Thompson (band)

Thompson
Thompson performing in Frankfurt
Background information
Origin	Čavoglave, Croatia
Genres	Rock, Folk rock, Hard rock
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Croatia Records
Website	www.thompson.hr
Members
Marko Perković Tiho Orlić Damir Lipošek Kex Fedor Boić Tomislav Mandarić Damir Šomen
Past members
Saša Bulić - Ujac Tonći Rubić - Toto Mario Salvador Marino Strmo Ante Pupačić - Pupi

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.^[1]

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,^[2] the album was declared a Diamond Record with more than 60,000 copies sold.^[3] 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.^[4][5]

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.^[6]

History

Marko Perković, the founder of the group, was born 27 October 1966 in the village of Čavoglave in the rural Dalmatian hinterland of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.^[7] 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" (English: 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,^[8] and to track down them and their accomplices in Serbia.^[9] 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 (English: 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.^[10] 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" (English: Snake bit my heart) and "Grkinjo, znaj, svemu je kraj' (English: Greek woman, know that we're through), but repeated his popularity after the hit "Prijatelji" (English: Friends) in 1998, followed in the same year by his fourth album, Vjetar s Dinare (English: Tempest from Dinara), which includes two other very popular releases: "Zaustavi se Vjetre: (English: Stop yourself Wind) and "Ljiepa li si" (English: How Beautiful You Are), by far his most popular song.^[11]

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.^[12][13] 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.^[11]

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.^{[citation needed]}

E, Moj Narode tour

After the release of E, Moj Narode in 2002, Thompson began touring to promote the album. The height of his tour was a "magnificent"^[14] 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.^[14]

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 (as of 2009^[update] 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".^[11][14]

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.^[2] By the end of the tour, the album was declared a Diamond Record after more than 60,000 copies were sold.^[3]

In June 2006, Marko Perković participated in a celebrity football match held in Maksimir in support of children and families affected by malignant disease.^[15] Perković was not played by former Croatia international manager Miroslav Blažević, due to an injury.^[15]

Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj tour

Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj was released in December 2006. Despite the late release, it became the second-highest selling Croatian album of the year.^[16] Soon after, Thompson announced an initial tour of Croatia and select European cities beginning after the Lenten 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.^[17]

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.^[18] By June, the album had sold 100,000 copies—very high by Croatian standards.^[19]

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.^[20]

Banner from Toronto-area concert

He had two shows scheduled in November 2007 for New York City, which provoked protests from several Jewish groups.^[21] 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.^[22] A Washington Post reporter who attended one of the concerts was also not convinced of the alleged Neo-Nazi link.^[23] 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.^[24] 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.^[20] 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.^[25] 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.^[26] 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.^[27][28]

In the new year the tour continued with shows in Rijeka, Krapina, and Čakovec before pausing for the group's usual Lenten break.^[29][30] After the break the group had shows in Zadar's Jazine Arena and in Gothenburg, Sweden.^[30] A show in Nova Gradiška had all proceeds go to the building of a local Catholic church.^[31] 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.^[32] 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.^[32] 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.^[33] An estimated 55-60,000 people attended the concert by the official police estimates,^[34] some figures placing the number at 100,000.^[35] Thompson played in Kupres on July 19 at the Croatian Defenders Stadium as part of the town's Saint Elijah celebrations.^[36] 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.^[37] In 2008, in celebration of Victory Day in Čavoglave, Thompson drew a crowd between 60,000 and 100,000.^[38] Guests included musicians Mate Bulić and Dražen Zečić, former Croatian international footballers Ardian Kozniku and Ivica Mornar, and international basketball player Dino Rađa.^[39] 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.^[40] 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,^[41] with another humanitarian concert with profits going to the Vukovar hospital. It was attended by hospital's director and war-time heroine Vesna Bosanac, who greeted him on stage.^[42]

It was estimated by Thompson's staff that almost 950,000 tickets were sold during the whole two-year long tour.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2008, Marko Perković was named the third most influential person in Croatian show business by Globus magazine.^[43]

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; a lot of his most successful (and most appreciated by critics) songs deal with religion: "Radost s Visina" (English: Joy from Above), "Neću izdat ja" (English: I will not betray/give up), "Dan dolazi" (English: The day is coming), and "Početak" (English: In Principium), or his own family and birthplace: "Vjetar s Dinare" (English: Winds from Dinara), "Sine Moj" (English: Oh, my Son), and "Moj Dida i Ja" (English: My Grandfather and I).

