Latest news with #Hippodrome
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Great shame': Singer breaks world crowd record as Nazi salute controversy erupts
Croatian star Marko Perković Thompson has made history with a massive show in Zagreb that reportedly drew more than half a million fans, breaking the world record for the largest ticketed music concert. But the event has also sparked international outrage over far-right salutes and symbolism among the crowd, with authorities warning that some attendees could face prosecution. Held at Zagreb's Hippodrome on Saturday night, the concert was billed as a 'musical and patriotic spectacle'. According to event headquarters, around 450,000 tickets were sold, while organisers claimed as many as 504,000 people attended. That figure would surpass the previous record held by Italian rocker Vasco Rossi, who sold 225,173 tickets for his 2017 show in Modena. Fans began arriving from the early morning hours on a hot summer day in the Croatian capital, eager to secure their spots at the vast open-air venue. By evening, the Hippodrome was packed with a sea of people waiting for Thompson to take the stage. The concert kicked off around 9pm and ran for three hours, delivering a powerful performance with one of the most elaborate stage productions ever seen in Croatia. The stage itself was an engineering feat, standing 33 metres high and stretching 150 metres wide, with the platform elevated three to four metres above the ground to give fans a better view. Due to the scale of the production, some high-end technical equipment had to be imported from Dubai, as the necessary gear could not be sourced within Croatia. Authorities called it one of the most logistically complex events ever held in the region. Nearly 14,000 personnel were on duty throughout the day, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, Civil Protection units, Red Cross staff and private security. The Ministry of the Interior reported that 123 people were taken into custody during the event and medical teams responded to 245 interventions at the Hippodrome and nearby Bundek area. However, the concert has drawn heavy criticism over displays of Nazi-era symbolism and salutes linked to Croatia's World War II Ustaše regime. During the performance, Thompson played songs that included the controversial 'For the homeland, Ready!' salute, a phrase associated with the Ustaše, the Nazi-allied puppet government responsible for mass murders during the Second World War. He told the crowd, 'With this concert we will show our unity,' adding that he wanted to 'send a message to all of Europe to return to its tradition, to its Christian roots.' Large sections of the crowd were seen responding with the salute, prompting condemnation from Croatian and international observers. Croatian Ombudsperson Tena Simonovic Einwalter criticised authorities for failing to send a clear message that such expressions are unacceptable and illegal. Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor accused officials and media of indulging Thompson, while former Serbian president Boris Tadić labelled the scenes 'a great shame for Croatia' and 'eerie' for modern Europe. Croatian state television reported that a prominent handball player was dropped from his team after attending the show.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Croatian right-wing singer Marko Perković and fans make pro-Nazi salutes at record-breaking concert
Controversial Croatian singer Marko Perković - known professionally as Thompson and who has a song which opens with the chant 'Za dom spremni!', the Croatian version of the Nazi salute 'Sieg Heil' - gathered tens of thousands of fans to Zagreb this weekend. As we reported earlier this year, Saturday's gig at the Hippodrome was set to be the biggest concert in Croatia's history. Perković broke the record for ticket sales – overtaking the likes of The Rolling Stones and Tina Turner. Organisers said that half a million people attended Perković's concert in the Croatian capital. The 58-year-old rocker, whose fans are known for their chants "Kill a Serb" and "Here we go Ustasha" (the Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organisation), has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi displays at his gigs. However, Perković remains hugely popular in Croatia, frequently attending rallies and sports events. As he came out to the stage, the singer told the crowd that 'with this concert we will show our unity.' He urged the rest of Europe to 'return to its tradition and Christian roots.' Despite organisers saying that any displays of hate-fueling insignia were strictly banned at Saturday's concert, Perković and his fans still performed pro-Nazi World War II salutes. One of Marko Perković's most popular songs played on Saturday starts with the dreaded 'For the homeland - Ready!' salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime. Croatia's WWII Ustasha regime ran concentration camps where tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascists from Croatia and the neighbouring countries were brutally executed. Video footage aired by Croatian media also showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day. The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perković can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said. Former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor on X criticised how 'the state and the city have been put in service of one man.' 'Thrill and excitement as fans at downtown Zagreb already sing songs from the era of the criminal state,' Kosor wrote on X. 'No media are reporting about that.' She added: "Croatian television, for which we all pay a subscription fee, enthusiastically reports on the concert in its noon news program. Not a word about fascist salutes in the city and at the concert. The misery of working-class journalism." In neighbouring Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić criticised Perković's concerts as a display 'of support for pro-Nazi values.' Elsewhere, former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadić said it was a 'great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union' because the concert 'glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian.' His post on X reads: "Tompson's concert tonight in Zagreb is a great shame for Croatia, but also for the European Union. It is eerie that today in the 21st century concerts are being organized on the soil of Europe that glorify the Quisling fascist hordes and the killing of members of one nation - in this case Serbian." "It is especially devastating to see how many young people came to the concert of the man who greets the audience with the Ustasha salute and how many of them follow the black shirt iconography of the Ustasha movement from World War II." He added: "Such images not only send tragic messages about the relationship to the past, but also to the future."
