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Thompson (band)
Encyclopedia
Thompson is a Croatian rock
band. The group was founded by Marko Perković
"Thompson", who is often identified with the band itself, "Thompson" being his stage name
. Perković is the songwriter and lead vocalist
. The lineup consists of: Tiho Orlić (bass guitarist and supporting vocalist), Damir "Kex" Lipošek, Fedor Boić, Damir Šomen, and Tomislav Mandarić.
The band name originates from the Thompson submachine gun
, a nickname given to Perković while he fought in the Croatian War of Independence
. Although predominantly formed in Čavoglave
, Thompson is currently based in Zagreb
.
Thompson came to prominence during the Croatian war in 1991, with the release of the first single "Bojna Čavoglave", which proclaims the Croatian resistance to Yugoslavia
and was included in the compilation album Rock za Hrvatsku
. This song, with slightly modified lyrics, named "Branitelji Sarajeva", was also sung by the BiH Army
during the Siege of Sarajevo
. During the 1990s Thompson gained popularity in Croatia with the release of the first album Moli mala
in 1992. They later regained popularity with the popular hit "Prijatelji" in 1998.
In 2002, Thompson began their first major tour to promote the album E, moj narode
. This tour continued sporadically until 2005, and included concerts at Sydney
's Entertainment Centre
and Melbourne
's Vodafone Arena
. In May 2005, the album was declared a Diamond Record with more than 60,000 copies sold. Touring continued in 2006 with Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
, again performing internationally with concerts in Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Thompson also features annually at the Homeland Victory celebrations in their hometown of Čavoglave. These performances are attended by many visitors, ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 spectators, and feature singers like Mate Bulić
, Dražen Zečić
, Ivan Mikulić
, and Baruni
.
Thompson's growing success has prompted concern and condemnation from minority groups in Croatia and Jewish groups abroad. The band's concert in the Netherlands was banned in 2003.
in the rural Dalmatian hinterland
of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. He first gained prominence in 1991 at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars
, more specifically the Croatian War of Independence
, with the song "Bojna Čavoglave" (Čavoglave battalion
). It should be noted that in these times Marko was not a professional singer, nor was the band even formed, and the song itself was not intended to have commercial purposes. In fact, it was composed as the anthem
of the territorial defence unit hastily formed by the dwellers of Čavoglave, at that time under JNA
and Chetnik attacks. He released it under his own battle name, Thompson. The song starts with "Za dom - Spremni!", a phrase which was a 19th century salute to Josip Jelačić, ban of Croatia. From there, the song mostly deals with a call to his unit and to the whole Croatian armed forces
to fight to repel the Chetniks
, advocates of greater Serbia
ideology, to stop their ethnic cleansing crimes, and to track down them and their accomplices in Serbia. It was seen as fueling the morale of Croatian fighters and was very popular at the time. It appeared on the compilation of Croatian songs Rock za Hrvatsku
(Rock for Croatia).
In 1992, Perković published his first album, Moli mala. By this time he had left active service in the Croatian Army, and toured with other performers of the Rock za Hrvatsku in a humanitarian concert, but he returned to military service for a short time in 1995 to participate in Operation Storm
. As time passed, Perković lost his early popularity and through the 1990s he remained relatively less popular. He did release some minor hits, such as "Zmija me za srce ugrizla" (Snake bit my heart) and "Grkinjo, znaj, svemu je kraj' (Greek woman, know that we're through), but repeated his popularity after the hit "Prijatelji" (Friends) in 1998, followed in the same year by his fourth album, Vjetar s Dinare (Tempest
from Dinara
), which includes two other very popular releases: "Zaustavi se Vjetre: (Stop yourself Wind) and "Ljiepa li si" (How Beautiful You Are), by far his most popular song.
After the parliamentary elections in 2000
, a left-wing government was formed, led by the president of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), Ivica Račan
, last secretary-general of the League of Communists of Croatia
and a prominent leader in Croatia's push for independence. This sparked angry reactions among Croatian nationalists and Perković once again gained popularity. During his concerts he often made obscene remarks on the Croatian Prime Minister at the time, Ivica Račan, and the President of the Republic, Stipe Mesić.
Many of Thompson's songs (such as "Bojna Čavoglave", "Lijepa li si", and "Zaustavi se vjetre") have become major hits in Croatia, and are played at football
games and other large events. The band has won the Croatian music competitions Melodije Mostara
(in 2001) and the Croatian Radio Festival
(in 2006), and has performed annually on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
, with all benefits going to families of Croatian soldiers.
in 2002, Thompson began touring to promote the album. The height of his tour was a "magnificent" concert at the Poljud football stadium
in Split
. The concert was attended by 40,000 spectators. During the song "Lijepa li si", Miroslav Škoro
, Alen Vitasović
, Mate Bulić
, Giuliano
, and Mladen Grdović joined him on stage. At the concert, Perković again repeated that his songs mark three loves: God, homeland, and family.
The concert sparked many controversies at the time. Two seats in the audience were reserved for general Mirko Norac
(convicted war criminal, at the time on trial) and general Ante Gotovina
( in custody of ICTY, at the time fugitive from ICTY). At the beginning of the concert, just moments before Perković stepped on the stage, the audience sang the Ustaše
song "Evo zore, evo dana
".
In 2003, Thompson released a best-of CD
. Also, in 2004, the band's vocalist and bassist Tiho Orlić released a solo album, Tiho, which contained a couple of Thompson songs, and on which Marko Perković also collaborated.
This tour continued sporadically into 2005. Internationally, he played at Sydney
's Entertainment Centre
and Melbourne
's Vodafone Arena
in May 2005. By the end of the tour, the album was declared a Diamond Record after more than 60,000 copies were sold.
In June 2006, Marko Perković participated in a celebrity football match held in Maksimir in support of children and families affected by malignant disease. Perković was not played by former Croatia international manager Miroslav Blažević
, due to an injury.
was released in December 2006. Despite the late release, it became the second-highest selling Croatian album of the year. Soon after, Thompson announced an initial tour of Croatia
and select European cities beginning after the Lent
en season through to the summer, and culminating with a performance at Maksimir Stadium
in Zagreb
. The tour began in Vukovar
in the Borovo Naselje
neighborhood, where approximately 4000 fans came out to watch the group perform.
The tour continued to Đakovo before going to Frankfurt
, where he performed for a crowd of approximately 15,000 at Ballsporthalle
. In the adjacent hall, Bob Dylan
performed with an audience of about 2,000 people. When he heard that Thompson had an audience of 15,000 people he asked to be taken to the concert. After that he said that he liked the music. By June, the album had sold 100,000 copies—very high by Croatian standards.
The first tour leg in Croatia ended with the biggest concert at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, where they performed in front of 60,000 spectators. The concert was broadcast live on Croatian Public Television. As part of the second leg, Thompson performed at Split's Stadion Stari plac
in front of 25,000 people. The show was recorded for a live CD release.
He had two shows scheduled in November 2007 for New York City, which provoked protests from several Jewish groups. These lobby groups called on the Archdiocese of New York to stop the show, but this failed as the diocese found no evidence that the group promotes Nazism. A Washington Post reporter who attended one of the concerts was also not convinced of the alleged Neo-Nazi link. Thompson's concert in the Toronto
area attracted 5000 people to the Croatian center where it was held, after the original venue with a capacity of 2,500, Kool Haus
, cancelled. The rest of the tour continued as planned.
Thompson returned to Croatia in November 2007, and continued with shows in Bosnia and Herzegovina
: Mostar
, Tomislavgrad
, Novi Travnik
, Široki Brijeg, and Čapljina
. His last show in Croatia before heading to Australia was Cibona
's annual Christmas benefit show at Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
with proceeds going to the Zagreb Cathedral
. The tour in Australia included shows at Melbourne's Festival Hall
, Sydney's Sydney United Sports Centre
on New Year's Eve
, Adelaide, and Perth. The B'nai B'rith
Anti-Defamation Commission of Australia lobbied to prevent the band from receiving Australian visas, but this failed as government officials found that the band did not violate any Australian legislation. After several guest appearances in Croatia, the rapper Shorty
was confirmed to be joining Thompson for the Australian leg of the tour, which collectively drew in 22,000 fans at four shows.
