Vama Veche

Vama Veche formed in Constanța in 1986, with Gabriel Cotabiță on vocals, Tudor Chirilă on guitar, Eugen Caminschi on bass, Liviu Mănescu on drums, and Florin Ionescu handling guitars and keyboards. Their early albums like 'Noua Alchimie' and the self-titled 'Vama Veche' established them as a fixture in Romanian rock, mixing straightforward rock and roll with some new wave touches.

Songs like 'Vama Veche,' '18 Ani,' and 'Ana' became staples, known for Cotabiță's direct lyrics and the band's unpolished energy. They kept recording through the '90s and 2000s, putting out records such as 'Copiii Rock 'N' Roll,' 'Experimente,' and later ones like 'Peisaje' and '20/20.'

Their live shows had a reputation for being raw and occasionally provocative, which sometimes drew attention beyond the music. They worked steadily without major lineup changes, maintaining a consistent presence rather than chasing trends.