Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga" (Serbian Cyrillic: Момчило Бајагић „Бајагa”) is a Serbian rock musician. He is best known as the leader of the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori, as well as a former member of the rock band Riblja Čorba.
Early career
Bajagić
started his musical career as a singer for the band TNT. He wrote his
first song lyrics (for the song "Dvadeseta noć", trans. "Twentieth
Night") as a member of this band. After TNT disbanded in 1976, Bajagić
joined the band Ofi led by organist Toma "Ofinger" Stojković. After
Stojković left the band, Bajagić and two other Ofi members, drummer
Dragan "Đera" Đerić and vocalist Živorad "Žika" Milenković, formed the
band Glogov Kolac (Hawthorn Stake) with guitarist Rajko Kojić. After only one performance Glogov Kolac, disbanded. Bajagić refused Boban Petrović's invitation to join Zdravo, while Kojić joined the band SOS and later Riblja Čorba.
Riblja Čorba
In 1978, on suggestion of Bajagić's former bandmate Rajko Kojić, Bajagić was invited to join Riblja Čorba as rhythm guitarist. Bajagić recorded six albums with the band. He wrote songs "Ja sam se ložio na tebe" ("I Was Crushing on You"), "Baby, Baby I Don't Wanna Cry", "Muzičari koji piju" ("Musicians Who Drink") and "Kad hodaš" ("When You Walk"). He co-wrote the songs "Dva dinara, druže" ("Two Dinars, Comrade"), "Nemoj srećo, nemoj danas" ("Don't Honey, Don't Do It Today"), "Kazablanka" ("Casablanca"), "Evo ti za taksi" ("Here's Some for the Cab"), "Draga, ne budi peder" ("Honey, Don't Be a Faggot"), "Dobro jutro" ("Good Morning"), "Odlazak u grad" ("Leaving to the City"), "Srećan put, pišo moja mala" ("Have A Nice Trip, My Little Winky"), and others.
During his work with Riblja Čorba, Bajagić wrote a number of humorous pop rock songs that did not fit into the band's hard rock sound and decided to release a solo album. He recorded the album Pozitivna geografija (Positive Geography) with musicians who would later become members of his band Bajaga i Instruktori: vocalist Dejan Cukić (a former Dizel, Tilt and Bulevar member), bass guitarist Miroslav "Cvele" Cvetković (a former Tilt, Pop Mašina and Papatra member), guitarist Nenad Stamtović (a former Tilt, Zebra, Suncokret
and Bulevar member) and drummer Vladimir Golubović (a former Tilt,
Suncokret and Riblja Čorba member). The album was produced by Kornelije Kovač
and was released at the end of January 1984, bringing hits "Limene
trube" ("Brass Trumpets"), "Tekila gerila" ("Tequila Guerilla"), "Mali
slonovi" ("Little Elephants"), "Marlena", and "Pustite me, druže" ("Let
Me Go, Comrade"). Although released as Bajagić's solo album, Pozitivna geografija
was later included in Bajaga i Instruktori official discography, as it
featured future Bajaga i Instruktori members. Bajagić and the musicians
that were involved in the album recording performed in Kulušić club in Zagreb on 12 April 1984, and on 21 April in Dom Sindikata in Belgrade, appearing as Bajaga i Instruktori (Bajaga and the Instructors) for the first time on the latter concert.
At the time of the album recording, Bajagić wanted to remain a member of Riblja Čorba, but the popularity of his songs caused conflicts inside the band. In July 1984 he was, alongside Kojić, excluded from Riblja Čorba, and started a tour with his new band.
Bajaga i Instruktori
Led by Bajagić, Bajaga i Instruktori became one of the most successful and influential rock bands of the former Yugoslav and Serbian rock scene. Their string of albums in the mid-to-late 1980s placed them at the very top of the former Yugoslav rock scene, alongside other mega-selling bands such as Bijelo Dugme and Riblja Čorba. The band has released nine studio albums (including Pozitivna geografija).
Solo works
Bajagić has released two solo albums, both featuring soundtracks written by Bajagić: Ni na nebu ni na zemlji (for the film of the same name)[1] and Profesionalac – Muzika iz filma (for the film The Professional). Bajagić recorded the latter with pop rock/folk rock band Apsolutno Romantično.[2] He also composed the music for TV series Otvorena Vrata. [3]