In the new year the tour continued with shows in Rijeka
, Krapina
, and Čakovec
before pausing for the group's usual Lent
en break. After the break the group had shows in Zadar
's Jazine Arena
and in Gothenburg
, Sweden. A show in Nova Gradiška
had all proceeds go to the building of a local Catholic church. After Nova Gradiška the band proceeded with shows in Varaždin
, Karlovac
, and Županja
. Local authorities threatened to block the band's May 21 concert in Stuttgart
. However, they backed down after the concert's German Croat backers threatened legal action against the city and translated twenty of the band's songs into German for the authorities' benefit. Thompson was asked by Croatian veteran groups to perform at the Defender's Day celebrations at Zagreb's Ban Jelačić Square
, the concert being free of charge. An estimated 55-60,000 people attended the concert by the official police estimates, some figures placing the number at 100,000. Thompson played in Kupres
on July 19 at the Croatian Defenders Stadium as part of the town's Saint Elijah celebrations. The band played in Livno
on July 27 to end Canton 10
's international Tera conference in front of a crowd of 15-20,000 people. In 2008, in celebration of Victory Day in Čavoglave, Thompson drew a crowd between 60,000 and 100,000. Guests included musicians Mate Bulić and Dražen Zečić, former Croatian international footballers Ardian Kozniku
and Ivica Mornar
, and international basketball player Dino Rađa. Thompson played in Neum
on August 29 in front of 5,000 spectators with profits going to the building of a new church in the town. On May 30, 2008, Thompson held a concert on Ban Jelačić square. It is estimated 130,000-160,000 people were at that concert, despite rain.
The tour officially ended on December 28, 2008, in the same Borovo Naselje
venue in which it started, with another humanitarian concert with profits going to the Vukovar hospital. It was attended by hospital's director and war-time hero
ine Vesna Bosanac, who greeted him on stage.
It was estimated by Thompson's staff that almost 950,000 tickets were sold during the whole two-year long tour.
In June 2008, Marko Perković was named the third most influential person in Croatian show business by Globus
magazine.
His own claim to sing about three big loves, God, family, and homeland, is not simply a self-defence statement, or a political manifesto
; a lot of his most successful (and most appreciated by critics) songs deal with religion: "Radost s Visina" (Joy from Above), "Neću izdat ja" (I will not betray/give up), "Dan dolazi" (The day is coming), and "Početak" (In Principium), or his own family and birthplace: "Vjetar s Dinare" (Winds from Dinara), "Sine Moj" (Oh, my Son), and "Moj Dida i Ja" (My Grandfather and I).
Thompson, along with fra Šito Ćorić and Miroslav Škoro
, performed the official anthem at the Croatian World Games
. Thompson also composed the anthem of the Croatian Party of Rights
. Thompson's "Lijepa li si" was recorded with Miroslav Škoro
, Mate Bulić
, Giulliano, Mladen Grdović, and Alen Vitasović
. Other projects have included "Ljuta guja" with Jasmin Stavros
, and "Reci brate moj" with Miroslav Škoro.
As time went by, those contacts led to the forming of a more defined group of singers and performers, first known as the Tri kuma (the three Godfathers): M.P. Thompson himself, Miroslav Škoro
, and Mate Bulić
, who were the Godfathers of his first-born Šimun Petar, and now popularly referred to as the "Narodni" (Nationals or better Patriots).
The group is not a fixed one; instead it's an ever-growing large and loose one, enlisting a great number of famous Croatian performers of different musical tendencies (from folk Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburaši
to rock to rap Shorty (rapper)
), the patriotic and rightist political tendencies and the opposition to cosmopolitan, globalized, MTV
-style music seemingly being the only pre-requisite.
That group, thanks to the great popularity of its associates and the media it controls or influences (the very popular Narodni radio, the Croatian Music Channels, and especially the largest Croatian label
Croatia Records
, whose director is Škoro itself), had great influence in contemporary Croatian popular music and ultimately seems to have achieved its main cultural goal: winning over the opposite "urbanized" easy-listening tendencies also in the younger parts of the audience.
Marko Perković has said that he is personally a fan of Nightwish
, Iron Maiden
, AC/DC
, and Dream Theater
, among others. Thompson recorded hard rock similar to these bands for the first time on the album Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
, considered by some to be a rock opera. A Washington Post writer described the New York stop on the Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour as sounding "like Iron Maiden doing Eastern European folk".
at Maksimir stadium. The tradition came from fact that "Lijepa li si" was widely recognized by Croatian audiences as a true 21st century re-enactment of "Lijepa naša domovino
" (Oh, Our Beautiful Homeland), the Croatian anthem.
A controversy resulted in 2007 when, during a match against Israel
, the song was not played. After the match Croatian players Josip Šimunić
and Darijo Srna
voiced their concerns about the song not being played. Former Croatian international and longtime member of the Israeli league Đovani Roso went on to say that the song did not bother anyone at the Israel Football Association
. Later, Croatian manager Slaven Bilić also came to Thompson's defence. The controversy was apparently put to rest when the national team began singing the song themselves along with the Croatian fans after their 3-2 win over England at Wembley Stadium
.
on February 5, 2005, to raise money for a local's lymphoma
treatment. Mate Bulić and Thompson held a concert in Slavonski Brod
in 2006 with proceeds going to the building of a shrine near the city. Thompson participated in the humanitarian concert Noć zvijezda, noć hitova in October, 2006. After the Kornati firefighter tragedy of the summer of 2007
, Thompson participated in the recording of a memorial song "Ovo nije kraj" (This is not the end), as well as a charity football match at Poljud attended by 30,000 people. Marko Perković performed at the annual Christmas concert in Zagreb's Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
. The group performed at the humanitarian concert Pjesmom za život in Ljubuški
on October 30, 2008, with proceeds going to the ill Herzegovinian Croat singer Jozo Milićević-Galini. Marko Perković appeared at a memorial football tournament for the deceased from the Croatian War of Independence near Imotski
to hand out the awards to the winners. In November 2008, Perković appeared at a humanitarian concert in Zagreb headlined by Mate Bulić with proceeds going to the Ana Rukavina Foundation, which works to establish a bone marrow network in Croatia.
Thompson became popular with their 1991 hit song "Bojna Čavoglave", which was released during the Croatian War of Independence
. The song depicts a battle involving a battalion of Croat soldiers from Čavoglave
, a village in the Dalmatia
n rural hinterland (and the birthplace of Marko Perković). The song includes the "Za dom - Spremni!" slogan which was used by the Ustaše in World War II. The term did not originate as an Ustaše slogan. It dates back to the 19th century when it was used as a salute to Josip Jelačić
, ban
of Croatia. In its initial form, the salute was: Za dom! - Spremni umrijeti! (For the homeland! - Ready to die!). This is little known outside Croatia and its modern meaning is seen as that of an NDH slogan much like the Nazi salute which dates back to the Middle Ages. The song was seen as boosting the morale of the Croatian armed forces. It was later modified by Bosniaks
and re-recorded as a song about the Bosnian Serb Siege of Sarajevo
.
In 2003, a supposed recording of Perković performing a modified version of the song "Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara
" was made public by journalist Matija Babić
.
The lyrics included:
Which roughly translates to:
There's also a controversy with a song called "Evo zore, evo dana!".
The lyrics included:
Which roughly translates to:
End of the song is obvious glorification of Ante Pavelić
, the leader of Ustasha movement in World War II.
Other than those World War II-related remarks in the original, the song was also to include the lyrics: Račane, jeba ti pas mater, i onome tko glasa za te (which roughly translates to "Račan
, may a dog fuck your mother, and the mothers of those which voted for you") and Gospe sinjska
, ako si u stanju, uzmi Stipu a vrati nam Franju ("Our Lady of Sinj
, if you're able, take Stipe and bring back Franjo"), statements related to the then-current political leaders of Croatia.
Perković has on numerous occasions expressed sympathies to the Ustaša
movement (a World War II fascist organisation), which ruled the Axis-controlled Independent State of Croatia
from 1941 to 1945.
In 2004, the band was barred from having a concert in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands. In response, Perković said, "I have nothing against the Jews, but neither did Jesus Christ, yet still they crucified Him". This statement caused an outcry in the Croatian media.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center
posted a letter to Croatian President Stipe Mesić in June 2007 and expressed "its sense of outrage and disgust in the wake of a massive show of fascist salutes, symbols and uniforms at a rock concert by popular ultra-nationalist Croatian singer "Thompson" attended by 60,000 people in Zagreb."
Two weeks after the concert in Zagreb on June 17, 2007, Perković made this statement regarding claims of the Simon Wiesenthal Center that he is a fascist: "Me and members of my band saw nobody with Ustaša iconography among 60 and more thousand people on Maksimir."
At Thompson's Zagreb concert for the Day of Defenders, a group of youths was heard chanting "Ubi Srbina" ("Kill the Serb"), according to some Croatian media.
The most discussed of Thompson's concerts was his first ever banning in Croatia, in the Istria
n town of Umag
. After this ban, Thompson asked for a concert to be held in the most populated city of Istria: Pula
. When his demand was refused, he started and lost court actions against the city of Pula because of human rights violations. After the court decision, Thompson's lawyer declared that sooner or later he would sing in Pula. In late December 2008, he managed to organize a concert in the Istrian town of Pazin
, even though there were fierce oppositions from IDS
, the leading Istrian political party. These attacks, magnified by Croatian press, led to an increase of tension that reached its climax the night of December 11, when an explosive device was ignited outside the concert venue. Although IDS MP Damir Kajin
immediately accused Thompson's fans
, it turned out later that the offender, Vilim Bon (59), who was injured in the defragration and arrested by police, was acting with the intention of stopping the concert.
