Momčilo Bajagić Bajaga


Momčilo Bajagić, better known by his nickname Bajaga, is a Serbian rock musician. Bajagić is best known as the frontman of Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori, as well as a former member of rock band Riblja Čorba.

Career

Early years

Bajagić started his musical activity as a singer for the band TNT. He wrote his first lyrics 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 the remaining two Ofi members—drummer Dragan "Đera" Đerić and vocalist Živorad "Žika" Milenković—formed Glogov Kolac together with guitarist Rajko Kojić. The band's debut live performance, in the Banat village of Izbište, turned out to be their last as Glogov Kolac disbanded. Seventeen-year-old Bajagić then turned down Boban Petrović's invitation to join the disco-funk act Zdravo, while Kojić joined the band S.O.S. and eventually Riblja Čorba.

Riblja Čorba

In 1978, on a suggestion from Rajko Kojić, Bajagić was invited to audition for the recently formed band as they had decided to add a rhythm guitarist in order to tighten the sound. Bajagić recorded six albums with Riblja Čorba. He wrote songs "Ja sam se ložio na tebe", "Baby, Baby I Don't Wanna Cry", "Muzičari koji piju" and "Kad hodaš". He co-wrote the songs "Dva dinara, druže", "Nemoj srećo, nemoj danas", "Kazablanka", "Evo ti za taksi", "Draga, ne budi peder", "Dobro jutro", "Odlazak u grad", "Srećan put, pišo moja mala", and others.
;Pozitivna geografija
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 with musicians who would later become members of his band Bajaga i Instruktori: vocalist Dejan Cukić, bass guitarist Miroslav "Cvele" Cvetković, guitarist Nenad Stamtović and drummer Vladimir Golubović. The album was produced by Kornelije Kovač and was released in late January 1984, bringing hits "Limene trube", "Tekila gerila", "Mali slonovi", "Marlena", and "Pustite me, druže". 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 for the first time at 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.

Solo works

Bajagić released two solo albums, both featuring film soundtracks written by him: Ni na nebu ni na zemlji and Profesionalac – Muzika iz filma. Bajagić recorded the latter with pop rock/folk rock band Apsolutno Romantično. He also composed music for TV series Otvorena Vrata.

Album production

Bajagić produced Bezobrazno Zeleno debut album BZ1 released in 1983. He also produced Heroji's only album, 88 in 1988, as well as their 7" single "Bilder" / "Instruktor skijanja". He produced his solo album Profesionalac – Muzika iz filma, and participated in the production of Bajaga i Instruktori releases Četiri godišnja doba and Muzika na struju.

Personal life

Bajagić completed primary and secondary education in Belgrade. In 1989, he married Emilija Stoletović, two years his junior. They have two children together, son Marko and daughter Anđela. They divorced in 2022, after 33 years of marriage.
In 2004, Bajagić acquired the Croatian citizenship.
Bajagić was elected member on five-year term of the Red Star Assembly Crvena zvezda Basketball Club on 27 December 2021.

Awards

In 2021 he was awarded the Order of Karađorđe's Star.

Discography

With Riblja Čorba

Studio albums

Kost u grlu Pokvarena mašta i prljave strasti Mrtva priroda Buvlja pijaca

Live albums

With Bajaga i Instruktori

Pozitivna geografija Sa druge strane jastuka Jahači magle Prodavnica tajni Muzika na struju Od bižuterije do ćilibara Zmaj od Noćaja Šou počinje u ponoć Daljina, dim i prašina U sali lom
  • ''Ovaj svet se menja''

Solo

Soundtrack albums

Ni na nebu ni na zemlji Profesionalac – Muzika iz filma
  • ''Darja - Muzika iz filma "Hotel Beograd"''