Černý racek – Gratias Petr (2025)

The Black Seagull continues to dream of rainbows...
The story of the Brno rock legend Oldřich Veselý

The book deals with the life and artistic fate of a significant Brno native who made a name for himself during the former regime in what was then Czechoslovakia in the field of rock music. As a prominent singer, interesting composer, and creative keyboard player, Oldřich Veselý (1948–2018) immortalized himself in the bands Great Music Factory, touring Atlantis, Synkopy 61, Blue Effect, in the transformed Synkopas, and in the band €-band. His unique artistic abilities are evidenced not only by the released records, which have been gradually digitized, but also by the music for theatrical performances, documentaries, advertisements, and for the lyrical Odysseia, successfully presented at the City Theatre in Brno. He also performed in concerts in the USA and Mexico and, at the end of his artistic career, toured the country with the well-known band Čechomor.

The new edition of the book The Black Seagull was contributed to by Petr Gratias and the sons of Oldřich Veselý, which allowed the fates of this prominent Brno artist to be told up to his unfortunate departure to the musical heavens. The narrative brings engaging stories, describes both serious and lighter moments in the artist's life, and is…