The concert took place as planned on December 20, 2008, followed by two more shows on December 21 and 22, due to the demand of the Istrian public. Subsequent red tape
accusations from the press were rejected by police officials.
beliefs:
, religion
, or people of different ideology
. Despite this, he has publicly voiced his support for the NDH a number of times. His credibility in these statements is diminished not only by this fact but also by the legal necessity to denounce any fascist movement in order to avoid further banning (or other legal action). The Croatian Helsinki Committee
has come out against any potential bans, with its president Ivo Banac
referring to such calls from Stipe Mesić and Damir Kajin
as a "weakening of the democratic order".
At his concert in Vukovar on April 13, 2007, he stated: I can't command anybody what to wear at my concert, and I have never encouraged anybody to wear a cap or shirt with letter "U". My message to all of them (and that I would say this evening too, if I saw [anything like that]): "Wear the insignia of the victorious Croatian army from Croatian War of Independence
". It is sad that young people return so far in history and fall for propaganda.
Perković's last tour, Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj, was protested by various Jewish organizations. Held in Frankfurt, the organizations vehemently requested that the German government ban the concert because of its alleged fascist lyrics. When the German government received the transcript
of Thompson's songs, the request to ban the concert was immediately rejected.
At the June 17, 2007, concert at Maksimir Stadium
, Zagreb
, Perković once more stated that he is not a fascist. An English translation of his words is:
The audience, in a sign of approval, shouted a medieval Croatian battle-cry (mostly known from Ivan Zajc
's opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski
and today used mostly to boost morale at soccer
matches), "U boj, u boj
- za narod svoj!" (To the battle, To the battle - for your people/nation!).
In anticipation of the New Year's Eve tour in Australia and New Zealand, Perković released an interview with the local Croatian community
magazine Hrvatski Vijesnik, a translation of which was also published in the "New Generation" English language supplement. In it, he clearly stated that he and also the great majority of Croats don't have any negative feeling towards the Jewish people or religion, and also expressed sympathy after the recent controversy with the Simon Wiesenthal Center
. However, based on his tumultuous history, which includes many incendiary and hateful remarks towards Serbs and other ethnic groups, coupled with his seeming support for Ustaše movements, this retort was widely believed to be an attempt at politically correct posturing on his part, rather than genuine sympathy.
After the concert in Ban Jelacic square
, controversy became, if possible, much more heated than before. His planned concert in Switzerland and Austria was banned, allegedly for security reasons; a similar effort against a concert in Stuttgard was rebuked by the local Croatian community, menacing legal actions.
The most discussed one, however, was the first ever banning (or better cancellation) of one of his concert in Croatia, in the Istria
n town of Umag
.
The band line-up on the Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour is:
Given the relevance that the album got in Perković's projects, they are some of the best performers of rock music
in the Croatian music scene, especially the former Prljavo Kazaliste
members Damir Lipošek "Kex" (guitar) and Fedor Boić (synthesizer), along with long time Thompson members Tiho Orlić (bass and back vocal) and "Kralj" Tomislav Mandarić (guitar). That is also reflected in the band's live performances, with a great space given to solo plays.
, festivals play a large role, with new songs frequently being released for a festival and the best song being declared winner. Thompson has appeared at the following festivals:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band. The group was founded by Marko Perković
Marko Perkovic
Marko Perković is a Croatian musician and is the lead singer of the band Thompson since 1991....
"Thompson", who is often identified with the band itself, "Thompson" being his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
. Perković is the songwriter and lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
. The lineup consists of: Tiho Orlić (bass guitarist and supporting vocalist), Damir "Kex" Lipošek, Fedor Boić, Damir Šomen, and Tomislav Mandarić.
The band name originates from the Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...
, a nickname given to Perković while he fought in the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
. Although predominantly formed in Čavoglave
Cavoglave
Čavoglave is a settlement in Dalmatia, Croatia. Čavoglave is part of the Ružić municipality of Šibenik-Knin County.Although very small...
, Thompson is currently based in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
.
Thompson came to prominence during the Croatian war in 1991, with the release of the first single "Bojna Čavoglave", which proclaims the Croatian resistance to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and was included in the compilation album Rock za Hrvatsku
Rock za Hrvatsku
"The Best of Rock za Hrvatsku" was a popular compilation album of anti-war and patriotic songs released in 1992 during the Croatian War of Independence. Some of the contributing artists had been popular across the then recently defunct federation of Yugoslavia, namely Psihomodo pop, Jura Stublić,...
. This song, with slightly modified lyrics, named "Branitelji Sarajeva", was also sung by the BiH Army
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
during the Siege of Sarajevo
Siege of Sarajevo
The Siege of Sarajevo is the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. Serb forces of the Republika Srpska and the Yugoslav People's Army besieged Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 during the Bosnian War.After Bosnia...
. During the 1990s Thompson gained popularity in Croatia with the release of the first album Moli mala
Moli mala
Moli mala is the first album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 1992. Danijela Martinović sang on the album as a guest for Potonut ću. Zdenko Runjić composed the song Grkinja...
in 1992. They later regained popularity with the popular hit "Prijatelji" in 1998.
In 2002, Thompson began their first major tour to promote the album E, moj narode
E, moj narode
E, moj narode is an album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 2002.The song "Moj Ivane" is originally a Croatian folk song from Kupres, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thompson's modernized version greatly popularized it. The song is part of the band's regular repertoire."Reci, brate moj" is...
. This tour continued sporadically until 2005, and included concerts at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's Entertainment Centre
Sydney Entertainment Centre
The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's Vodafone Arena
Vodafone Arena
Hisense Arena is a sports venue that is part of the Melbourne Park complex, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The current arena's name was purchased in July of 2008.-History:...
. In May 2005, the album was declared a Diamond Record with more than 60,000 copies sold. Touring continued in 2006 with Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj is an album of the Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson. It was released on December 8, 2006....
, again performing internationally with concerts in Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Thompson also features annually at the Homeland Victory celebrations in their hometown of Čavoglave. These performances are attended by many visitors, ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 spectators, and feature singers like Mate Bulić
Mate Bulic
Mate Bulić is a Bosnian Croat pop/folk singer.Many of his songs are influenced by the region of Herzegovina. Bulić finished his schooling in Čitluk and at Mostar, where he graduated in electrical engineering...
, Dražen Zečić
Dražen Zečić
Dražen Zečić is a Croatian pop singer and song-writer.Dražen Zečić was born in Split in 1967. He initially began his career as a song-writer, writing for musicians such as Mate Bulić, Zlatko Pejaković, and Mišo Kovač...
, Ivan Mikulić
Ivan Mikulic
Ivan Mikulić is a Bosnian Croat singer, best known outside his country for having represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, singing "You Are The Only One"...
, and Baruni
Baruni
Baruni is a Croatian pop band. The group was formed in 1991.Name "baruni" was given by Tomislav Ivčić.The group was previously signed to Croatia Records, but is currently working with rival Hit Records...
.
Thompson's growing success has prompted concern and condemnation from minority groups in Croatia and Jewish groups abroad. The band's concert in the Netherlands was banned in 2003.
History
Marko Perković, the founder of the group, was born 27 October 1966 in the village of ČavoglaveCavoglave
Čavoglave is a settlement in Dalmatia, Croatia. Čavoglave is part of the Ružić municipality of Šibenik-Knin County.Although very small...
in the rural Dalmatian hinterland
Zagora (Croatia)
Zagora , sometimes also called Dalmatian Zagora , is the southern inland region of Croatia. The name Zagora means "behind hills", which is a reference to the fact that it is the part of Dalmatia that is not coastal....
of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. He first gained prominence in 1991 at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
, more specifically the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
, with the song "Bojna Čavoglave" (Čavoglave battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
). It should be noted that in these times Marko was not a professional singer, nor was the band even formed, and the song itself was not intended to have commercial purposes. In fact, it was composed as the anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
of the territorial defence unit hastily formed by the dwellers of Čavoglave, at that time under JNA
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
and Chetnik attacks. He released it under his own battle name, Thompson. The song starts with "Za dom - Spremni!", a phrase which was a 19th century salute to Josip Jelačić, ban of Croatia. From there, the song mostly deals with a call to his unit and to the whole Croatian armed forces
Croatian ground army
The Croatian Army is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national interests of the Republic of Croatia and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.Basic tasks of the Croatian Army...
to fight to repel the Chetniks
Chetniks
Chetniks, or the Chetnik movement , were Serbian nationalist and royalist paramilitary organizations from the first half of the 20th century. The Chetniks were formed as a Serbian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in 1904, and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and World War II...
