Illés (Hungarian name: Illés együttes = Illés Ensemble) was a Hungaryan rock/beat band (1960-1973), and was one of the most famous bands of the 1960s and early 1970s rock boom in Hungary. The band was often compared to the Beatles as regards the time period of its activity, its artistic and cultural influence and continuing popularity.
Illés was founded in 1960, but did not gain wider popularity outside of students’ clubs until 1963. This was the era of the Hungarian language programs of ‘Radio Free Europe’ and ‘Voice of America’, listened illegally in Hungary, started to influence Hungarian youth culture. They were the first wildly popular band of the “new” beat music. Their song Még fáj minden csók (Every kiss still hurts) caused quite a scandal in 1966 because of Levente Szörényi’s “squeaking” singing style.
Despite for being highly controversial, they were supported by the Communist regime - which was trying at the time, to introduce a policy of “small liberties” for the people - and Illés received numerous awards.
Nevertheless, they did not publish an album until 1967, with the film soundtrack for Ezek a fiatalok (“These young people!”). The movie was an attempt to make the general audience better acquainted with the (comparatively tame) youth culture of the time. Some of the most popular bands and singers of the time appeared in the film, including Illés and Omega while the main female role is played by another famous Hungarian pop singer, Koncz Zsuzsa.
By the late 1960s, a great number of beat bands had emerged in Hungary. Fans of Illés and Omega soon started rivalries, paralleling the Beatles-Rolling Stones rivalry in the West.
