Marko Perković Thompson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marko Perković Thompson
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Perković performing live in August 2013
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Marko Perković
27 October 1966 Čavoglave, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
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| Nationality | Croatian |
| Other names | Thompson |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 5 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Croatia Records |
Marko Perković (born October 27, 1966) is a famous Croatian singer and songwriter. He is best known by his stage name, Thompson.
Thompson was born in a village called Čavoglave in what was then Yugoslavia, now part of Croatia. He took part in the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995). During this time, he began his music career with a patriotic song called "Bojna Čavoglave" in 1991. He started his first big concert tour in 2002 after releasing his album E, moj narode. Since 2005, he has organized a special celebration for Victory Day in his hometown of Čavoglave.
Throughout his career, Thompson has sometimes faced criticism for his performances and songs. Some people claimed his music supported certain controversial ideas from World War II. However, he has always denied these claims, stating they were not true.
Contents
Early Life and War Service
Marko Perković was born on October 27, 1966, in Čavoglave. He finished high school in Split. In 1991, Croatia became independent from Yugoslavia, which led to the Croatian War of Independence.
Perković joined the Croatian Army to defend his country. During the war, he used a type of gun called a Thompson submachine gun. This gun became his nickname, and later, his stage name.
Music Career Highlights
Starting His Music Journey
While defending his village, Perković was inspired to write "Bojna Čavoglave" (Čavoglave Battalion). This song became very popular during the war and launched his music career. The song is about Thompson and his friends defending their village.
"Bojna Čavoglave" was first played on Radio Split on New Year's Eve in 1991. Two weeks later, it won the radio station's award for "most patriotic song." A music video was made and shown on Croatian television, which helped the song become even more popular.
In 1992, Perković released his first album, Moli mala (Pray, Baby). He left the army for a while to perform in concerts that raised money for good causes. He returned to military service briefly in 1995 for an important operation called Operation Storm.
Growing Popularity
After his early success, Perković's popularity changed for a few years. He released some smaller hits like "Zmija me za srce ugrizla" ("A Snake Bit Me By the Heart"). He became very popular again in 1998 with the song "Prijatelji" ("Friends").
Later that year, he released his fourth album, Vjetre s Dinare (Oh, Wind from Dinara). This album included other popular songs like "Lijepa li si" ("How Beautiful You Are"). This album sold so well that it was certified diamond in Croatia.
Around 2000, Thompson's music gained even more attention. He performed at a huge concert at the Stadion Poljud in Split in September 2002, with about 40,000 people attending.
Thompson often performs on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. The money from these concerts helps the families of Croatian soldiers.
E, Moj Narode Tour
After his album E, moj narode (Eh, My People) came out in 2002, Thompson went on a big tour. The most memorable concert was at the Stadion Poljud in Split, attended by around 40,000 fans. Other famous Croatian singers joined him on stage for the song "Lijepa li si."
At this concert, Perković shared that his songs are about his three main loves: God, his homeland, and his family. By the end of this tour, the album had sold over 60,000 copies, earning it a Diamond Record award.
Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj Tour
The album Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj (Once Upon a Time in Croatia) was released in December 2006. Thompson announced a tour across Croatia and some European cities. The tour started in Vukovar and continued to places like Đakovo and Frankfurt, Germany, where he played for 15,000 fans.
By June, the album had sold 100,000 copies, which is a very high number for Croatia. The first part of the tour ended with a massive concert at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, where 60,000 people watched him perform. This concert was even shown live on television.
In November 2007, Thompson had concerts planned in New York City. Some groups raised concerns about his performances, but officials found no evidence that he promoted harmful ideas. His concert in Toronto attracted 5,000 people.
The tour continued in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Thompson also performed in Australia, playing for 22,000 fans across four shows. The tour officially ended in December 2008 with another concert to help the Vukovar Hospital. It was estimated that nearly 950,000 tickets were sold during this two-year tour.
Ora et Labora Tour
The Ora et labora tour began on June 22, 2013, in Munich, Germany. The tour's biggest concert was at the Stadion Poljud in Split on June 30, 2013, with an estimated 50,000 spectators.
Concerts for Good Causes
Thompson has performed in many concerts to help others. In 2005, he helped raise money for a person's medical treatment. In 2006, he and Mate Bulić held a concert to help build a church. He also participated in a charity football match to support victims of the 2007 Croatian coast fires.
He often performs at annual Christmas concerts in Zagreb that raise money for good causes. In 2008, he performed at a concert to help the Ana Rukavina Foundation, which works to create a bone marrow donation network.
Record-Breaking Concert
On July 5, 2025, Thompson held a huge concert at the Zagreb Hippodrome. An estimated 450,000 people attended, with his manager claiming over 500,000 attendees. This concert set a new record for the highest number of concert tickets ever sold.
For this massive event, a special field hospital was set up with medical staff and ambulance teams. The city of Zagreb also had extra police and traffic restrictions to manage the large crowd.
Song Themes and Style
Thompson's songs often feature themes of Christian faith and Croatian history. They also include elements of traditional Croatian folk music. Many of his songs are about religion, like "Radost s visina" ("Joy from Above"). Others are about his family and hometown, such as "Sine moj" ("Oh, My Son") and "Moj dida i ja" ("My Grandpa and I").
Thompson has collaborated with other musicians on songs like "Lijepa li si." He has also said he enjoys bands like Nightwish, Iron Maiden, and AC/DC. Some people describe his album Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj as a "rock opera."
Band Members
In April 2025, Ivica Bilić, who had been Thompson's drummer for a long time, left the band. Mario Klarić took his place. The current band members include Tomislav Mandarić on guitar (since 2005), Duje Ivić on keyboards (since 2010), and Ivan Dabro on bass (since 2016). Tiho Orlić, a close helper, has worked with Thompson since 1994 as a backing vocalist, bassist, and producer.
Thompson's Music and Football
Thompson's popular song "Lijepa li si" is often played at halftime and after matches of the Croatia national football team at the Stadion Maksimir.
Thompson was also part of Croatia's celebration when the national football team finished second in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Personal Life
In the mid-1990s, Marko Perković was in a relationship with Croatian singer Danijela Martinović. They had a Catholic marriage ceremony. After they separated, his first marriage was ended by the Church in 2005. This allowed him to have a church marriage with his current wife, Sandra Rogić. He met Sandra, who is Croatian-Canadian, during a concert in Canada. They have five children together: Katarina, Cvita, Ante Mihael, Diva Maria, and Petar Šimun.
He owns a part of a radio station called Narodni radio. In December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI met with Perković.
Discography
Studio Albums
- 1992 - Moli mala
- 1995 - Vrijeme škorpiona
- 1996 - Geni kameni
- 1998 - Vjetar s Dinare
- 2002 - E, moj narode
- 2006 - Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
- 2011 - Glazba iz filma Josef
- 2013 - Ora et labora
- 2025 - Hodočasnik
Compilation Albums
- 1992 - Najveći hitovi
- 2001 - The best of
- 2003 - Sve najbolje
- 2008 - Druga strana
- 2015 - The best of collection
- 2016 - Antologija
Concert Videos
- 2002 - Turneja: E, moj narode
- 2007 - Turneja: Bilo jednom u Hrvatskoj
- 2013 - Turneja: Ora et labora
Albums by Tiho Orlić
| Title | Release date | Label |
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| Tiho | 2004 | Croatia Records |
| Neraskidivo | 2017 | Croatia Records |
Images for kids
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Marko Perkovic Thompson Vatroslav Lisinski 7 rujna 2008 2.jpg
Thompson at a concert in 2008