, advocates of greater Serbia
Greater Serbia
The term Greater Serbia or Great Serbia applies to the Serbian nationalist and irredentist ideology directed towards the creation of a Serbian land which would incorporate all regions of traditional significance to the Serbian nation...
ideology, to stop their ethnic cleansing crimes, and to track down them and their accomplices in Serbia. It was seen as fueling the morale of Croatian fighters and was very popular at the time. It appeared on the compilation of Croatian songs Rock za Hrvatsku
Rock za Hrvatsku
"The Best of Rock za Hrvatsku" was a popular compilation album of anti-war and patriotic songs released in 1992 during the Croatian War of Independence. Some of the contributing artists had been popular across the then recently defunct federation of Yugoslavia, namely Psihomodo pop, Jura Stublić,...
(Rock for Croatia).
In 1992, Perković published his first album, Moli mala. By this time he had left active service in the Croatian Army, and toured with other performers of the Rock za Hrvatsku in a humanitarian concert, but he returned to military service for a short time in 1995 to participate in Operation Storm
Operation Storm
Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...
. As time passed, Perković lost his early popularity and through the 1990s he remained relatively less popular. He did release some minor hits, such as "Zmija me za srce ugrizla" (Snake bit my heart) and "Grkinjo, znaj, svemu je kraj' (Greek woman, know that we're through), but repeated his popularity after the hit "Prijatelji" (Friends) in 1998, followed in the same year by his fourth album, Vjetar s Dinare (Tempest
Bura
Bura may refer to several different things:* Bura , a genus of beetles* Boura , a city of Achaea, Greece* Bura , a figure in Greek mythology* Bura , a wind in the northern Mediterranean...
from Dinara
Dinara
Dinara is a mountain located on the border of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of its summits, also called Dinara, is the highest point in Croatia at 1,831 m and a prominence of 728 m.-Etymology:...
), which includes two other very popular releases: "Zaustavi se Vjetre: (Stop yourself Wind) and "Ljiepa li si" (How Beautiful You Are), by far his most popular song.
After the parliamentary elections in 2000
Croatian parliamentary election, 2000
Elections for the Chamber of Representatives of the Croatian Parliament were held on January 3, 2000. These were the first elections to be held after the expiration of a full term of the previous Chamber....
, a left-wing government was formed, led by the president of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Croatia
Social Democratic Party of Croatia , commonly referred to in Croatia as simply Social Democratic Party , is the largest centre-left political party in Croatia...
(SDP), Ivica Račan
Ivica Racan
Ivica Račan was a Croatian career politician, leader of the League of Communists of Croatia and later Social Democratic Party from 1989 to 2007...
, last secretary-general of the League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia
League of Communists of Croatia was the Croatian branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia . Until 1952, it was known as Communist Party of Croatia .- History :...
and a prominent leader in Croatia's push for independence. This sparked angry reactions among Croatian nationalists and Perković once again gained popularity. During his concerts he often made obscene remarks on the Croatian Prime Minister at the time, Ivica Račan, and the President of the Republic, Stipe Mesić.
Many of Thompson's songs (such as "Bojna Čavoglave", "Lijepa li si", and "Zaustavi se vjetre") have become major hits in Croatia, and are played at football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
games and other large events. The band has won the Croatian music competitions Melodije Mostara
Melodije Mostara
Melodije Mostara is a music festival held annually in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival was first held in 1995 and has been held annually since then...
(in 2001) and the Croatian Radio Festival
Croatian Radio Festival
The Croatian Radio Festival is a music festival held annually in Croatia. The festival was first held in 1997 in Vodice. It remained in Vodice until 2002, when it was held in Šibenik. After two years in Šibenik, Rijeka and Požega were co-hosts for the 2004 festival...
(in 2006), and has performed annually on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders is a public holiday in Croatia which is held as a memorial to its War of Independence, celebrated on August 5...
, with all benefits going to families of Croatian soldiers.
E, Moj Narode tour
After the release of E, Moj NarodeE, moj narode
E, moj narode is an album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 2002.The song "Moj Ivane" is originally a Croatian folk song from Kupres, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thompson's modernized version greatly popularized it. The song is part of the band's regular repertoire."Reci, brate moj" is...
in 2002, Thompson began touring to promote the album. The height of his tour was a "magnificent" concert at the Poljud football stadium
Gradski stadion u Poljudu
Stadion Poljud is a multi-use stadium in the Croatian city of Split. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Poljud, and is located on the northern side of the Split peninsula. its original name is "Gradski stadion u Poljudu" . The stadium was built for the 1979 Mediterranean Games and is the...
in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. The concert was attended by 40,000 spectators. During the song "Lijepa li si", Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro is a Croatian musician. Škoro's music is characterized by its traditional tamburitza sound, updated to appeal to a contemporary pop audience.-Biography:...
, Alen Vitasović
Alen Vitasović
Alen Vitasović is a Croatian pop singer and songwriter. Born in Pula, many of his songs are about his native Istria and mostly written in Chakavian dialect....
, Mate Bulić
Mate Bulic
Mate Bulić is a Bosnian Croat pop/folk singer.Many of his songs are influenced by the region of Herzegovina. Bulić finished his schooling in Čitluk and at Mostar, where he graduated in electrical engineering...
, Giuliano
Giuliano
People with the Italian surname Giuliano have included:* Geoffrey Giuliano, American author* Luigi Giuliano, former Neapolitan Camorra boss and pentito.* Luigi Giuliano , Italian international footballer...
, and Mladen Grdović joined him on stage. At the concert, Perković again repeated that his songs mark three loves: God, homeland, and family.
The concert sparked many controversies at the time. Two seats in the audience were reserved for general Mirko Norac
Mirko Norac
Mirko Norac is a former general of the Croatian Army. In 2003 he became the first Croatian Army general to be found guilty of war crimes by a Croatian court after he was transferred from The Hague...
(convicted war criminal, at the time on trial) and general Ante Gotovina
Ante Gotovina
Ante Gotovina is a former Senior Corporal of the French Foreign Legion and former Lieutenant General of the Croatian Army who served in the Croatian War for Independence...
( in custody of ICTY, at the time fugitive from ICTY). At the beginning of the concert, just moments before Perković stepped on the stage, the audience sang the Ustaše
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
song "Evo zore, evo dana
Evo zore, evo dana
"Evo zore, evo dana" is a Croatian pro-ustaše song written after the Black Legion's battle for Kupres in the summer of 1942.The Black Legion fought off the attack by the Montenegrin Chetniks of Pavle Đurišić and Tito's Partisans...
".
In 2003, Thompson released a best-of CD
Sve najbolje (Thompson)
Sve najbolje is a greatest hits compilation album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 2003. This album was made out of 17 songs that showed their success in past 5 albums...
. Also, in 2004, the band's vocalist and bassist Tiho Orlić released a solo album, Tiho, which contained a couple of Thompson songs, and on which Marko Perković also collaborated.
This tour continued sporadically into 2005. Internationally, he played at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's Entertainment Centre
Sydney Entertainment Centre
The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's Vodafone Arena
Vodafone Arena
Hisense Arena is a sports venue that is part of the Melbourne Park complex, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The current arena's name was purchased in July of 2008.-History:...
in May 2005. By the end of the tour, the album was declared a Diamond Record after more than 60,000 copies were sold.
In June 2006, Marko Perković participated in a celebrity football match held in Maksimir in support of children and families affected by malignant disease. Perković was not played by former Croatia international manager Miroslav Blažević
Miroslav Blaževic
Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević is a Bosnian Croat football manager. He is the current head coach of Mes Kerman in Iran Pro League....
, due to an injury.
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour
Bilo jednom u HrvatskojBilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj is an album of the Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson. It was released on December 8, 2006....
was released in December 2006. Despite the late release, it became the second-highest selling Croatian album of the year. Soon after, Thompson announced an initial tour of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and select European cities beginning after the Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
en season through to the summer, and culminating with a performance at Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo Zagreb, the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK Lokomotiva....
in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. The tour began in Vukovar
Vukovar
Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Syrmia County...
in the Borovo Naselje
Borovo Naselje
Borovo Naselje is a Vukovar borough located on the right bank of the Danube river in the Croatian region of Slavonia, 4 kilometers northwest of Vukovar town centre; elevation 90 m. The economy is based on rubber and shoe industries...
neighborhood, where approximately 4000 fans came out to watch the group perform.
The tour continued to Đakovo before going to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, where he performed for a crowd of approximately 15,000 at Ballsporthalle
Ballsporthalle
Fraport Arena is an arena in Frankfurt, Germany. It is primarily used for basketball and is the home arena of Deutsche Bank Skyliners.The arena opened in 1986 and holds 5,000 people...
