Petr and Slávek Jandová: Two brothers, two bands, and one house that divided them

While the name of Petr Janda is for most synonymous with the band Olympic and the Czech rock scene, few people know that he has a famous brother. Slávek Janda, the founder of the band Abraxas, followed a parallel musical path. Although both shared a passion for music, their relationship fell apart due to disputes over family property.

Split over the apartment building

In the nineties, the brothers had the opportunity to get back an apartment building in a lucrative part of Vinohrady as part of restitution. According to Peter, it was Slávek who should have handled everything. Result? The house ended up in Slávka's name only. And there their paths began to diverge.

Petr Janda has been claiming for a long time that he was cheated, that he trusted his brother and there was no indication that he would lose his property. But Slávek sees it differently: "Everyone had to ask for restitution themselves and sign the application. The brothers didn't do it, so the house went to me," he said in an earlier interview. According to him, it was not a scam, but compliance with the legal procedure.

Family tension that didn't go away

The rift spilled over into the following years. Jiří Janda, the third of the brothers, died during the pandemic without ever speaking to Slávek again. And the relationship between Peter and Slávek is still at freezing point. Criticism and accusations are coming from both sides - Slávek spoke publicly about Petr's alleged contacts with the structures of the time and about his powerful influence in the music industry, while Petr remains silent about his brother or mentions him bitterly.

Not even the last wish of their mother, who wished for the reconciliation of her sons, changed anything. Slávek claims that Petr was harsh and manipulative towards her. She blames him for not taking care of his mother and leaving everything to his family. Petr Janda's answers to these claims are not publicly available.

Music as a common language that no longer works

It is an irony of fate that both brothers dedicated their lives to music. With Olympic, Petr built a legend that went down in Czech history. Several generations know his songs, he also wrote for many famous performers. Slávek with Abraxas was more experimental, but also respected.

Although their musical legacy is significant, the personal story shows how deep a family feud can go when possessions and unresolved grievances enter into it.