| Branimir "Johnny" Štulić | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Branimir Štulić |
| Also known as | Johnny, Džoni |
| Born | April 11, 1953 Skopje, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Origin | Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Rock, alternative rock |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar, bass guitar, acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 1977–1998 |
| Labels | Jugoton, Komuna |
| Associated acts | Azra, Parni Valjak |
Branimir "Johnny" Štulić (born April 11, 1953 in Skopje Republic of Macedonia) is a Yugoslav singer, songwriter, poet and a leader of the popular former Yugoslav rock group Azra. He is known for his charismatic stage performances and inspiring song lyrics that often combined rock poetry with a strong sense for social commentary.
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Born into a Yugoslav People's Army officer's family, young Branimir grew up in Skopje where his father was stationed at the time. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Cvetković village near Jastrebarsko where they spent year and a half before relocating to Jastrebarsko proper for the following 5 years. In January 1967 Štulić moved to Zagreb where he attended high school and later for two years studied phonetics and history at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Philosophy before dropping out. Stulic's youth and his musical beginnings are the subject of documentary "Kad Miki kaze da se boji".
He began his musical career with a group called 'Balkan Sevdah band"', performing Beatles covers and folk music. In 1977 he formed Azra, which during the 1980s, became one of the most prominent and influential musical acts in Yugoslavia. Azra days brought Štulić widespread fame in Yugoslavia as well as rabid and devoted youth following - Štulić often used music to make statement about social and political conditions in communist Yugoslavia of the time.
In 1990 Štulić moved to Houten, Netherlands, where he currently lives. Since then, he recorded another 3 records, which met limited commercial success. In 2005 he published an autobiography called Smijurija u mjerama.
Croatian journalist Hrvoje Horvat wrote a biography of Johnny Štulić called Fantom slobode, (Phantom of freedom), issued in 2006. Due to Štulić's immense popularity in the region of former Yugoslavia the book was an immediate commercial success. However, it was also heavily criticized by many literary critics, and even Štulić himself for its poor writing quality and misinterpretation of facts.
Štulić is often at lengths with his past as he lives a secluded life and is often the target of reporters seeking an interview, in which he is reluctant to participate. He states he has no interest in going back to his rock career. Branimir Štulić is considered to be something of a cult figure in former Yugoslavia.
Štulić father was Ivan Štulić, Serb from Nin, Yugoslav Army officer and his mother is a Serb from Macedonia. His mother still lives in Zagreb. He declares himself as Yugoslav.[1]
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