Pentagram started as Mezarkabul in Istanbul in 1969, formed by high school students including Cenk Taşkan on vocals and guitar. Their early name meant 'graveyard,' which hinted at the darker themes they'd explore. They faced criticism for songs like 'Bir,' which authorities considered blasphemous, and dealt with performance bans in those early years.
Their 1971 debut album 'Pentagram' established their sound, mixing psychedelic rock with Anatolian folk elements. Songs like '1000 In The Eastland' and 'Anatolia' showed how they could build heavy, driving rock around traditional Turkish melodies. The band kept recording through the 1970s and beyond, with albums like 'Bir' in 1977 and 'Bekle Biraz' in 1987.
While their lineup changed over time, Cenk Taşkan remained the central figure as vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. They continued putting out music into the 2000s with albums like '2007' and 'MMXIV' in 2014, maintaining that blend of rock intensity and regional musical character that defined them from the start.
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