Nostradamos: the rise and fall of the pop-rock sensation during the Greek junta
From 1967 to 1974, Greece was gripped by the iron fist of a military dictatorship, plunging the nation into a period of repression, censorship, and political turmoil. During this time, the pop-rock group Nostradamos ruled the airwaves, emerging as beacons of resistance, using their art to challenge oppression and inspire hope in the face of tyranny.
Founded in 1971 by Stelios Fotiadis, Chris King, and Ippokratis Exarchopoulos, Nostradamos was, at one point, one of the most popular pop groups in Greece. Despoina Glezou joined the band just in time for their performance at the 1972 Music Festival of Thessaloniki. There, they clinched the titles of best new group and best new composer and performer with their song ‘Dos Mou to Heri Sou’ (Give Me Your Hand), which swiftly became a sensation in Greece.
The band’s rise to fame was meteoric; by 1973, the band had reached the pinnacle of their popularity, embarking on a highly successful Panhellenic tour that garnered widespread acclaim. At a time when dissent was met with harsh reprisals and political expression was stifled, Nostradamos boldly used their platform to speak truth to power and advocate for change.
Their lyrics, often veiled in metaphor and allegory to evade censorship, carried potent messages of resistance, solidarity, and the longing for freedom. Even their softer compositions, like ‘Dos Mou to Heri Sou’, offered Greek listeners a brief respite from the cultural tensions of the era, as many turned to music and live performances as their sole means of escape.
However, the group’s 1973 tour took a dark turn. Despite an otherwise highly successful concert cycle, authorities intervened when police and junta security forces raided a Thessaloniki hotel where the band was staying. They arrested Exarchopoulos, along with the band’s sound engineer, on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl after receiving a deposition made by the girl’s family to the police.
Despite Exarchopoulos vehemently denying the allegations, this would start a downward spiral for the musician. At the time, the girl’s father offered to drop the charges if the band could pay him a substantial amount of money, which they didn’t have. They turned to friends and family, pleading for financial assistance, and eventually managed to gather the required amount to satisfy the father’s demands.
Nostradamos even won the first Greek Eurovision participation in 1974, a huge achievement during such a dictatorship, however; the incident inflicted significant damage on the band, resulting in their invitation being retracted and leading to the departure of Exarchopoulos and King the same year. Despite efforts to reconstitute the lineup, the group ultimately disbanded in 1975.
Although he went on to launch a solo career, Exarchopoulos never really regained musical momentum and was arrested in the 1990s for the possession and trafficking of heroin. While in his second year of imprisonment and just days before his trial, Exarchopoulos suffered a fatal overdose and passed away at Tzaneio Hospital, located within Korydallos Prison, in March 2000, just six days before his 47th birthday.
