Goran Bare, frontman of Majke, found dead in his apartment

Goran Bare, the Croatian rock singer best known as the frontman of the band Majke, has died. Close collaborators and members of the band found his lifeless body in his apartment at around 13:00 today. Some announcements around his death used the phrase that he "left in his 62nd year," while the report detailing the discovery says he died at the age of 61.

Career and last appearance

Bare built a reputation across the regional rock scene as an uncompromising voice of garage rock. He co-founded Majke in 1984 in Vinkovci and with the band wrote anthem-like songs that marked generations, including "Teške boje", "Vrijeme je da se krene", "Budi ponosan" and "Fantastična vatra".

His most recent scheduled concert was in Makarska but the show was stopped on the first song after Bare felt unwell; members of the crew had to help him off the stage.

Throughout his career Bare combined blistering music with candid, often painful personal testimony. He once said, "I'm happy to be alive. I thought I would die by the time I was 30..." — words that today resonate with particular weight.

Personal tragedies marked his life. His first wife, Mirjana, was found dead beside him in bed, an event he later said shattered him and propelled him into deep depression and a long battle with addictions.

Bare also spoke openly about the pain of family estrangement. He admitted he left his only son, Miran, when the boy was five; Miran was raised by his grandparents in Zadar. In interviews Bare expressed remorse for not being present for his son’s birthdays, while also noting with pride that Miran grew up to study English, French and philosophy.

Goran Bare leaves behind a distinct musical legacy — lyrics shaped by hard-lived experience, a raw voice that influenced regional rock and the image of an artist who lived as he sang until the end.

Photo: press material from the event