Toni Montano Тони Монтано | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Velibor Miljković |
| Also known as | Tonny Montano |
| Born | 1962 (1962) Belgrade,PR Serbia,FPR Yugoslavia |
| Died | May 2024 (aged 62) Belgrade, Serbia |
| Genres | Punk rock,rockabilly,psychobilly,rock |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1979–2024 |
| Labels | Hellidon,PGP-RTB,PGP-RTS,City Records |
Velibor Miljković (Serbian Cyrillic: Велибор Миљковић, 1962 – 2024), better known by the stage name ofToni (Tonny)Montano (Serbian Cyrillic: Тони Монтано), was a Serbianrock musician.[1]
Miljković started his career as a vocalist of the bandpunk rock Radost Evrope (trans.Joy of Europe, not to be confused witha music festival of the same name), formed in 1979. The band lineup consisted of a large number of members, including Dime "Mune" Todorovski, later the member ofPartibrejkers and Slobodan "Loka" Nešović, later the member ofUrbana Gerila/Berliner Strasse andDefektno Efektni. They had rehearsals and performed at theBelgradeSKC, mainly cover versions of theRamones songs, but also had their own material. The band did not leave any recordings, and performed until 1985, when they disbanded. However, part of the material performed by Radost Evrope appeared on Miljković's debut album. One of the last live appearances the band had as an opening act for theAngelic Upstarts, in April 1985. After the band disbanded, Miljković pursued a solo career.
After the disbandment of Radost Evrope, Miljković named himself after theScarface lead characterTony Montana. He released his debut albumTonny Montano in 1986. The album was produced byBuldožer member Borut Činč (who also playedkeyboards on the album) and combined punk rock androckabilly, a combination Montano described asfrkabili (fightabilly). The album featured songs "Vreme je da skinem mrak" ("It's Time that I Score for the First Time"), "Frigidna" ("Frigid", a cover ofSex Pistols song "Friggin' in the Riggin") and "Boli me zub" ("My Tooth Aches") previously performed with Radost Evrope. It also featured a cover versions ofDragan Stojnić's "Balada o Boni i Klajd" ("The Ballad ofBonnie and Clyde") andBobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance?". At the beginning, Montano's support band consisted of musicians who also chose pseudonyms after famousgangsters: Edi Salvatore (a former member of Radost Evrope,guitar), Manzanera (a former member ofPartibrejkers,drums), Pjetro Manolo (bass guitarist), Serđo Manini (guitar), all of them at the same time members of the band Rock Street.
Toni Montano's next recordTalični Tom je mrtav (Lucky Luke Is Dead), released in 1987, featured similar sound, and in 1988 he released the live albumLive - mi smo iz Beograda (Mutant party) (Live - We're fromBelgrade (Mutant Party)), which was not well received. At the time, Toni Montano and the band Đavoli fromSplit organized corporateYugoslav tour. The albumLovac na novac (Money Hunter) was released in 1991 and featured a cover ofĐorđe Marjanović's "Zvižduk u osam" ("Whistle at Eight O'Clock"),football chant "Mi smo šampioni" ("We Are the Champions") and song "Odlaziš 1984 - 1990" ("You Are Leaving 1984 - 1990") dedicated to the members ofPrljavo Kazalište. Album featured members ofVampiri on backing vocals.
In 1993, Toni Montano acted in astageplayBilo jednom u Beogradu (Once Upon a Time in Belgrade) directed by himself andMiki Manojlović. Anent the stage play Toni Montano released the album of the same title. The song "Godfather" featured members ofOrthodox Celts as guests. The albumNajbolje od najboljeg 1991 - 1995 (Best of the Best 1991 - 1995) was released in 1995. The song "Mi smo srećna porodica" ("We're A Happy Family") featuredNele Karajlić on vocals. The albumMoja žena fudbal ne voli! (Zašto?)" (My Wife Doesn't Like Football! (Why?)) featured rerecorded "Mi smo šampioni" and "Mi smo iz Beograda" and football chant "Obilić" recorded forFK Obilić. Compilation albumHajde, slušaj ovaj CD (Come on, Listen to This CD), released in 1999, featured a cover ofElvis J. Kurtović's song "Da bog da crk'o rock 'n' roll" ("I Hope Rock 'n' Roll Dies"). At the same time studio albumSrećan rođendan (Happy Birthday) was released. The album featured members of Radijacija and Mega Bend, guitarist Nenad ″Nele″ Stamatović (formerBulevar member) and singerSonja Mitrović "Hani".Srećan rođendan featured a cover version ofPrljavo Kazalište song "Široke ulice" ("Wide Streets"). After the2000 political changes in Serbia, Montano semi-retired from the scene.
In 2006, Montano released a compilation albumBlue Eyes - Best of Tonny Montano,[2] and, in 2007, the other calledLepšoj od najlepše (To the Prettiest of Them All),[3] both released throughCity Records.
In 2012, Montano released the compilation albumIstinita ljubavna priča - Jubilej - 25 godina muzičkog rada (True Love Story - Jubilee - 25 Years of Musical Work) throughPGP-RTS.[4] Following the release of the compilation album, Montano gathered a group of Belgrade-based musicians to form a touring band for a live performances comeback. The lineup features Eddie Salvatore (rhythm guitar), Santos Traficante (lead guitar), Vincenzo de Mora (bass guitar) and Emilio Horhas (drums). Montano and the band had their first performance onBelgrade Beer Fest on 14 August 2012.[5]
Toni Montano appeared in the moviesStrangler vs. Strangler andBrod plovi za Šangaj.
In 2000, Serbian singerViktorija covered Montano′s song "Svi se sada njišu" ("Now Everyone Is Swinging"), on her live cover albumNostalgija (Nostalgia).[6]
Miljković was found dead in his apartment inBelgrade on 22 May 2024. Autopsy results are still pending.[7]