Iris - "Trenul fără naş" ("The Train Without Its Master")
Music by: Marti Popescu
Lyrics by: Adrian Păunescu
Song released on: "Iris I", LP, Electrecord, 1984
Video recorded at: "Rock '92" (Arenele Romane, September 12th 1992); "Christmas Rock" (Polivalentă Hall, December 17th 1993); "Iris Lună plină" (Polivalentă Hall, December 13th 1996); "Iris Athenaeum" (Palace Hall, October 27th 2000); "Iris 25 de ani - Mătase albă" (Băneasa Airport, September 27th 2002); "Iris Maxima" (Polivalentă Hall, December 10th 2005); "Artmania" Festival (Sibiu, June 17th 2007)
Performed by: Cristian Minculescu - lead vocals, Nuţu Olteanu - lead and rhythm guitar, Florin Ochescu - lead and rhythm guitar, Marti Popescu - bass guitar, Nelu Dumitrescu - drums
This 1984 song belonging to the Romanian hard rock band Iris was released on the group's debut album, "Iris I", the first heavy metal album in the history of Romanian rock music. "The Train Without Its Master" along with "Pe ape" ("On the Water") are two of the most known songs created in the 80's period and they are performed to this day, at almost each concert. On July 20th, 1982 at Medgidia, Iris had their first concert with Cenaclul Flacăra. Flacăra was a manifestation of vast proportions of music and poetry, lead by the national poet Adrian Păunescu. He helped Iris to release their first album in early 1984, in a period dominated by the communist censorship. More than that, Păunescu wrote the lyrics for "The Train Without Its Master" and the song quickly became an anthem for the Romanian rockers and disidents, and continues to be a freedom anthem to this day. The releasing of this song represented a lack of inspection for the Culture Council, many people associating the "master" with Nicolae Ceauşescu. The song also represents a link between the old and the new generations of Romanian rock fans. Here we have the original 1984 studio version of the song, illustrated with videos from various Iris concerts.