. In the adjacent hall, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
performed with an audience of about 2,000 people. When he heard that Thompson had an audience of 15,000 people he asked to be taken to the concert. After that he said that he liked the music. By June, the album had sold 100,000 copies—very high by Croatian standards.
The first tour leg in Croatia ended with the biggest concert at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, where they performed in front of 60,000 spectators. The concert was broadcast live on Croatian Public Television. As part of the second leg, Thompson performed at Split's Stadion Stari plac
Stadion Stari plac
Stari plac or stadion kraj stare plinare , and also often referred to as Plinara Stadion, is a multi-use stadium in Split, Croatia, which used to be primarily used for football...
in front of 25,000 people. The show was recorded for a live CD release.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area attracted 5000 people to the Croatian center where it was held, after the original venue with a capacity of 2,500, Kool Haus
The Guvernment
The Guvernment is the name of a nightclub complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1996, it was incarnated from the former RPM nightclub, which closed its doors after several years at the same location.Saturdays The Guvernment is the name of a nightclub complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, cancelled. The rest of the tour continued as planned.
Thompson returned to Croatia in November 2007, and continued with shows in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
: Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, Tomislavgrad
Tomislavgrad
Tomislavgrad is a town and municipality in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in the Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Herzegovina region.- Name :...
, Novi Travnik
Novi Travnik
Novi Travnik is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located south of Travnik on the road to Bugojno...
, Široki Brijeg, and Čapljina
Capljina
Čapljina is a town and municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čapljina is located on the border with Croatia a mere from the Adriatic Sea....
. His last show in Croatia before heading to Australia was Cibona
KK Cibona
Košarkaški klub Cibona is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League and the Adriatic League.-History:The club was founded in 1946 under the name Sloboda...
's annual Christmas benefit show at Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrovic Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall is an Indoor sporting arena in Zagreb, Croatia. It serves as the home court for the professional basketball club KK Cibona. The arena has a seating capacity of 5,400 people.-History:...
with proceeds going to the Zagreb Cathedral
Zagreb cathedral
Zagreb Cathedral on Kaptol is the most famous building in Zagreb, and the tallest building in Croatia. It is dedicated to the Holy Virgin's Ascension and to St. Stephen and St. Ladislaus. The cathedral is typically Gothic, as is its sacristy, which is of great architectonic value...
. The tour in Australia included shows at Melbourne's Festival Hall
Festival Hall, Melbourne
Festival Hall is a concert and sporting venue, located at 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is one of Melbourne's larger concert venues and has hosted a variety of local and international acts over many years....
, Sydney's Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United Sports Centre, formerly known as Sydney Croatia Sports Centre and King Tomislav Park is a multi-use stadium in Edensor Park, Sydney, Australia. It is mainly used for football and is the home ground for the Sydney United team. The stadium has a capacity of 12,000 people and was...
on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, Adelaide, and Perth. The B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
Anti-Defamation Commission of Australia lobbied to prevent the band from receiving Australian visas, but this failed as government officials found that the band did not violate any Australian legislation. After several guest appearances in Croatia, the rapper Shorty
Shorty (rapper)
Shorty, born Dalibor Bartulović, is a Croatian rapper from Vinkovci. He released his debut album in 2004 under the name 1,68 and became famous with his two records Zeka and Dođi u Vinkovce.-Early life:...
was confirmed to be joining Thompson for the Australian leg of the tour, which collectively drew in 22,000 fans at four shows.
In the new year the tour continued with shows in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, Krapina
Krapina
Krapina is a town in northern Croatia and the administrative centre of Krapina-Zagorje County with a population of 4,482 and a total municipality population of 12,479...
, and Čakovec
Cakovec
Čakovec is a city in northern Croatia, located around 90 kilometres north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated Croatian county.-Population:...
before pausing for the group's usual Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
en break. After the break the group had shows in Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
's Jazine Arena
Jazine Basketball Hall
Jazine Basketball Hall is an indoor sporting arena located in Zadar, Croatia. The capacity of the arena is 3,000 people and opened in 1968 after a construction period of 70 days. It was home to the KK Zadar basketball team up until 2008.-External links:*...
and in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden. A show in Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška
Nova Gradiška is a city located in the Brod-Posavina County of Croatia, population 14,196 . It is located in the historic region of Slavonia, near the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina....
had all proceeds go to the building of a local Catholic church. After Nova Gradiška the band proceeded with shows in Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
, Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
, and Županja
Županja
Županja is a city in eastern Slavonia, Croatia, located 254 km east of Zagreb. It is administratively part of the Vukovar-Syrmia county. It is inhabited by 12,185 people ....
. Local authorities threatened to block the band's May 21 concert in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. However, they backed down after the concert's German Croat backers threatened legal action against the city and translated twenty of the band's songs into German for the authorities' benefit. Thompson was asked by Croatian veteran groups to perform at the Defender's Day celebrations at Zagreb's Ban Jelačić Square
Ban Jelacic Square
Ban Jelačić Square is the central square of the city of Zagreb, Croatia, named after ban Josip Jelačić. The official name is Trg bana Jelačića...
, the concert being free of charge. An estimated 55-60,000 people attended the concert by the official police estimates, some figures placing the number at 100,000. Thompson played in Kupres
Kupres
Kupres can refer to:* Kupres, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a town and municipality in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina* Kupres, Republika Srpska, a municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina...
on July 19 at the Croatian Defenders Stadium as part of the town's Saint Elijah celebrations. The band played in Livno
Livno
Livno is a town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Tomislavgrad, Glamoč, Bosansko Grahovo, Kupres and the Croatian border.- Position :...
on July 27 to end Canton 10
Canton 10
Canton 10 or County 10 is the tenth canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The capital of County and its president is in Kupres...
's international Tera conference in front of a crowd of 15-20,000 people. In 2008, in celebration of Victory Day in Čavoglave, Thompson drew a crowd between 60,000 and 100,000. Guests included musicians Mate Bulić and Dražen Zečić, former Croatian international footballers Ardian Kozniku
Ardian Kozniku
Ardian Kozniku is a former Croatian footballer who played as a striker. He was born in Kosovo and is of Albanian descent....
and Ivica Mornar
Ivica Mornar
Ivica Mornar is a retired Croatian footballer. He was born in Split.Mornar began his career with Hajduk Split before going on to play for Eintracht Frankfurt, Sevilla, CD Ourense, Standard Liège, Anderlecht and Portsmouth....
, and international basketball player Dino Rađa. Thompson played in Neum
Neum
Neum is the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It comprises of coastline, the country's only access to the Adriatic Sea. As of 2009, municipal population was of 4,605 and the one of Neum main town was of 4,268 .-Features:Neum has steep hills, sandy beaches, and several large tourist...
on August 29 in front of 5,000 spectators with profits going to the building of a new church in the town. On May 30, 2008, Thompson held a concert on Ban Jelačić square. It is estimated 130,000-160,000 people were at that concert, despite rain.
The tour officially ended on December 28, 2008, in the same Borovo Naselje
Borovo Naselje
Borovo Naselje is a Vukovar borough located on the right bank of the Danube river in the Croatian region of Slavonia, 4 kilometers northwest of Vukovar town centre; elevation 90 m. The economy is based on rubber and shoe industries...
venue in which it started, with another humanitarian concert with profits going to the Vukovar hospital. It was attended by hospital's director and war-time hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
ine Vesna Bosanac, who greeted him on stage.
It was estimated by Thompson's staff that almost 950,000 tickets were sold during the whole two-year long tour.
In June 2008, Marko Perković was named the third most influential person in Croatian show business by Globus
Globus
Globus is Latin for sphere or globe. It may also refer to:-Business:* Glo-Bus, a global business strategy simulation game* Globus , an Indian clothing retail store* Globus , a Swiss department store chain...
magazine.
Lyrics and themes
Thompson's songs are often marked with Christian and historic themes, and often include folklore elements.His own claim to sing about three big loves, God, family, and homeland, is not simply a self-defence statement, or a political manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
; a lot of his most successful (and most appreciated by critics) songs deal with religion: "Radost s Visina" (Joy from Above), "Neću izdat ja" (I will not betray/give up), "Dan dolazi" (The day is coming), and "Početak" (In Principium), or his own family and birthplace: "Vjetar s Dinare" (Winds from Dinara), "Sine Moj" (Oh, my Son), and "Moj Dida i Ja" (My Grandfather and I).
Thompson, along with fra Šito Ćorić and Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro is a Croatian musician. Škoro's music is characterized by its traditional tamburitza sound, updated to appeal to a contemporary pop audience.-Biography:...
, performed the official anthem at the Croatian World Games
Croatian World Games
The Croatian World Games are an Olympics-style competition pitting autochthonous Croat communities in Croatia and neighbouring nations against each other and Croatian diaspora communities. The first Games were held in 2006 in Zadar with the intent to stage them again in 2009. The event is organized...
