Marko Perković (Artistic name Thompson) was born 27. October 1966. in the village Čavoglave in Dalmatian Zagora. His mother Marija took care of him and his younger brother Dražen, while his father Ante worked as a guest worker in Germany, so the family was separated for part of the year. Growing up in rural conditions, Perković finished catering school in Split and got a job as a waiter. As a teenager, he learned to play the guitar and performed in local bands.
Beginning of career and patriotic songs (1991 – 1995)
in the spring 1991., when he started Homeland war, Perković voluntarily joined National Guard Corps (later Croatian Army). During the war operations he used the Thompson’s The automaton, by which he was nicknamed Thompson. In his free moments he wrote a song “Battle of Čavoglava”; He recorded it on an improvised studio tape recorder, and the song quickly became an unofficial war anthem. After that he released the first tape “Please Little One” (1992), on which there were also the songs “Lijepa li si” and “Anica – the queen of Knin”.
In the continuation of the war, he fought in 142nd Drni Brigade, participated in Operation Storm, and after the liberation of Čavoglava, he organized humanitarian concerts for veterans and their families. The musical style from that period was a combination of hard rock and folk-rock with emphasized patriotism.
Great Success and Albums (1995 – 2013)
After the war, Thompson continued to build a career. He released an album almost every two to three years, and each retained a recognizable mix of rock and folk motifs:
- “Scorpio Time” (1995) – The album relies on war experiences and contains the song “Friends”.
- “Geni Stone” (1996) – brings the single “Geni kameni”, which became a radio success.
- “Wind from Dinara” (1998) – The album was recorded abroad; Perković followed the then world rock production.
- “Well, my people” (2002) – With the songs “Lijepa li si” and “E, moj narode” he gained great popularity in Croatia and the diaspora.
- “Once Upon a Time in Croatia” (2006) – a conceptual album about Croatian history; The accompanying tour included more than 60 concerts.
- “Ora et labora” (2013) – The album connects spiritual themes with modern rock and includes collaborations with Nenad Ninčević.
During this period, Thompson’s performances were sold out throughout Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and among emigration. Despite a large number of fans, the singer was accompanied by right-wing extremism charges; Some cities in Austria, the Netherlands and Slovenia banned him from concerts.
Back with the album Pilgrim and a record concert at the Hippodrome (2024 – 2025)
After a decade without a new studio release, Thompson has 7. June 2025. announced on the official Facebook page that the album was coming out “Pilgrim”. Previously, the singles “If you don’t know what was”, “Unread letter” and “Nine Ninety Some” were released. The album was officially released 13. June 2025. in DigiPak-edition with a 20-page booklet.
Already on June 25, the album debuted at the first place of the official top-list of the Croatian Discography Association and stayed there for weeks. In three weeks, it became the best-selling domestic album in the first half of 2025. The single “If you don’t know what was” recorded with the band Croatian roses He was the second most listened to song in the state.
Record concert:
- 5. July 2025. Thompson held a concert at Zagreb Hippodrome before the eye 450 000–500 000 visitors. According to the European Union for the entertainment industry, 485,000 tickets were sold, which set a world record in the number of tickets for a one-day concert.
- Preparations for the concert included a Polish hospital with 200 beds and a hundred medical workers and 175 members of the Red Cross. The city of Zagreb introduced a special traffic regime.
- The media also recorded controversial moments – part of the audience raised their hands in the Ustasha greeting “Za dom spremni”, and some foreign and domestic officials considered such an act shameful. Despite the criticism, the concert remained the biggest musical event in modern Croatian history.
Humanitarian work
Despite political controversy, Perković often performs at humanitarian events:
- Sisak 2016: days 11. June 2016. He held a humanitarian concert in front of the Sisak Cathedral for students of the Diocesan Foundation “Fr. Boniface Ivan Pavletić”. About ten thousand visitors were present; All the contractors waived the fee, and the collected money helped the Foundation’s scholarship holders.
- Split 2024: In December 2024, he performed in the humanitarian hall “Heart to Uganda” in Split’s Gripe hall. Along with Tony Cetinski and Dražen Zečić, funds were collected for the construction of a soup kitchen in Morot (Uganda), which will provide a hot meal every day for more than a thousand children.
Such performances emphasize its humanitarian dimension; According to his public announcements, they are motivated by Christian values and the desire to help the needy.