Thompson, along with fra Šito Ćorić and Miroslav Škoro, performed the official anthem at the Croatian World Games.^[44] Thompson also composed the anthem of the Croatian Party of Rights.^[45] 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.^[46][47]

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.^[48][49] 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".^[23]

Thompson's music and football

Thompson at the humanitarian concert Križ nek' ti sačuva ime in Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall on September 7, 2008

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 team at Maksimir stadium.^[50] 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" (English: Oh, Our Beautiful Homeland), the Croatian anthem.^[51]

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.^[52] 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.^[52] Later, Croatian manager Slaven Bilić also came to Thompson's defence.^[53] 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.^[54]

Humanitarian work

The band has held numerous humanitarian concerts. Thompson made a guest appearance at a humanitarian concert in Jastrebarsko 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.^[55] Thompson participated in the humanitarian concert Noć zvijezda, noć hitova in October, 2006.^[56] After the Kornati firefighter tragedy of the summer of 2007, Thompson participated in the recording of a memorial song "Ovo nije kraj" (English: This is not the end), as well as a charity football match at Poljud attended by 30,000 people.^[57] Marko Perković performed at the annual Christmas concert in Zagreb's Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall.^[58] 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.^[59] 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.^[60] 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.^[61]

Controversy

A man going to Thompson concert wearing Ustaše insignia

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 Dalmatian 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! (English: 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.^[62]

A young pair posing wearing Ustaše insignia before Thompson concert in Zagreb on 17 June 2007

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:

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:

Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška, that's the house of Maks' butchers

There was a slaughterhouse in Čapljina, and Neretva (river) carried away many Serbs

Shining star above Metković, send our greetings to Ante Pavelić

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, 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.^[63]

In 2004, the band was barred from having a concert in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.^[6][64] In response, Perković said, "I have nothing against the Jews, but neither did Jesus Christ, yet still they crucified Him".^[65] 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."^[63]

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."^[66]

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.^[67][68]

The most discussed of Thompson's concerts was his first ever banning in Croatia, in the Istrian town of Umag.^[69] 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^[70] 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.^[71] 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.^[72] 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^[73] were rejected by police officials.^[74]

Controversial statements

Some press have accused Perković of publicly expressing controversial pro-Ustaše beliefs:^[75]

• "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 list daily newspaper.
• "There is nothing wrong with my voicing right-wing, Ustaše, beliefs."
• July 2002, in the Jutarnji list 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 Globus weekly newsmagazine.

Perković's response to accusations

Perković has stated that he is not an Ustaša nor a fascist, but a patriot.^[17] He publicly stated that he means no harm to any other nation, religion, or people of different ideology.^{[citation needed]} Despite this, he has publicly voiced his support for the NDH a number of times.^[76] 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).^{[citation needed]} 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".^[77]

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.^[17]

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:

I'm often attacked and accused that we are fascists, Nazis, and because of this that you who listen to my music and follow are also. And we hereby say to them that we are not fascists, Nazis, but Croatian patriots. We tell them that there are values that we live for.^[5] There were people that we will never forget. And there are dreams that we will never give up. Because this country was made, our Croatia, on the blood and suffering of this generation, victorious generation!

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!" (English: 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.^[78] 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.

I have no idea why this is the case, again I stress that there is no ill-feeling between the Jewish and Croatian people, but rather these false reports arise from certain individuals with their own agenda. I have no control of the media and what they publish, I am more concerned with what I do on stage.

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 Istrian town of Umag.^[79]

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 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.

