Goran Bare, frontman of the band Majke, has died at the age of 62. The news of his passing was reported by numerous media outlets in the region.
Bare was born in Vinkovci. He began his musical career early, forming his first bands at the age of 12, and was fascinated by the sound of the Rolling Stones. At 15, he formed the band Duo debi with his friend Marin Pokrov, and in 1984 he founded Majke. For a time, he performed under the name Bare and the Plaćanici.
Majke captivated audiences with a blend of garage rock, blues, and punk. The line-up changed over the years, but the albums Razum i bezumje, Razdor, and Vreme je da se krene solidified his status. He also experimented with electronic and ethnic music, and in the early 1990s, under the name Hali Gali, he explored the fusion of rock and folk music.
Among his songs are Teške boje, Vreme je da se krene, A ti još plačeš, Mene ne zanima, and Budi ponosan. In an interview with Nova TV, he stated that he would not change anything in his life and that he had lived three lives.
In recent months, Bare has been battling health issues. He was due to perform at the Modro i zeleno festival in Makarska on 20 September, but the performance was cut short as he was unable to sing. The concert by Bare and Majke scheduled for 25 September was cancelled, with the group announcing a two-month break for Bare to rest and recover. In August 2025, he performed at the Srebrna Jela festival in Šibenak.
Serbian media described him as a legendary Yugoslav and Croatian musician, with some outlets publishing articles on his difficult life, financial problems, and the final performance in Makarska. The portal Nova.rs recalled the concert in Makarska and the message from the members of Majke after the performance was interrupted, while Kurir highlighted the success of the album Vreme je da se krene, his work with the Plaćanici, and the return of Majke with the album Teške boje.
In Slovenia, Delo published an article titled 'The death of Goran Bare, the legendary Croatian singer', highlighting that he was one of the most important and recognizable figures in the Croatian rock scene, recalling songs such as Teške boje, Mene ne zanima, and Budi ponosan. The Slovenian media reported on his death, with the 24si portal providing a detailed overview of his career, including older articles from the archive, interviews with the musician, and reports on the performance of Majke at the Ljubljana Orto Fest.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the news was first reported by Nezavisne novine, with the RTRS, the Radio Television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Serbian news agency also reporting on the death. The Radio Television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina described him as a cult Croatian rock musician, highlighting the songs Teške boje, Vreme je da se krene, and Budi ponosan.
The news was also covered by the Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG.
