Kurtalan Ekspres is a Turkish Anatolian rock band formed by Barış Manço in 1971 to accompany him on records and at concerts. The initial lineup included drummer Ali Serdar, percussionist Celal Güven, guitarist Fuat Güner, bassist Özkan Uğur, flutist Erdinç Avcı, and keyboardist Murat Ses. They released a first single, "Ölüm Allah'ın Emri / Gamzedeyim Deva Bulmam" (1972). They underwent several lineup changes before releasing a debut album 3552 (2003). Throughout the years, they collaborated with notable singers such as Barış Manço, Cem Karaca, and Cahit Berkay. After Manço's death in 1999, they worked with other vocalists including Bahadır Akkuzu, who took over vocals after Cem Karaca's passing in 2004, until Akkuzu's death in 2009. They released several albums, including Göğe Selam (2011) and Göğe Selam II (2014). Other releases include collaboration albums with Manço such as Yeni Bir Gün (1979) and Sözüm Meclisten Dışarı (1981). They also participated as the orchestra for television programs presented by Manço.