Discography

Further information: Thompson discography

Studio albums

Title	Release date	Label
Moli mala	1992	Croatia Records
Vrijeme škorpiona	1995	Croatia Records
Geni kameni	1996	Croatia Records
Vjetar s Dinare	1998	Croatia Records
E, moj narode	2002	Croatia Records
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj	December 2006	Croatia Records
Druga strana	December 2008	Croatia Records
TBA	2011	TBA

Compilation albums

Title	Release date	Label
Sve najbolje	2003	Croatia Records

Concert albums

Title	Release date	Label
Bilo Jednom u Hrvatskoj: Split - Stari plac[20]	2007	Croatia Records

Soundtracks

Title	Release date	Label
Glazba iz filma Josef	2011	Croatia Records

Concert videos

Title	Release date	Label
Turneja: E, moj narode	2004	Croatia Records
Turneja: Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Maksimir	2007	Croatia Records

By Tiho Orlić

Title	Release date	Label
Tiho	2004	Croatia Records
TBA	2011	TBA

Festival appearances

In Croatian music, 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 Festival: 1999, 2002, 2006
• Etnofest Neum: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Melodije Mostara: 2001
• Split Festival: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002

Footnotes

1. ^ Marko Perković Thompson, Tena. Retrieved April 25, 2008.
2. ^ ^{a b} 2005 Australian Concert
3. ^ ^{a b} Promotion for Thompson's Concert in Germany. Croatia Records (Croatian)
4. ^ Celebrations in Čavoglave at Večernji.hr
5. ^ More than 50,000 in Čavoglave
6. ^ ^{a b} Index.hr
7. ^ Marko Perkovic - Biography Research Guide
8. ^ Goran Jungvirth (2006-02-17). "Martić "Provoked" Croatian Conflict". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. http://www.iwpr.net/?p=tri&s=f&o=259675&apc_state=henftri259753. Retrieved 2007-06-12. 
9. ^ Song text (in English)
10. ^ Marko Perković (1966 - )
11. ^ ^{a b c} Boris Dežulović article on Thompson
12. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&pg=PT147&lpg=PT147&dq=Ivica+Ra%C4%8Dan+walkout&source=web&ots=-EF0TG_AcS&sig=O-MZe-GRejlH-dhWLxTMPS_JFwU&hl=en#PPT147,M1
13. ^ Croatian opposition leader resigns over health reason
14. ^ ^{a b c} Boić, Petra (2002-09-17). "Pjesma i politika na Poljudu pred 40 tisuća ljudi" (in Croatian) (PDF). Vjesnik. http://www.vjesnik.hr/Pdf/2002%5C09%5C17%5C21A21.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
15. ^ ^{a b} Derbi^{[dead link]}
16. ^ Most played song 'Srce nije kamen', Gibonni's album the highest sold
17. ^ ^{a b c} Perković's interview for Index.hr before the concert in Vukovar at Index.hr
18. ^ Thompson article at Slobodna Dalmacija
19. ^ Marko Perković Thompson: I am an ordinary father and husband
20. ^ ^{a b c} Thompson's first live CD on sale with Večernji
21. ^ "Neo-Nazi Band Set To Play Amid Protests". New York Sun. October 24, 2007. http://www.nysun.com/article/65117. Retrieved 2007-10-17. 
22. ^ N.Y. Archdiocese sees no Nazi evidence in Croat rock band
23. ^ ^{a b} Rocking The Boat, Washington Post
24. ^ Thompson lights up Toronto at "forbidden concert"
25. ^ 19th Christmas in Cibona
26. ^ Jewish outrage at 'anti-Semitic' singer
27. ^ Exclusive Interview: Marko Perkovic Thompson in Australia!
28. ^ Thompson in Australia: More than 22,000 people at four concerts
29. ^ Thompson brought love to people of Rijeka
30. ^ ^{a b} Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj: Thompson going forward
31. ^ Thompson conert for the building of a church in the Jug parish
32. ^ ^{a b} Marseillaise decides that Thompson's concert will go on after all, Večernji list, May 14, 2008. Retrieved on May 14, 2008.
33. ^ Thompson Exclusive
34. ^ Thompson greated the full Square, as well as generals Norac and Gotovina, Večernji list
35. ^ http://www.jutarnji.hr/dogadjaji_dana/clanak/art-2008,5,30,,121416.jlm^{[dead link]} Jutarnji list
36. ^ Thompson ignited Kiseljak
37. ^ Ranch "Lištanac": Thompson held a concert in front of 20,000 fans. June 28, 2008.