. Thompson also composed the anthem of the Croatian Party of Rights
Croatian Party of Rights
The Croatian Party of Rights is a right-wing political party in Croatia. The "right" in the party's name refer to the idea of Croatian national and ethnic rights that the party has vowed to protect since its founding in the 19th century...
. Thompson's "Lijepa li si" was recorded with Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro is a Croatian musician. Škoro's music is characterized by its traditional tamburitza sound, updated to appeal to a contemporary pop audience.-Biography:...
, Mate Bulić
Mate Bulic
Mate Bulić is a Bosnian Croat pop/folk singer.Many of his songs are influenced by the region of Herzegovina. Bulić finished his schooling in Čitluk and at Mostar, where he graduated in electrical engineering...
, Giulliano, Mladen Grdović, and Alen Vitasović
Alen Vitasović
Alen Vitasović is a Croatian pop singer and songwriter. Born in Pula, many of his songs are about his native Istria and mostly written in Chakavian dialect....
. Other projects have included "Ljuta guja" with Jasmin Stavros
Jasmin Stavros
Jasmin Stavros born 1954 in Split, is a Croatian pop musician.One of his most popular songs remains "Dao bi sto Amerika" , which relates to his time spent in the United States before his return to Croatia shortly before the country's independence.He is currently signed to Hit Records.- Discography...
, and "Reci brate moj" with Miroslav Škoro.
As time went by, those contacts led to the forming of a more defined group of singers and performers, first known as the Tri kuma (the three Godfathers): M.P. Thompson himself, Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro
Miroslav Škoro is a Croatian musician. Škoro's music is characterized by its traditional tamburitza sound, updated to appeal to a contemporary pop audience.-Biography:...
, and Mate Bulić
Mate Bulic
Mate Bulić is a Bosnian Croat pop/folk singer.Many of his songs are influenced by the region of Herzegovina. Bulić finished his schooling in Čitluk and at Mostar, where he graduated in electrical engineering...
, who were the Godfathers of his first-born Šimun Petar, and now popularly referred to as the "Narodni" (Nationals or better Patriots).
The group is not a fixed one; instead it's an ever-growing large and loose one, enlisting a great number of famous Croatian performers of different musical tendencies (from folk Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburaši
Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburaši
Najbolji Hrvatski Tamburaši is a Croatian tambura group. The group was formed in 1983 as Zlatni Dukati. After a tour of America organized by the Croatian Fraternal Union, the band started to compose more music about Croatia. This came to coincide with the Croatian War of Independence which brought...
to rock to rap Shorty (rapper)
Shorty (rapper)
Shorty, born Dalibor Bartulović, is a Croatian rapper from Vinkovci. He released his debut album in 2004 under the name 1,68 and became famous with his two records Zeka and Dođi u Vinkovce.-Early life:...
), the patriotic and rightist political tendencies and the opposition to cosmopolitan, globalized, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-style music seemingly being the only pre-requisite.
That group, thanks to the great popularity of its associates and the media it controls or influences (the very popular Narodni radio, the Croatian Music Channels, and especially the largest Croatian label
Label
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
Croatia Records
Croatia Records
Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer...
, whose director is Škoro itself), had great influence in contemporary Croatian popular music and ultimately seems to have achieved its main cultural goal: winning over the opposite "urbanized" easy-listening tendencies also in the younger parts of the audience.
Marko Perković has said that he is personally a fan of Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, and Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, among others. Thompson recorded hard rock similar to these bands for the first time on the album Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj is an album of the Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson. It was released on December 8, 2006....
, considered by some to be a rock opera. A Washington Post writer described the New York stop on the Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour as sounding "like Iron Maiden doing Eastern European folk".
Thompson's music and football
Thompson's hit song "Lijepa li si" (meaning "How beautiful you are" and referring to Croatia) is traditionally played after and at halftime at all matches of the Croatian national football teamCroatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
at Maksimir stadium. The tradition came from fact that "Lijepa li si" was widely recognized by Croatian audiences as a true 21st century re-enactment of "Lijepa naša domovino
Lijepa naša domovino
"Lijepa naša domovino" is the national anthem of Croatia. It is often referred to as just "Lijepa naša" in Croatia, which is also a phrase widely used as a metonym for the country....
" (Oh, Our Beautiful Homeland), the Croatian anthem.
A controversy resulted in 2007 when, during a match against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the song was not played. After the match Croatian players Josip Šimunić
Josip Šimunic
Josip Šimunić is a Croatian footballer who plays as a defender for Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian national team.-Club career:...
and Darijo Srna
Darijo Srna
Darijo Srna is a Croatian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk as a captain and is also the captain of the Croatian national team.-Club career:Srna's talent was seen by many scouts in Croatia while he was young...
voiced their concerns about the song not being played. Former Croatian international and longtime member of the Israeli league Đovani Roso went on to say that the song did not bother anyone at the Israel Football Association
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
. Later, Croatian manager Slaven Bilić also came to Thompson's defence. The controversy was apparently put to rest when the national team began singing the song themselves along with the Croatian fans after their 3-2 win over England at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
Humanitarian work
The band has held numerous humanitarian concerts. Thompson made a guest appearance at a humanitarian concert in JastrebarskoJastrebarsko
- Antiquity :In 1865, remnants of a Roman settlement were uncovered in Repišće, Klinča Sela, a village in Jastrebarsko metropolitan area. Further archeological investigation in the late 20th century classified them as a villa rustica and a necropolis consisting of six tumuli, both dating to...
on February 5, 2005, to raise money for a local's lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
treatment. Mate Bulić and Thompson held a concert in Slavonski Brod
Slavonski Brod
Slavonski Brod is a city in Croatia, with a population of 59,507 in 2011. The city was known as Marsonia in the Roman Empire, and as Brod na Savi 1244–1934. It is the sixth largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Zadar. Located in the region of Slavonia, it is the...
in 2006 with proceeds going to the building of a shrine near the city. Thompson participated in the humanitarian concert Noć zvijezda, noć hitova in October, 2006. After the Kornati firefighter tragedy of the summer of 2007
2007 Croatian coast fires
The 2007 Croatian coast fires were a series of fires that struck the Croatian coast in the summer of 2007. After a heat wave, which covered the entire Southern and Eastern Europe, the drought and southern wind helped spread the fires all over the Croatian coast, destroying a large part of the...
, Thompson participated in the recording of a memorial song "Ovo nije kraj" (This is not the end), as well as a charity football match at Poljud attended by 30,000 people. Marko Perković performed at the annual Christmas concert in Zagreb's Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrovic Basketball Hall
Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall is an Indoor sporting arena in Zagreb, Croatia. It serves as the home court for the professional basketball club KK Cibona. The arena has a seating capacity of 5,400 people.-History:...
. The group performed at the humanitarian concert Pjesmom za život in Ljubuški
Ljubuški
Ljubuški is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in thewestern part of Herzegovina.-1971:28.269 total* Croats - 26.198 * Muslims by nationality - 1.812 * Serbs - 118 * Yugoslavs - 49...
on October 30, 2008, with proceeds going to the ill Herzegovinian Croat singer Jozo Milićević-Galini. Marko Perković appeared at a memorial football tournament for the deceased from the Croatian War of Independence near Imotski
Imotski
Imotski , is a small town situated on the northern side of Biokovo massif, Dalmatian hinterland, Croatia. The town was first mentioned as Imotski for the first time in the 10th century and it was held by the Turks from the fall of Bosnia until 1717 when it was captured by the Venetians. The town...
to hand out the awards to the winners. In November 2008, Perković appeared at a humanitarian concert in Zagreb headlined by Mate Bulić with proceeds going to the Ana Rukavina Foundation, which works to establish a bone marrow network in Croatia.
Controversy
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
. The song depicts a battle involving a battalion of Croat soldiers from Čavoglave
Cavoglave
Čavoglave is a settlement in Dalmatia, Croatia. Čavoglave is part of the Ružić municipality of Šibenik-Knin County.Although very small...
, a village in the Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n rural hinterland (and the birthplace of Marko Perković). The song includes the "Za dom - Spremni!" slogan which was used by the Ustaše in World War II. The term did not originate as an Ustaše slogan. It dates back to the 19th century when it was used as a salute to Josip Jelačić
Josip Jelacic
Count Josip Jelačić of Bužim was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859...
, ban
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
of Croatia. In its initial form, the salute was: Za dom! - Spremni umrijeti! (For the homeland! - Ready to die!). This is little known outside Croatia and its modern meaning is seen as that of an NDH slogan much like the Nazi salute which dates back to the Middle Ages. The song was seen as boosting the morale of the Croatian armed forces. It was later modified by Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
and re-recorded as a song about the Bosnian Serb Siege of Sarajevo
Siege of Sarajevo
The Siege of Sarajevo is the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. Serb forces of the Republika Srpska and the Yugoslav People's Army besieged Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 during the Bosnian War.After Bosnia...
