Who is Marko Perkovic "Thompson" ?
CroRadio.net
Who is Marko Perkovic "Thompson" ?
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Marko Perkovic Thompson
Marko Perkovic is Croatia's most prominent musician. He and his band
go by the stage-name "Thompson." That was the nick-name given to him
by his fellow soldiers during Croatia's 1991-1995 war of independence
from Serbian-dominated communist Yugoslavia. The village he was born
in, "Cavoglave," was on the front-lines of Serbian aggression during
that turbulent period. He took part in the successful defense of his
nation. The weapon he was issued was the American-made sub-machine
gun, hence the nick-name Thompson. Marko Perkovic was quickly
catapulted to fame by his patriotic song, "Cavoglave," dedicated to
defenders from the village of his birth. The song inspired all
Croatian defenders. It inspired Croatian civilians and Croatians all
around the world at a very critical moment in the small nation's
history. It was on that foundation that he built his career. And
"Thompson" soon became a house-hold name.
What type of music does "Thompson" perform?
"Thompson" is a hard-rock/heavy-metal band. Many of the band's songs
are comprised of ethno-elements, folk poetry and songs that have for
centuries accompanied Croatian folk-dances. "Thompson" has also been
known to perform and record pop-songs.
What does Marko Perkovic sing about?
Marko Perkovic and his band are certainly not one-dimensional. Earlier
in his career, Perkovic recorded many love songs to accompany hits
that were centered around Croatian social themes. Since his career
took off during Croatia's fight for independence, many of his songs
were about the liberation of Croatia. Croatia gained official
international recognition in 1992. Croatia was officially and
legitimately liberated in 1995. Contrary to negative propaganda and
outright lies, Thompson's songs inspired Croatians during the
liberation of their homeland. Thompson also recorded songs depicting
the plight of Croatian soldiers after the war. Stories about the
experiences similar to those of Vietnam Vets in the United States
after returning from war. With his more recent albums, Thompson has
centered the themes of his songs on the natural scenic beauty of
Croatia and three social values that the overwhelming majority of
Croatians hold dear: God, family and the homeland. His music has never
glorified war-criminals from the past or present. These accusations
are simply preposterous.
God, Family and the Homeland
Thompson has on numerous occasions challenged anyone opposed to him or
his music to prove their false claims and accusations. He has
challenged all his critics to listen to his songs, obtain translations
of his lyrics, and finally learn the truth about his music. Once
again, the main themes of Thompson's songs are about God, family and
the homeland. Many critics, purposely or not, misinterpret his music
as political activism. Perhaps it because of the message his songs
emit. Messages of faith in God, love of family and homeland. A far cry
from a nationalist or extremist, Thompson is simply a patriot.
Something he willingly admits. These are themes hardly worthy of
controversy and the kind of negative publicity surrounding him and his
band.
Thompson does NOT perform anthems that glorify war-criminals,
concentration camps or genocide
The worst of all false accusations flung at Thompson is that he is the
author of a song called: "Jasenovac & Gradiska Stara." Contrary to
fallacious propaganda and claims, Thompson is not the author of this
song. He does not, nor has he ever, performed it live. It cannot be
found on any of Thompson's seven albums. We challenge all his critics
and accusers to listen to all of his recorded work and learn the truth
for themselves. Once again, we challenge all to obtain copies of his
official albums; and kindly ask to refrain from viewing or listening
to propagandistic montages constructed and posted on the Internet by
anonymous Thompson-haters. The song is simply not his.
Why, then, does so much controversy revolve around Thompson?
Since the end of World War II, the Croatian nation was systematically
stigmatized by the Serbian-dominated communist government of
Yugoslavia. For 45 yrs., any hint of Croatian patriotism was
extinguished by the state's apparatus, most commonly under the false
indictment of "fascist" or "Nazi" separatism. To accompany the murder
and imprisonment of Croatian patriots within Yugoslavia and around the
world, negative propaganda about Croatians was disseminated by
Belgrade's information services. This was purposely done with the
objective of squashing any activism around the world. Within years,
the Croatian nation became synonymous with that of the Nazis. Sadly,
in many cases of western literature, the false accusation stuck.
With his songs, Thompson has for some reason warranted the ire of many
anti-Croatian Greater-Serbian nationalists and their well-paid public-
relation mouthpieces their lobbies employ. They have still not come to
terms that they were on the losing side of a war of aggression that
Milosevic's Serbia committed against Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina. They have still not come to terms with the fact that
Croatia is an independent country proud of its recent victory on the
battle-field against criminal aggression. Croatia's enemies have since
conducted a defamation campaign against all Croats, not just Thompson.
It is their hope to stifle Croatia's chance at entry into the European
Union. Thompson is very popular among Croatians that are old enough to
remember the war years in the early 1990s. And the band quickly became
a natural target for Croatia's enemies. The defamation campaign is
spear-headed by negative propaganda identical to the kind spread world-
wide during communist Yugoslavia. Propaganda that basically equates
the entire Croatian nation and its identity to Nazism. It appears that
not even a simple musician can escape anti-Croatian bias. This type of
propaganda war-fare should not be surprising to American eyes or ears.
We ask all interested to try and understand the political/social
landscape of once war-torn South Central Europe. Starting from that
position, it will be much easier to understand today's relations
between peoples of the former Yugoslavia.
Thompson performed in Frankfurt, Germany on April 21, 2007
As you probably know by now, Thompson is very popular in Croatian
emigrant communities around the world. He has sold out concerts in
Australia, Canada and Germany. Just to name a few countries. Thompson
played a packed Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany on April 21,
2007. We'd like to remind you that the concert was held in the heart
of Germany. A nation with the most stringent of anti-bias and anti-
hate laws that exist anywhere in the world. When German authorities
translated Thompson's lyrics, something we ask all of you to do, they
soon learned what the band is really about. And the show went on as
planned. We find it extremely hard to believe that Thompson's most
vocal critics are not aware of this. Once again, we remind you that
Thompson performed a successful show in Frankfurt, Germany. The
concert and the translation of lyrics made by German authorities were
reported by major media-outlets in that country. As correctly and
truthfully reported in the newspapers Allgemeine Zeitung and
Frankfurter Allgemeine, Thompson's lyrics neither promote, nor incite,
violence.
There has never been a violent incident at a Thompson concert
Because of many false accusations and outright lies, we'd like to
mention that there has never been an incident at any of Thompson's
many concerts. Whether in Frankfurt, Germany or Zagreb, Croatia--
Thompson's concerts, naturally, always conclude peacefully. Just
another fact that proves the critics wrong.
Marko Perkovic is a musician
Marko Perkovic is a Croatian patriot that loves his country dearly. He
is not a member of any political party in Croatia, nor does he have
any affiliation to political or activist groups within or outside the
country. Marko Perkovic Thompson is just a musician.
Just as we Americans love our country, Perkovic loves his. Just as
Jewish-Americans love their heritage and Israel, Perkovic loves
Croatia. And so do Croatian-Americans. So do Croatians world-wide.
With his music, Perkovic simply sings of patriotism and love of the
Croatian heritage. His songs inspire many Croats to live honest lives,
cherish family, honor God and be faithful to the homeland. To
Croatians in the United States, this translates into the respect of
not only the Croatian heritage, but of respect to our American
heritage; into respect for the great nation that in the past granted
amnesty to Croatians that sought refuge and freedom from oppression.
The incessant attacks against this very successful musician are simply
baseless and unwarranted.
Frano Budimlic
New York