{"id":171669,"date":"2025-02-07T16:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T15:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-slovenia.com\/?p=171669"},"modified":"2025-02-07T16:58:56","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T15:58:56","slug":"laibach-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-slovenia.com\/en\/lifestyle\/famous-slovenians\/laibach-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Laibach Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Laibach is not only arguably the biggest ever band from Slovenia but also one of its most globally recognized cultural brands. Known for their avant-garde industrial music and provocative aesthetics, they have left an indelible mark on the international music scene. In this interview, Laibach discusses their role as cultural ambassadors, their experiences performing in unique venues worldwide\u2014including North Korea\u2014and their perspectives on the ever-changing music industry.<\/strong><\/p>

Do you view yourselves as (unofficial) ambassadors of Slovenia?<\/strong>
Since we have recently been awarded by the Slovenian president with the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia, we should probably consider ourselves first of all as official State Artists, but we are also happy to act as ambassadors if Slovenia wants and needs us as such. How difficult can that be?<\/p>

On a related note, how do you describe Slovenia (to audiences, or just people you meet) when you’re abroad?<\/strong>
We usually explain that Slovenia is the \u2018nation with the best location\u2019, closer to Venice than most of Italy and as well closer to Vienna than a good half of Austria.<\/p>

Trbovlje, your home town, is just the kind of place that In Your Pocket readers would find interesting on a day trip. [Industrial tourism has actually become a pretty trendy genre of tourism in Europe in recent years]. Any recommendations for things to see and do there?<\/strong>
In Trbovlje, where Laibach was founded in 1980, tourists should definitely visit the architectural modernist cultural pearl – the Delavski dom cultural centre, built in 1956 to the designs of architects Marko \u017dupan\u010di\u010d and Oton Gaspari, where we were forbidden to perform back in 1980, but are performing regularly today. On the fa\u00e7ade of this monumental building, you can find a magnificent mosaic by sculptor Marij Pregelj, which, influenced by Greek and Egyptian aesthetics, depicts proletarian life in Trbovlje. In the surroundings of Delavski dom, there are sculptures of the important social-modernist sculptor Stojan Bati\u010d, also from Trbovlje, who strongly influenced the aesthetics of Laibach, including a monument depicting the historical struggle of the miners against Orjuna (the Organisation of Yugoslav Nationalists). The ‘Ajnzer’ is one of the main entrances to the extinct Trbovlje mines, and next to it stands the legendary miners’ bathroom or ‘Vashhava’.  Also worth a visit is the highest chimney in Europe, built next to the Trbovlje II Thermal Power Plant, where Laibach performed twice, in 1990 and 1992. They can stop by the 2001 Space Odyssey Monolith, installed in the centre of town, in the Park of Culture, and finally, they should climb the highest peak in Zasavje, the picturesque Mt. Kum, where Laibach usually collectively prepare for European and world tours.   <\/p>

In Ljubljana?<\/strong>
Ljubljana is a beautiful city, full of striking views and beautiful sights. From Laibach’s point of view, all the points set and designed by the architect Jo\u017ee Ple\u010dnik are greatly important and worth a visit. But also the buildings by architects Vurnik and Fabiani and others. Laibach’s Ljubljana base was the design school in Kri\u017eanke, situated by Napoleon Square, which was visited by several members of the group. Laibach also gave many concerts in the Kri\u017eanke auditorium – the former monastery of the German Knights of the Teutonic monastic order, who chose the cross as their symbol. Opposite the Kri\u017eanke is Ple\u010dnik’s NUK – the National and University Library, a building that still fascinates with its unique architecture. Ljubljana\u2019s Castle is also a place where Laibach performed several times, most recently twice during the Corona period. On the opposite hill is the MGLC – the International Graphic and Fine Arts Centre, where we had a major retrospective exhibition of our visual art back in 2010. Behind the MGLC is the \u0160vicarija building, where we used to have a small studio. On the way out of the centre and along the Ple\u010dnik’s or Jakopi\u010d promenade to the MGLC, a stop at the Moderna gallery, also a unique architectural gem, is a must. A little further on in Tivoli Park was once the Tivoli Studio, where Laibach recorded their 1986 album Opus Dei. A stone’s throw further on is Hala Tivoli, where important artists and bands from the world music scene performed between the 60s and the 90s, including Queen, Tina Turner, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Nirvana and many others, also Laibach a few times. Another admirable building is Ljubljana’s Neboti\u010dnik, which was once the tallest building in the Balkans and was home to a jazz and strip club in the 1970s. Laibach used to organise parties on top of Neboti\u010dnik. Another remarkable spot in Ljubljana is Ro\u017enik, where NSK members gathered in the late 1980s and early 1990s for long meetings, and where we discussed our strategy very seriously. And let’s not forget the Union Caf\u00e9, where Ljubljana’s alternative scene was socially very active in the vibrant 1980s. The same goes for the \u0160KUC Gallery in old Ljubljana, where history was made and where Laibach had several key exhibitions in the early 80s. And there is, of course, Slovenia’s largest cultural centre, Cankarjev dom, where Laibach also held some of its most important concerts.    <\/p>

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