Bad Company, ABBA, and Uriah Heep. In 1980, the Soviet government gave Hiperbolė an official honorary title.

From 1980 to 1984, the band moved toward commercial success, with growing popularity, regular concerts, and music sales. In 1984, they became a Philharmonic ensemble, but the Soviet government dissolved the band that same year, considering it a threat to the communist system. After the USSR dissolved in 1991, Hiperbolė returned with the slogan “Hiperbolė per amžius!” (Hiperbolė For Eternity!). They performed 40 concerts but collapsed that year due to financial troubles.