Controversies and bans
Thompson’s career is accompanied by accusations that he glorifies the Ustasha regime with songs and that fascist symbols are used at concerts. The courts have questioned him several times for shouts “For dom Ready”. In 2017, the Misdemeanor Court in Croatia acquitted him because he ruled that shouting that greeting was part of the song, not incitement to hatred. Still, many European cities ban his concerts; Performances were canceled in Amsterdam, Berlin, Maribor and several times in Switzerland.
In July 2025, the media reported that the audience and the singer himself at the Zagreb hippodrome raised their hands in greetings and shouted slogans like “Za dom spremni”. Such scenes were condemned by former political leaders such as Jadranka Kosor, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić assessed the concert as “a shame for Croatia and the EU”.
Perković defends himself by claiming that his songs are patriotic and that he opposes all totalitarian symbols; He points out that he cannot control the behavior of the entire audience. Due to the contradiction between artistic expression and political connotations, Thompson remains the most controversial musician in the region.
personal life
Perković rarely speaks about family details, but available information indicates that:
- During the war He was briefly engaged to singer Danijela Martinović; The secret wedding was held in 1995 in the church of St. Dominika in Split, but the marriage lasted three years and was later annulled.
- 2003. He married Sandra Rogić, a Canadian of Croatian origin. The couple has five children: sons Šimun and Anta and daughters Diva Maria, Cvita and Catherine.
- height, weight and Net value The singers were not made public – such information is not available in reliable sources, so it is not appropriate to list them.
Social media presence
Thompson maintains active profiles on social networks:
- Instagram: The analytical platform Hafi, which follows the most popular profiles in Croatia, states that the account @thompson_hr there is an eye 230 800 followers and is among the 70 most followed in the country.
- Facebook: The singer’s official website is used for concert announcements and ticket sales, but the number of followers has not been officially announced; It is assumed that these are hundreds of thousands of followers.
- Websites: In addition to the personal domain of Thompson.hr, pages were also launched pilgrim.hr and web‑shop Croatia Records, where fans can buy albums and memorabilia.
public interest and search intent
Why do so many people search “Marko Perković Biography”? The main reasons are:
- Patriotic identity: Thompson’s songs such as “Bojna Čavoglava” and “Lijepa li si” are part of the collective memory of the Homeland War. It is interesting to many how the young waiter became a symbol of war resistance.
- Controversy: Accusations of fascism and bans on performances in Europe constantly cause controversy. Readers often want to find out what he really said or did and how he defends himself.
- Record concert: The concert at the Hippodrome in 2025 and the fact that the album “Pilgrim” set records attracted attention outside of Croatia.
- Family life: Since he rarely appears in gossip, the audience is interested in who his family members are and what his private life looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is Marko Perković called “Thompson”?
Nickname “Thompson” He received during the Homeland War because he used on the battlefield American Thompson machine. The nickname became his stage name.
How old is Marko Perković?
He was born 27. October 1966. so there is 59 Year (calculated on January 25, 2026).
Who is Marko Perković’s wife?
His wife is Sandra Rogić. They got married in 2003 and have five children. Before that he was married to a singer Danijela Martinović (1995–1998), but that marriage was annulled.
What is Thompson’s most famous work?
The most famous song remains “Battle of Čavoglava”, recorded in 1991, which became a symbol of resistance during the Homeland War. From recent work, album “Pilgrim” From 2025, it quickly climbed to the top of the top list and was sold in a record number of copies.
What is Thompson’s political stance?
Perkovic describes as patriotic singer and practicing Catholic. The public often puts him on the right wing, but he points out that he opposes fascism and communism and that his homeland and religion are his most important values. Controversies surrounding Ustasha symbols arise due to disputed greetings at the beginning of the song “Bojna Čavoglava”.
How tall or heavy is it? What is its net worth?
information about his height, weight or property have not been made public. Since such information is not confirmed from reliable sources, they cannot be cited.
Where can you listen to Thompson’s music?
His albums are available on streaming platforms, including Spotify and YouTube Music, and physical releases are sold over Croatia Records and the official web-shop.
Conclusion
Marko Perković Thompson remains one of the most impressive figures of the Croatian music scene. His journey from a waiter from Čavoglav to a music star colored by war experience and patriotic songs intrigues audiences throughout the region. At the same time, his songs and performances provoke heated political debates. Regardless of the controversy, the album “Pilgrim” And a 2025 record concert proves Thompson enjoys a lot of fan support.
For the latest information about his concerts and humanitarian engagements, it is best to follow the official channels, because the musician occasionally withdraws from the media attention and appears only when he has something to say or sing.
Cover photo: Samoborac, CC BY-SA 3.0, Via Wikimedia Commons