Washington Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Controversial right-wing singer Marko Perkovic draws tens of thousands to Zagreb concert
ZAGREB, Croatia — A concert by right-wing singer Marko Perkovic, notorious for his perceived sympathy for Croatia's World War II pro-Nazi puppet regime , has drawn tens of thousands of his fans to Zagreb on Saturday. Some 450,000 are expected to be in attendance at the Hippodrome later in the evening, the biggest concert in Croatia's history, according to the police, viewed as a major security challenge. Perkovic, also known as Thompson, has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi displays at his gigs, but he remains hugely popular in Croatia, frequently attending rallies and sports events. Organizers said any display of any hate-fueling insignia is strictly banned at Saturday's concert. Some fans were seen wrapped in Croatian flags while others wore black Thompson-inscribed T-shirts. 'See you at Hippodrome,' Perkovic wrote on Facebook. 'Take care of each other.' In Zagreb, a city of nearly 700,000 people, the event has been virtually blocked and traffic suspended in various areas days before the event. Authorities deployed thousands of police officers and set up a special control center and a field hospital. The state-owned HRT television said snipers were guarding the venue and helicopters were flying above as visitors streamed in. Some fans told The Associated Press they expected good fun and were happy to be at such an event gathering so many Croats in one place. 'Thompson is a patriot. He does not insult anyone, he loves everybody,' said Ivica from eastern Croatia, who gave only his first name. But not everyone was pleased. Former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor wrote an angry post on X, criticizing how 'the state and the city have been put in service of one man.' 'Thrill and excitement as fans at downtown Zagreb already sing songs from the era of the criminal state,' Kosor wrote on X. 'No media are reporting about that.' Croatia's WWII Ustasha regime ran concentration camps where tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascist Croats were brutally executed. Some of Perkovic's songs include the Ustasha salute , punishable by law in Croatia, and other references to the pro-Nazi regime. S ome Croatian nationalists view the leaders of the Ustasha regime as the country's founders despite the recorded atrocities. Perkovic first became popular during a bloody 1991-95 ethnic war that erupted after Croatia declared independence from former Yugoslavia, in which he fought. Nicknamed 'Thompson' after an antique machine gun he carried in the war, Perkovic has claimed that his songs only celebrate Croatia's victory in that war and its independence. Index news portal posted video footage Saturday of some fans performing the Ustasha salute in Zagreb before the concert.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Controversial right-wing singer Marko Perkovic draws tens of thousands to Zagreb concert
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A concert by right-wing singer Marko Perkovic, notorious for his perceived sympathy for Croatia's World War II pro-Nazi puppet regime, has drawn tens of thousands of his fans to Zagreb on Saturday. Some 450,000 are expected to be in attendance at the Hippodrome later in the evening, the biggest concert in Croatia's history, according to the police, viewed as a major security challenge. Perkovic, also known as Thompson, has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi displays at his gigs, but he remains hugely popular in Croatia, frequently attending rallies and sports events. Organizers said any display of any hate-fueling insignia is strictly banned at Saturday's concert. Some fans were seen wrapped in Croatian flags while others wore black Thompson-inscribed T-shirts. 'See you at Hippodrome,' Perkovic wrote on Facebook. 'Take care of each other.' In Zagreb, a city of nearly 700,000 people, the event has been virtually blocked and traffic suspended in various areas days before the event. Authorities deployed thousands of police officers and set up a special control center and a field hospital. The state-owned HRT television said snipers were guarding the venue and helicopters were flying above as visitors streamed in. Some fans told The Associated Press they expected good fun and were happy to be at such an event gathering so many Croats in one place. 