Let 3

Let 3 (Croatian for "Flight 3") is a modern rock band from Rijeka, Croatia formed in 1987. The frontmen are Damir "Mrle" Martinović and Zoran "Prlja" Prodanović. The band is popular in Croatia and other former Yugoslav republics due to their original approach to rock music and their obscene live performances. Their songs often contain provocative and vulgar lyrics and the band is known for shocking live performances with much nudity. They are set to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with their song " Mama ŠČ!".

History

The band was formed in Rijeka in the late 1980s. They soon formed a reputation for their cutting edge performances and exemplifying the eclectic nature of Rijeka's music scene. The band espoused a liberal nature as they frequently targeted conservative politics and the church, and voiced support for women's rights and the LGBT community.

On 9 December 2022, Let 3 was announced as one of the 18 participants in Dora 2023, the national contest in Croatia to select the country's Eurovision Song Contest 2023 entry, with the song " Mama ŠČ!". On 11 February 2023, Let 3 won the Dora festival with a total of 279 points, thus gaining the right to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.

Band members

Let 3 often change their lineup. Current lineup is:
* (Mrle) – bass guitar, effects, vocals
* Zoran Prodanović (Prlja) – vocals
* Ivan Bojčić (Bin) – drums
* Dražen Baljak (Baljak) – guitar, mandolin
* Matej Zec (Knki) – guitar, backing tracks

Former band members are:
* Branko Kovačić (Husta) – drums, percussion
* Kornelije Đuras (Korni) – keyboards, samples
* Ivan Šarar (Faf) – keyboards, programming, samples
* Ivica Dražić (Miki) – guitar, vocals
* Nenad Tubin – drums, vocals
* Igor Perović (Gigi) – guitar
* Zoran Klasić (Klas) – guitar, vocals
* Orijen Modrušan – guitar
* Alen Tibljaš – drums
* Marko Bradaschia – drums
* Dean Benzia – drums
* Siniša Banović – drums
* Ljubomir Silić – bass guitar
* Raoul Varljen – keyboards, chorn

Discography

Albums

* Two dogs fuckin' (1989)
* El Desperado (1991)
* Peace (1994)
* Živi kurac (Live Cock; live) (1996)
* Nečuveno (Unheard-of) (1997)
* Jedina (The Only One) (2000)
* Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka (Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak) (2005)
* Živa Pička (Live Cunt; live) (DVD) (2008)
* Kurcem do vjere/Thank you lord (Faith by Dick/Thank You Lord) (iz ciklusa: I popov kurac bi jeb'o u miru) (From the oeuvre: A Priest's Dick Would Also Fuck During Peacetime) (2013)
* Angela Merkel sere (Angela Merkel bullshitting) (2016)

Controversies

The band is known for their unprecedented, controversial and sometimes obscene performances. They frequently use sexuality to outrage the public, and often perform naked except for muzzles on their penises.

Their album ''Nečuveno'' (translated as either "Outrageous" or "Unheard of") was distributed as a CD which had nothing recorded on it. Nonetheless, it sold 350 copies. The following album "Jedina" (''The only one'') was first recorded in only one copy which the band refused to sell or distribute; however the record company decided to release the album in slightly different versions. This caused the band to stage a (fake) suicide by firing squad on Ban Jelačić Square Zagreb in protest.

In late 2000 the band unveiled a statue called ''Babin kurac'' (translation: Grandma's penis). The monument was four meters high and made of bronze, depicting a grandmother in a dress with breasts, a mustache, and a one-meter long penis. It was exhibited in several cities throughout Croatia.

A video for their single "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" (''Gladly will the Serb enlist ( Cunt'') a play on Josip Runjanin's song "Rado Srbin ide u vojnike") for the 2005 album ''Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka'' features extras dressed in Serbian and Albanian national costumes masturbating. The album was meant to be a parody of Balkan machismo and militarism, with the band stating: "We wanted to create an album of what people here fear the most; namely peasantry....and pornography."

In December 2006 the band was sanctioned by police after an open-air concert in Varaždin where they performed their usual show (which included partial nudity.) The band's defense that they were not naked because they had corks in their buttocks did not convince the judge; the court found them guilty and fined each member of the band with equivalent of 350 kuna (approximately 50 Euro).Post on Let 3 blog about the lawsuit
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On December 14, 2008, the live talk show ''Nedjeljom u 2'' featuring two of the band members finished early after band members simulated the ejection of a cork from their rectums.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Let 3 blog



BalkanMedia article on Let 3

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Croatian rock music groups
Musical groups established in 1987
Yugoslav rock music groups
Yugoslav punk rock groups
Musicians from Rijeka
Culture in Rijeka
Croatian post-punk music groups
Croatian dark wave musical groups
Obscenity controversies in music