Laibach

Biography

With origins in Trbovlje, Slovenia, Laibach’s powerful imagery has long been confused with the fascist icons they have tried to deconstruct. They were formed in 1980 by members of the (then) Yugoslavian army, including Tomaz Hostnik (1961, d. 1982; vocals) and Miran Mohar. Named after the German word for Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, they acted as the musical arm of the political art movement NSK (Neue Slowenische Kunst - New Slovian Art), conceived in 1980 and formulated in 1984. Laibach formed one of three sections of the movement, the others being Irwin (painters) and Scipion Nasice (theatre).

Laibach itself has a constantly fluctuating line-up. However, the nucleus can be identified as Milan Fras, Dejan Knez, Ervin Markosek and Ivan Novak, the latter acting as spokesman after Hostnik had committed suicide. In 1982, they toured outside of their native country for the first time, releasing their first UK single,...

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