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.[1] They are set to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with their song "Mama ŠČ!".

Let 3
Let 3 in 2007
Background information
OriginRijeka, Croatia
Genres
Years active1987 (1987)–present
MembersDamir Martinović
Zoran Prodanović
Ivan Bojčić
Dražen Baljak
Matej Zec

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.[2] 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.[3][4][5]

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!".[6] 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.[7]

Band members
Mrle (centre) and Prlja (right) in Rijeka in 2008

Let 3 often change their lineup. Current lineup is:

  • Damir Martinović (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) (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.[8] Nonetheless, it sold 350 copies.[9] 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.[8][9]

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.[10] It was exhibited in several cities throughout Croatia.[9]

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."[11]

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;[12] the court found them guilty and fined each member of the band with equivalent of 350 kuna (approximately 50 Euro).[13]

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.[14]

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominee / work Result Ref.
1997 Porin Award Best Original Vocal or Instrumental Composition for Theatre, Movies and/or Television "Pipi" Won [15]
2001 Best Alternative Album Jedina Won [16]
Crni Mačak Best Performer Let 3 Won [17]
Song of the Year "Profesor Jakov" Won
2006 Zlatna Koogla Album of The Year Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won [18]
Band of The Year Let 3 Won
Performer of The Year Won
Best Music Video "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" Won
Producer of The Year Iztok Turk for Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won
Best Album Design Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won
Porin Award Rock Album of The Year Won [19]
Best Music Video "Ero s onoga svijeta" Won

References
  1. Peddie, Ian; Rajko Muršič. Popular Music and Human Rights; Vol. II. Yugoslav and Post-Yugoslav Encounters with Popular Music and Human Rights. Ashgate Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 9780754668534. The Croatian band Let 3, for example, is well known for provoking outrage, including by sometimes performing nude on stage.
  2. Bousfield, Jonathan. "Rijeka Rock City". Stray Satellite.
  3. "Let3 – Proglas Slovencima: "Zabranite djelovanje Katoličke crkve!"". muzika.hr.
  4. "Mrle o splitskom Prideu: Neka se svi lijepo jebu u guzicu, možda poslije promijene mišljenje". Index.hr.
  5. Morić, Danijela. "'Žene, pederi i crnci jednako su važni u društvu'". Vecernji.hr.
  6. Granger, Anthony (9 December 2022). "Croatia: Dora 2023 Participants Announced". eurovoix. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  7. Santos, Pedro (11 February 2023). "Let 3 win Dora 2023 in Croatia with "Mama ŠČ!"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  8. Rowlands, Marc. "Let 3: 'I went to high-school in Bakar and we beat each other onto the school bus. It was great.'". Time Out.
  9. "LET 3: GLAZBENA AVANGARDA IZ RIJEKE; 'Mrle i ja smo ko guzica i gaće'". Nacional.hr.
  10. "Zagreb - "Babin Kurac" na Trgu žrtava fašizma". Net.hr.
  11. Tomić, Ante. "Naš album govori o seljaštvu i pornografiji". Jutarnji.hr.
  12. "Let 3 golotinjom ipak uvrijedio građane Varaždina?". rirock.com.
  13. Post on Let 3 blog about the lawsuit
  14. "Prekinuta emisija Nedjeljom u 2 nakon što su Mrle i Prlja iz Leta 3 pucali čepove iz stražnjice". Index.hr.
  15. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 1997" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  16. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2001" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  17. "4. Crni Mačak 2001" (in Croatian). Z'brda Z'dola. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  18. Rudar, Željka (3 April 2006). "Dobitnici Zlatne Koogle 2006" (in Croatian). Muzika.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  19. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2006" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
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