Vladimir Kočiš Zec (Zagreb, May 7, 1948) is a Croatian musician, composer and singer-songwriter, best known as guitarist and singer of the legendary ‘Novi fossils’. He started his career in his school days – he founded his first band pearls and performed at performances in elementary school. With his energy and musical talent, he quickly gained local fame, and over the years he became part of one of the most successful pop bands of the former Yugoslavia.
- Birth: May 7, 1948 in Zagreb.
- First band: a high school student in Zagreb, where he founded a group pearls (Applicant until 1973).
- Novifossils: Member of the popular New Fossils from 1976 to 1991 and again from 2005.
- Top of success: Participation in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘I am for dance’ (4th place).
Early life and education
He has been surrounded by music since he was a child: already in elementary school he showed interest by singing in the choir and playing the guitar. The influence of the Beatles and other rock bands encouraged him to form a band while he was a student at the Technical High School. pearls. With this band, he performed at school performances and Zagreb halls until 1973. At the same time, he studied physics and pedagogue at the Pedagogical Academy in Zagreb, where he obtained the title of teacher. However, music became his main calling – instead of a teacher, Zec devoted himself professionally to playing and composing.
Career and new fossils
By entering the composition New fossils In 1976, Vladimir Kočiš Zec became part of the pop music sensation of the former Yugoslavia. At that time, New Fossils were a top pop band (often called ‘Yugoslav ABBA’) and sold millions of records throughout the region. In that group, Zec was a guitarist, vocalist and arranger, and with them he recorded about fifteen LP albums and dozens of singles. Hits like ‘Diridondo’, ‘Delete tears, generation’ and especially ‘I am for dance’ marked the era of New Fossils. The performance at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest in Brussels, with the song ‘Ja sam za ples’, brought them a high 4th place for Yugoslavia. During that stage of her career, the group achieved the greatest successes: it performed on tours in Europe and the USSR, won awards at festivals, and consolidated the status of one of the most popular music groups of the period.
Solo career
After the breakup of New Fossils in 1991, Kočiš Zec began a successful solo career. His first big solo hit was a song ‘Mr. General’ (1991), which further established him as an independent performer. Throughout the 90s and beyond, he released several solo albums (the first is In the name of memory, 1992) and remained present on the scene. In his solo work, he often combined pop arrangements with elements of ethno-melodies (inspired by the traditional music of Međimurje, Slavonia and Dalmatia). Zec is also a prominent composer – he composed numerous songs for many famous Croatian pop music artists. His authentic combination of pop and folk motifs gave a special stamp to the domestic musical repertoire.
personal life
Vladimir Kočiš Zec was married three times. He has two children with his first wife Mirjana – daughter Iva and son Filip. His second wife was Snježana Lukinac, with whom he spent nine years, but she tragically passed away in 2009 after a long battle with a serious illness. On that occasion, she inspired him with her music – the most famous song is dedicated to her late wife ‘Good morning, love’. In 2014, Kočiš married Dina Hadžiselimović for the third time. In his personal life, he also showed great emotional strength – after the loss of his second wife, he turned to faith, which opened a new perspective on life. Despite life’s adversities, he profiled himself as an honest and positive musician, speaking openly about his experiences and loss.
heritage and influence
Vladimir Kočiš Zec is remembered as one of the doyens of the Croatian pop scene. He showed his playing and singing abilities in the best years of New Fossils, and his songs were remembered for generations. The Novi Fosili group, with which his life is mostly associated, was so successful that they compared their work to that of the famous group ABBA – they released about thirty albums and sold millions of copies. Members of New Fossils recently celebrated as much as 55 years of joint music with a concert in the Zagreb Arena, which confirms the lasting popularity of their music (and thus Zeco’s contribution). Today’s generations can get to know Kočiš through his greatest hits and new performances – his songs will always be part of the rich inherited heritage of Croatian pop music.
For readers – music lovers or curious people – we invite you to listen to Vladimir Kočiš Zec: discover his hits of New Fossils and solo performances and support local musicians and their stories. Zeco’s music, imbued with warmth and sincerity, reflects a long period of popular music in the region, and is worth hearing today.
Sources: Biographies and interviews about Vladimir Kočiš Zec are used to confirm biographical data, while statistics and context are provided from the description of new fossils. All of the sources listed are available publicly and provide insight into the career and influence of this musician.