.
In 2003, a supposed recording of Perković performing a modified version of the song "Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara
Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara
"Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara" is a Croatian song promoting the Ustaše. The lyrics celebrate the World War II crimes against the Serbs...
" was made public by journalist Matija Babić
Matija Babic
Matija Babić is a Croatian tabloid journalist and enterpreneur best known for his pioneering use of Internet in Croatian media.As a student of University of Zagreb's Faculty of Political Sciences Babić began his career in the media in the late 1990s when he launched political news websites...
.
The lyrics included:
- Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara, to je kuća Maksovih mesara
- U Čapljini klaonica bila, puno Srba Neretva nosila
- Sjajna zvijezdo iznad Metkovića, pozdravi nam Antu Pavelića
Which roughly translates to:
- JasenovacJasenovac concentration campJasenovac concentration camp was the largest extermination camp in the Independent State of Croatia and occupied Yugoslavia during World War II...
and Stara GradiškaStara Gradiška concentration campStara Gradiška was the most notorious concentration and extermination camp in Croatia during World War II, mainly due to the crimes which were committed against women and children. The camp was specially constructed for women and children of Serb, Jew, and Romani ethnicity...
, that's the house of MaksMaks LuburicVjekoslav "Maks" Luburić was a Croatian Ustaše, a war criminal, and the commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp.- Biography :...
' butchers - There was a slaughterhouse in ČapljinaCapljinaČapljina is a town and municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čapljina is located on the border with Croatia a mere from the Adriatic Sea....
, and NeretvaNeretvaNeretva is the largest river of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. It has been harnessed and controlled to a large extent by four HE power-plants with large dams and their storage lakes, but it is still recognized for its natural beauty, diversity of its landscape and visual...
(river) carried away many Serbs - Shining star above MetkovićMetkovicMetković is a city in the Dubrovnik-Neretva county of Croatia, located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the river Neretva and on the border with Herzegovina.-Demographics:...
, send our greetings to Ante PavelićAnte PavelicAnte Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...
There's also a controversy with a song called "Evo zore, evo dana!".
The lyrics included:
- Oj Ustaše braćo mila, duboka je voda Drina.
- Drinu treba pregaziti, i Srbiju zapaliti.
Which roughly translates to:
- Hey, Ustashas, my dear brothers, Drina river (a natural border) is deep.
- We should cross it, and burn Serbia!
End of the song is obvious glorification of Ante Pavelić
Ante Pavelic
Ante Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...
, the leader of Ustasha movement in World War II.
Other than those World War II-related remarks in the original, the song was also to include the lyrics: Račane, jeba ti pas mater, i onome tko glasa za te (which roughly translates to "Račan
Ivica Racan
Ivica Račan was a Croatian career politician, leader of the League of Communists of Croatia and later Social Democratic Party from 1989 to 2007...
, may a dog fuck your mother, and the mothers of those which voted for you") and Gospe sinjska
Gospa Sinjska
Our Lady of Sinj is the title given to the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy in Sinj, venerated as miraculous in the Cetina district. Mary is described as the queen of heaven and earth and set on the throne of "her goodness, love and charity". The Sinj sanctuary is famous all around the...
, ako si u stanju, uzmi Stipu a vrati nam Franju ("Our Lady of Sinj
Sinj
Sinj is a town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The town itself has a population of 11,448, while the population of the administrative municipality which includes surrounding villages is 24,832 ....
, if you're able, take Stipe and bring back Franjo"), statements related to the then-current political leaders of Croatia.
Perković has on numerous occasions expressed sympathies to the Ustaša
Ustaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
movement (a World War II fascist organisation), which ruled the Axis-controlled Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
from 1941 to 1945.
In 2004, the band was barred from having a concert in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands. In response, Perković said, "I have nothing against the Jews, but neither did Jesus Christ, yet still they crucified Him". This statement caused an outcry in the Croatian media.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center
Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
posted a letter to Croatian President Stipe Mesić in June 2007 and expressed "its sense of outrage and disgust in the wake of a massive show of fascist salutes, symbols and uniforms at a rock concert by popular ultra-nationalist Croatian singer "Thompson" attended by 60,000 people in Zagreb."
Two weeks after the concert in Zagreb on June 17, 2007, Perković made this statement regarding claims of the Simon Wiesenthal Center that he is a fascist: "Me and members of my band saw nobody with Ustaša iconography among 60 and more thousand people on Maksimir."
At Thompson's Zagreb concert for the Day of Defenders, a group of youths was heard chanting "Ubi Srbina" ("Kill the Serb"), according to some Croatian media.
The most discussed of Thompson's concerts was his first ever banning in Croatia, in the Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n town of Umag
Umag
Umag is a coastal city in Istria, Croatia.The city hosts the yearly Croatia Open ATP tennis tournament on clay courts.-Geography:It is the westernmost city of Croatia, and the municipality includes Savudrija which is westernmost point of Croatia....
. After this ban, Thompson asked for a concert to be held in the most populated city of Istria: Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
. When his demand was refused, he started and lost court actions against the city of Pula because of human rights violations. After the court decision, Thompson's lawyer declared that sooner or later he would sing in Pula. In late December 2008, he managed to organize a concert in the Istrian town of Pazin
Pazin
Pazin is the administrative seat of Istria County in Croatia. The town has a population of 4,986 , the total Pazin municipality population is 9,227...
, even though there were fierce oppositions from IDS
IDS
- Computing :* IBM Informix Dynamic Server, a relational database management system sold by IBM* Ideographic Description Sequence, a new presentation for encoded characters in Unicode...
, the leading Istrian political party. These attacks, magnified by Croatian press, led to an increase of tension that reached its climax the night of December 11, when an explosive device was ignited outside the concert venue. Although IDS MP Damir Kajin
Damir Kajin
Damir Kajin is a Croatian politician. He is a representative in the Croatian Parliament with the Istrian Democratic Assembly.He lives in Buje....
immediately accused Thompson's fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
, it turned out later that the offender, Vilim Bon (59), who was injured in the defragration and arrested by police, was acting with the intention of stopping the concert.
The concert took place as planned on December 20, 2008, followed by two more shows on December 21 and 22, due to the demand of the Istrian public. Subsequent red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
accusations from the press were rejected by police officials.
Controversial statements
Some press have accused Perković of publicly expressing controversial pro-UstašeUstaše
The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
beliefs:
- "Anyway, why shouldn't the crowd chant 'Ustaše!, Ustaše!' during my concert? This should be an example to all political structures of how the youth can be unified."
- June 2002, in the Večernji listVecernji listVečernji list is a Croatian daily newspaper published in Zagreb.The newspaper was started in the 1950s and it is today one of two largest daily newspapers in Croatia...
daily newspaper. - "There is nothing wrong with my voicing right-wing, Ustaše, beliefs."
- July 2002, in the Jutarnji listJutarnji listJutarnji list is a daily newspaper in Croatia with a circulation of about 115,000 copies.It was launched in April 1998, becoming the first successful Croatian daily newspaper to appear since the 1950s. It was named after a Zagreb daily that used to circulate before WW2...
daily newspaper. - "Serbs lie, they are that kind of a people. They can't love us, nor is that natural. They are our eternal sworn enemies."
- July 2002, in the Jutarnji list daily newspaper.
- "I'm glad you cherish our legacy, our songs!"
- September 2002, when the crowd started chanting "Evo zore, evo dana", a famous Ustaše song, during his concert on the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia.
- "Displaying Ustaše symbols in public should not be illegal."
- January 2004, in the Jutarnji list daily newspaper.
- "I don't mind Ustaše symbols. Why should I?"
- August 2005, in the GlobusGlobus (weekly)Globus is a Croatian weekly news magazine published in Zagreb.The magazine was started in 1990, having some of its first issues published during the Croatian War of Independence. Originally devised as tabloid, it never took an openly chauvinist approach of Slobodni tjednik and always tried to give...
weekly newsmagazine.
Perković's response to accusations
Perković has stated that he is not an Ustaša nor a fascist, but a patriot. He publicly stated that he means no harm to any other nationNation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, or people of different ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
. Despite this, he has publicly voiced his support for the NDH a number of times. His credibility in these statements is diminished not only by this fact but also by the legal necessity to denounce any fascist movement in order to avoid further banning (or other legal action). The Croatian Helsinki Committee
Croatian Helsinki Committee
Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights is the leading organisation for protection and promotion of human rights in Croatia...
has come out against any potential bans, with its president Ivo Banac
Ivo Banac
-External links:*...
referring to such calls from Stipe Mesić and Damir Kajin
Damir Kajin
Damir Kajin is a Croatian politician. He is a representative in the Croatian Parliament with the Istrian Democratic Assembly.He lives in Buje....
as a "weakening of the democratic order".