'Thompson is a patriot. He does not insult anyone, he loves everybody," said Ivica from eastern Croatia, who gave only his first name. But not everyone was pleased. Former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor wrote an angry post on X, criticizing how 'the state and the city have been put in service of one man.' 'Thrill and excitement as fans at downtown Zagreb already sing songs from the era of the criminal state,' Kosor wrote on X. 'No media are reporting about that.' Croatia's WWII Ustasha regime ran concentration camps where tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascist Croats were brutally executed. Some of Perkovic's songs include the Ustasha salute, punishable by law in Croatia, and other references to the pro-Nazi regime. S ome Croatian nationalists view the leaders of the Ustasha regime as the country's founders despite the recorded atrocities. Perkovic first became popular during a bloody 1991-95 ethnic war that erupted after Croatia declared independence from former Yugoslavia, in which he fought. Nicknamed 'Thompson' after an antique machine gun he carried in the war, Perkovic has claimed that his songs only celebrate Croatia's victory in that war and its independence. Index news portal posted video footage Saturday of some fans performing the Ustasha salute in Zagreb before the concert.
Al Arabiya
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Controversial Right-Wing Singer Marko Perkovic Draws Tens of Thousands to Zagreb Concert
A concert by right-wing singer Marko Perkovic, notorious for his perceived sympathy for Croatia's World War II pro-Nazi puppet regime, drew tens of thousands of his fans to Zagreb on Saturday. Some 450,000 were expected to be in attendance at the Hippodrome later in the evening – the biggest concert in Croatia's history, according to the police, viewed as a major security challenge. Perkovic, also known as Thompson, has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi displays at his gigs, but he remains hugely popular in Croatia, frequently attending rallies and sports events. Organizers said any display of any hate-fueling insignia is strictly banned at Saturday's concert. Some fans were seen wrapped in Croatian flags, while others wore black Thompson-inscribed T-shirts. 'See you at Hippodrome,' Perkovic wrote on Facebook. 'Take care of each other.' In Zagreb, a city of nearly 700,000 people, the event has virtually blocked traffic, which has been suspended in various areas days before the event. Authorities deployed thousands of police officers and set up a special control center and a field hospital. The state-owned HRT television said snipers were guarding the venue and helicopters were flying above as visitors streamed in. Some fans told The Associated Press they expected good fun and were happy to be at such an event gathering so many Croats in one place. 'Thompson is a patriot. He does not insult anyone; he loves everybody,' said Ivica from eastern Croatia, who gave only his first name. But not everyone was pleased. Former Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor wrote an angry post on X, criticizing how the state and the city have been put in service of one man. 'Thrill and excitement as fans at downtown Zagreb already sing songs from the era of the criminal state,' Kosor wrote on X. 'No media are reporting about that.' Croatia's World War II Ustasha regime ran concentration camps where tens of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats were brutally executed. Some of Perkovic's songs include the Ustasha salute, punishable by law in Croatia, and other references to the pro-Nazi regime. Some Croatian nationalists view the leaders of the Ustasha regime as the country's founders, despite the recorded atrocities. Perkovic first became popular during a bloody 1991–95 ethnic war that erupted after Croatia declared independence from former Yugoslavia, in which he fought. Nicknamed Thompson after an antique machine gun he carried in the war, Perkovic has claimed that his songs only celebrate Croatia's victory in that war and its independence. Index news portal posted video footage Saturday of some fans performing the Ustasha salute in Zagreb before the concert.
