by croatiaweek
October 9, 2026
in
Goran Bare (YouTube/Croatia Records)
9 October 2026 – Goran Bare, one of Croatia’s best-known rock musicians and the longtime frontman of the band Majke, has died today aged 61.
Born in Vinkovci on 16 August 1965, Bare spent more than four decades shaping Croatian rock music with his distinctive voice, emotionally direct lyrics and uncompromising performance style.
He founded Majke with friends in 1984, and the band went on to become an important name in the Croatian rock scene. Drawing on garage rock and blues influences, Majke developed a sound marked by raw energy and Bare’s unmistakable stage presence.
Their early releases included Razum i bezumlje (1990), followed by albums such as Razdor, Milost and Vrijeme je da se krene. Songs including “Budi ponosan”, “A ti još plačeš”, “Vrijeme je da se krene” and “Mene ne zanima” became enduring favourites among Croatian rock audiences.
After an intense period with Majke during the 1990s, Bare began a solo career in the early 2000s, performing with his backing band Plaćenici. His album Izgubljen i nađen won the Porin award for Best Rock Album, one of several major recognitions during his career.
Majke later reunited, releasing Teške boje in 2011. The album won six Porin awards and became one of the defining releases in Croatian rock. Their last studio album, Nuspojave, followed in 2018 and also received the Porin award for Best Rock Album.
Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek paying tribute to the singer and songwriter.
In her tribute, Obuljen Koržinek described Bare as one of the most original and recognisable authors and performers in Croatian rock music.
She said that throughout more than four decades of creating music, he had remained faithful to his own distinctive style, allowing personal experiences of loneliness, pain, hope and moments of peace to find expression in his songs.
Bare’s career was marked by breaks, returns and new musical directions, but his connection with music and Majke remained central to his work.
His performances were known for their emotional intensity, while his songs explored the vulnerability and resilience of everyday life.
Goran Bare leaves behind a body of work that has become part of Croatia’s musical heritage. Songs such as “Teške boje” and “Vrijeme je da se krene” continue to resonate with generations of listeners, securing his place in the history of Croatian rock music.
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