38. ^ Whole Croatia with Thompson in Čavoglave
39. ^ A hundred thousand people with Thompson in Čavoglave at public celebration, Slobodna Dalmacija. August 5, 2008. Retrieved: August 16, 2008.
40. ^ Thompson sang in Neum, Bljesak
41. ^ [1]
42. ^ [2]
43. ^ "100 najmoćnijih ljudi u hrvatskom šoubiznisu" (in Bosnian). http://www.mediamagazin.info/estrada-balkanica/100-najmocnijih-ljudi-u-hrvatskom-soubiznisu.html. Retrieved 2008-11-15. ^{[dead link]}
44. ^ Croatian World Games
45. ^ HSP anthem
46. ^ Ljuta guja
47. ^ Reci, brate moj
48. ^ Exclusive interview before the sought-after release of "Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj"
49. ^ Thompson: God-willing, maybe I'll sing in English, Slobodna Dalmacija, April 17, 2008. Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
50. ^ Šimunić: Why didn't they allow Thompson
51. ^ Lijepa naša domovinoSongs text comparison
52. ^ ^{a b} Thompson kicked out of Maksimir
53. ^ Bilić gives interview for journalist who wrote that Šimunić was an idiot
54. ^ A trip to remember
55. ^ "Thompson i Bulić okupili više od 2000 Brođana" (in Croatian). sbtv.hr. http://www.sbtv.hr/Vijesti/6%20-%202006-2-6%20-%2012/SB_INFO_06_12_02_2006.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
56. ^ "Humanitarni koncert "Noć zvijezda, noć hitova" Nenad Ninčević" (in Croatian). Sanamens. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080519090649/http://www.sanamens.hr/humanitarni-koncert-%E2%80%9Cnoc-zvijezda-noc-hitova%E2%80%9D-nenad-nincevic/. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
57. ^ With big hearts, 30 thousand at Poljud for dead firefighters
58. ^ "Tradicionalni 19. božićni koncert u Ciboni" (in Croatian). Javno.com. 2008-12-27. http://www.javno.com/home/hr/scena/clanak.php?id=109699. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
59. ^ "Humanitarni koncert" (in Croatian). uoft.biz. 2008-11-03. http://www.uotv.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=822&Itemid=26. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
60. ^ "Podbablje Gornje: Thompson dijelio darove" (in Croatian). Imotske Novine. 2008-08-29. http://www.imotskenovine.hr/Imotski/Lokalne-teme/Podbablje-Gornje-Thompson-dijelio-darove.html. Retrieved 2008-11-13. ^{[dead link]}
61. ^ "Bulić i Thompson zapalili ‘Cibonu’, ali opet bez Škore" (in Croatian). Slobodna Dalmacija. 2008-11-22. http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Spektakli/tabid/79/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/31253/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 
62. ^ BiH Army's morale raised by Čavoglave
63. ^ ^{a b} Wiesenthal Center Expresses Outrage At Massive Outburst of Nostalgia for Croatian fascism at Zagreb Rock Concert; Urges President Mesic to Take Immediate Action by Simon Wiesenthal Center
64. ^ Episode of TV show Latinica about Thompson
65. ^ "Je li pjevač Thompson opasniji od marihuane". http://www.vjesnik.hr/Pdf/2003%5C11%5C27%5C07A7.PDF.  (Croatian)
66. ^ Thompson interview in Večernji list
67. ^ Thompson greeted Norac, swarm chanted "Kill the Serb", Index.hr
68. ^ http://dnevnik.hr/bin/article.php?article_id=48080&page=5&p_all_items=44
69. ^ http://daily.tportal.hr/article.aspx?aID=3372&kID=1
70. ^ http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=11&dd=27&nav_id=55348
71. ^ http://www.24sata.info/20370
72. ^ http://www.javno.com/iz-minute-u-minutu/clanak.php?id=572922
73. ^ http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/35196/Default.aspx
74. ^ http://www.vecernji.hr/newsroom/blackchronicle/3207414/index.do
75. ^ Statements published by Feral Tribune (Internet Archive)
76. ^ Tromblon
77. ^ Banac: Mesić and Kajin are violating human rights, Jutarnji list. July 21, 2008.
78. ^ [3]
79. ^ [4]

External links

• (Croatian) Official website
• Rocking The Boat, Washington Post, November 5, 2007
• A Croatian rock star flirts with the Nazi past, International Herald Tribune, 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