There are not many bands from Slovenia that have reached the thrones of fame and acknowledgment as Laibach did. It would not be fair to write any other introduction to the group itself, as the one that the group has written about themselves:
“Laibach is a music and cross-media group from Slovenia established on the 1st of June, 1980 in Trbovlje. The name of the band is the historic German version of the name Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. From the start Laibach has developed a “Gesamtkunstwerk” – multi-disciplinary art practice in all fields ranging from popular culture to art (collages, photo-copies, posters, graphics, paintings, videos, installations, concerts and performances). Since their beginnings the group was associated and surrounded with controversy, provoking strong reactions from political authorities of former Yugoslavia and in particular in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Their militaristic self-stylisation, propagandist manifestos and totalitarian statements have raised many debates on their actual artistic and political positioning. Many important theorists, among them Boris Groys and Slavoj Zizek, have discussed the Laibach phenomenon both from an analytical as well as critical cultural point of view. The main elements of Laibach’s varied practices are: strong references to avant-garde art history, nazi-kunst and socialist realism for their production of visual art, de-individualisation in their public performances as an anonymous quartet dressed in uniforms, conceptual proclamations, and forceful sonic stage performances – mainly labelled as industrial (pop) music. Laibach is practicing collective work, dismantling individual authorship and establishing the principle of hyper-identification. In 1983 they have invented and defined the historic term ‘retro-avant-garde’. They creatively questioned artistic ‘quotation’, appropriation, re-contextualisation, copyright and copy-left. Although starting out as both an art and music collective, Laibach became internationally renowned foremost on the music scene, particularly with their unique cover-versions and interpretations of hits by Queen, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, etc.”
Source: laibach.org
First thing that anyone observes is, Laibach is not just a group, it is a lifestyle, phenomenon, movement, art at a glance. No group from Slovenia has ever caused so much admiration and so much controversy as Laibach did. Established in early year 1980 in a working town called Trbovlje with being present at the scene still at nowadays calls for all respect. They have seen Yugoslavia, they have experienced Yugoslavia falling apart and establishment of a country called Slovenia. They have toured the world, they have played everywhere. One of their most admired and remarkable events that spread the word about the group is the concert in London’s museum Tate Modern on April, 2012. They presented an unique show, which caught media attention worldwide, covering their music from the beginning to the new art. The event was also recorded and later published as a Limited edition CD.
On 3rd of March, Mute records published their new Album called Spectre. The tour is a follow up of this event. They will be presenting their latest show also in the capitol of Slovenia, Ljubljana (where group derived the name from; Laibach is a german name for Ljubljana) on 16.5.2014 in a monumental event area of Krizanke. As the title event says “A Spectre is haunting Europe – the Spectre of Laibach .” For a long term admirer or for someone who just wants to see what art in reality really looks like – a must visit thing.