At his concert in Vukovar on April 13, 2007, he stated: I can't command anybody what to wear at my concert, and I have never encouraged anybody to wear a cap or shirt with letter "U". My message to all of them (and that I would say this evening too, if I saw [anything like that]): "Wear the insignia of the victorious Croatian army from Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
". It is sad that young people return so far in history and fall for propaganda.
Perković's last tour, Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj, was protested by various Jewish organizations. Held in Frankfurt, the organizations vehemently requested that the German government ban the concert because of its alleged fascist lyrics. When the German government received the transcript
Transcription (linguistics)
Transcription in the linguistic sense is the systematic representation of language in written form. The source can either be utterances or preexisting text in another writing system, although some linguists only consider the former as transcription.Transcription should not be confused with...
of Thompson's songs, the request to ban the concert was immediately rejected.
At the June 17, 2007, concert at Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo Zagreb, the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK Lokomotiva....
, Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Perković once more stated that he is not a fascist. An English translation of his words is:
The audience, in a sign of approval, shouted a medieval Croatian battle-cry (mostly known from Ivan Zajc
Ivan Zajc
Ivan Dragutin Stjepan Zajc or Ivan pl. Zajc , was a Croatian composer, conductor, director and teacher who for over forty years dominated Croatia's musical culture...
's opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski
Nikola Šubic Zrinski
Nikola Šubić Zrinski , was a Croatian nobleman and general in service of Habsburg Monarchy, ban of Croatia from 1542 to 1556, and member of the Zrinski noble family...
and today used mostly to boost morale at soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
matches), "U boj, u boj
U boj, u boj
"U boj, u boj" is a Croatian patriotic song. It was written and composed by Ivan Zajc in 1866, who later incorporated it as an aria into his opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski where it is sung by a male choir....
- za narod svoj!" (To the battle, To the battle - for your people/nation!).
In anticipation of the New Year's Eve tour in Australia and New Zealand, Perković released an interview with the local Croatian community
Croatian diaspora
Croatian diaspora refers to the Croatian communities that have formed outside Croatia.Estimates on its size are only approximate because of incomplete statistical records and naturalization, but estimates suggest that the Croatian diaspora numbers between a third and a half of the total number of...
magazine Hrvatski Vijesnik, a translation of which was also published in the "New Generation" English language supplement. In it, he clearly stated that he and also the great majority of Croats don't have any negative feeling towards the Jewish people or religion, and also expressed sympathy after the recent controversy with the Simon Wiesenthal Center
Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
. However, based on his tumultuous history, which includes many incendiary and hateful remarks towards Serbs and other ethnic groups, coupled with his seeming support for Ustaše movements, this retort was widely believed to be an attempt at politically correct posturing on his part, rather than genuine sympathy.
After the concert in Ban Jelacic square
Ban Jelacic Square
Ban Jelačić Square is the central square of the city of Zagreb, Croatia, named after ban Josip Jelačić. The official name is Trg bana Jelačića...
, controversy became, if possible, much more heated than before. His planned concert in Switzerland and Austria was banned, allegedly for security reasons; a similar effort against a concert in Stuttgard was rebuked by the local Croatian community, menacing legal actions.
The most discussed one, however, was the first ever banning (or better cancellation) of one of his concert in Croatia, in the Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n town of Umag
Umag
Umag is a coastal city in Istria, Croatia.The city hosts the yearly Croatia Open ATP tennis tournament on clay courts.-Geography:It is the westernmost city of Croatia, and the municipality includes Savudrija which is westernmost point of Croatia....
.
Band members
The only permanent member of the band is Marko Perković, and he is often identified with the band.The band line-up on the Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour is:
- Fedor Boić
- Damir Lipošek Kex
- Tomislav Mandarić
- Tiho Orlić
- Marko Perković
- Damir Šomen
Given the relevance that the album got in Perković's projects, they are some of the best performers of rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
in the Croatian music scene, especially the former Prljavo Kazaliste
Prljavo kazalište
Prljavo kazalište is a rock and roll band from Zagreb, Croatia. Since its formation in 1977, the group changed several music styles and line ups but remained one of the top acts of both the Croatian and the former Yugoslav rock scenes.-Beginnings:Prljavo kazalište was formed in 1977 in Dubrava,...
members Damir Lipošek "Kex" (guitar) and Fedor Boić (synthesizer), along with long time Thompson members Tiho Orlić (bass and back vocal) and "Kralj" Tomislav Mandarić (guitar). That is also reflected in the band's live performances, with a great space given to solo plays.
Studio albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Moli mala Moli mala Moli mala is the first album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 1992. Danijela Martinović sang on the album as a guest for Potonut ću. Zdenko Runjić composed the song Grkinja... |
1992 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
| Vrijeme škorpiona Vrijeme škorpiona Vrijeme škorpiona is an album of the Croatian singer Thompson. It was released in 1995.-Track listing:# "Škorpioni" # "Poljubi me" # "Moj grad" # "Rock 'n' roll"... |
1995 | Croatia Records |
| Geni kameni Geni kameni Geni kameni is an album of the Croatian singer Thompson. It was released in 1996.The album's title track Geni kameni became the most notable from the album. The song talks about the "genes of stone" of the Croatians... |
1996 | Croatia Records |
| Vjetar s Dinare Vjetar s Dinare Vjetar s Dinare is an album of the Croatian singer Thompson. It was released in 1998. It was a big hit.The opening track Zaustavi se vjetre plays out as a conversation between Thompson and the Dinaric winds, sung by a Dalmatian klapa, in which Thompson begs the winds to tell him about his family... |
1998 | Croatia Records |
| E, moj narode E, moj narode E, moj narode is an album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 2002.The song "Moj Ivane" is originally a Croatian folk song from Kupres, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thompson's modernized version greatly popularized it. The song is part of the band's regular repertoire."Reci, brate moj" is... |
2002 | Croatia Records |
| Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj is an album of the Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson. It was released on December 8, 2006.... |
December 2006 | Croatia Records |
| Druga strana Druga strana Druga strana is an album of the Croatian rock band Thompson. It was released in December, 2008. The album is a compilation of re-recorded B-sides previously released by the group. Prior to its release it was known under the working title B strana.-Tracks:... |
December 2008 | Croatia Records |
| TBA | 2011 | TBA |
Compilation albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Sve najbolje Sve najbolje (Thompson) Sve najbolje is a greatest hits compilation album of the Croatian band Thompson. It was released in 2003. This album was made out of 17 songs that showed their success in past 5 albums... |
2003 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
Concert albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Bilo Jednom u Hrvatskoj: Split - Stari plac Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj: Split - Stari plac Bilo Jednom u Hrvatskoj: Split - Stari plac is a live concert album by the Croatian band Thompson, led by singer Marko Perkovic. It was released in December 2007, nearly a year after the in-studio album of the same name.The album was recorded at the band's concert in Split in front of over 25,000... |
2007 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
Soundtracks
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Glazba iz filma Josef | 2011 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
Concert videos
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Turneja: E, moj narode | 2004 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
| Turneja: Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Maksimir Turneja: Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Maksimir Turneja: Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Maksimir is a concert video of the Croatian band Thompson's June 17, 2007 performance in Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium in front of a crowd of 70,000 and more.-Song list:#Uvod #Početak#Dolazak Hrvata#Duh ratnika... |
2007 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
By Tiho Orlić
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Tiho | 2004 | Croatia Records Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer... |
| TBA | 2011 | TBA |
Festival appearances
In Croatian musicMusic of Croatia
The music of Croatia, like the divisions of the country itself, has two major influences: the Central European one, present in the central and northern parts of the country, as well as in Slavonia, and the Mediterranean one, particularly present in the coastal regions of Dalmatia and Istria.In...
, festivals play a large role, with new songs frequently being released for a festival and the best song being declared winner. Thompson has appeared at the following festivals:
- Croatian Radio FestivalCroatian Radio FestivalThe Croatian Radio Festival is a music festival held annually in Croatia. The festival was first held in 1997 in Vodice. It remained in Vodice until 2002, when it was held in Šibenik. After two years in Šibenik, Rijeka and Požega were co-hosts for the 2004 festival...
: 1999, 2002, 2006 - Etnofest Neum: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Melodije MostaraMelodije MostaraMelodije Mostara is a music festival held annually in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival was first held in 1995 and has been held annually since then...
: 2001 - Split FestivalSplit FestivalThe Split Festival is a pop music festival held annually in Split, Croatia. It has been held since 1960. It is one of the premier Croatian music festivals...
: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002
External links
Official website- Rocking The Boat, Washington Post, November 5, 2007
- A Croatian rock star flirts with the Nazi past, International Herald TribuneInternational Herald TribuneThe International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
, July 1, 2007 - ‘Slightly Fascist’? The New York Times Prods Croatia, Gently www.tenc.net
- Voinovich urges cancellation of concert by Croatian rock star Thompson
- The Star.com