How One of Our Greatest Bands Fell Apart
From a humble strip club to Eurovision victory and a devastating fall, the life of Rajko Dujmić is full of incredible highs and even more painful lows.
From a humble strip club to Eurovision victory and a devastating fall, the life of Rajko Dujmić is full of incredible highs and even more painful lows.
On this day, August 5, 2026, it marks exactly six years since the death of Rajko Dujmić, the legendary composer and heart of the band Novi fosili. His passing, caused by the aftermath of a severe traffic accident, left an indelible void on the Croatian music scene, but also many questions about the turbulent life behind the timeless hits.
Born in 1954 in Zagreb, Dujmić grew up in modest conditions and inherited his musical talent from his mother. By the age of thirteen, he was already earning money playing in a Zagreb strip club, which he later described as a crucial early life experience. That same year, he wrote his first song, "Smij se." After finishing music high school and studying at the Pedagogical Academy, he built his path through the bands "Crno-bijeli" and "Klan," collaborating with big names like Josipa Lisac and the group Zlatni akordi.
He initially turned down an invitation to join Novi fosili in 1975, unwilling to leave his colleagues from "Crno-bijeli." However, a year later, in 1976, he joined the band and quickly became its key member, keyboardist, composer, and undisputed creative leader.
With the first female vocalist Đurica Barlović, Novi fosili gained immense popularity in the early 80s with songs like "Saša," "Šuti, moj dječače plavi," and "Nemaš više vremena za mene." After her departure, Sanja Doležal took over as the vocalist, and in that lineup, the band reached the peak of fame. Dujmić penned hits like "Milena," "Još te volim," "Za dobra stara vremena," and "Najdraže moje," which became staples on domestic radio airwaves.
His compositional genius also shone on the international stage. With Novi fosili, he placed fourth at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest with "Ja sam za ples." As the author of "Mangup," performed by Srebrna krila, he reached sixth place. The crowning achievement came in 1989 with "Rock Me," which he wrote for the group Riva, Croatia's first and only Eurovision victory. For his work, he was also awarded a Porin for lifetime achievement.
But behind the glitter of the stage, another story unfolded. Due to Rajko Dujmić's deteriorating health and his long-standing battle with addiction, the band members decided to temporarily halt the group's activities. This addiction was the reason for their first split back in 1991, after he refused treatment.
"Due to the worsening health condition of Rajko Dujmić, the members of Novi fosili decided to temporarily suspend the band's work. They emphasized that the musician had been battling addiction for years, which had already affected relationships within the group and led to their breakup in the early 90s," Sanja Doležal, Marinko Colnago, and Vladimir Kočiš Zec stated for 24 sata.
Despite the problems, his colleagues stressed that they wanted to preserve the group's reputation and respect for the songs Dujmić created. They added that they would support him in his fight for recovery, although his health condition after hospitalization at Vrapče hospital no longer allowed him to fulfill agreed commitments.
The strained relations culminated in 2014 when Dujmić was expelled from the group. A legal dispute followed over the rights to use the name "Novi fosili." Dujmić, as the founder and author of the biggest hits, claimed he had the right to decide about the name, while Doležal, Colnago, and Kočiš Zec believed they had the right to perform the songs they had created together over the years. In 2016, the court issued a temporary measure regarding the use of the name, and the dispute, according to HINA, lasted until Dujmić's death in 2020, when the proceedings were halted.
Rajko Dujmić's life ended on July 29, 2020, in a traffic accident near Ravna Gora. After the accident, he was placed in the intensive care unit of KBC Rijeka, where he was in a coma. His wife Snježana then asked friends and fans for prayers.
The family had a weekend cottage in Gorski kotar, a place of rest and gatherings. The day before the accident, Snježana was there for renovation work, and her husband and son Tin joined her. That date held special significance for the couple, they planned to celebrate their anniversary with dinner in Delnice. Instead of celebration, tragedy followed, ending one of the most brilliant yet turbulent careers in domestic music.
