Rock on the beach in Fažana: the power of Atomsko Sklonište never fades

Thursday, July 16, 2026, while the heat was embracing the beach of Fažana/Fasana, making it almost impossible to do anything other than sip an ice-cold beer, a sound came from the speakers that seemed to come directly from the golden years of Yugoslav rock: the sound of Atomsko Sklonište.

As already mentioned on other occasions, Pula played a very important role in the punk rock scene of Yugoslavia first and Croatia later.

Pula gave birth to bands that made their mark both at a Balkan level and internationally. Among them, we should mention Kud Idijoti, who opened concerts for the Ramones in Yugoslavia and beyond, and Atomsko Sklonište.

A Yugoslav rock band with Anglo-Saxon influences

Although they never achieved the international exposure of Kud Idijoti, the latter represented one of the finest hard rock bands in the Balkan area. Strongly influenced by bands such as Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, with whom they shared the search for a powerful and sophisticated sound typical of the great British bands of the 1970s and 1980s, they managed to blend their style with elements characteristic of the rock scene of the former Yugoslavia, above all the use of Croatian lyrics.

Some of their fans claim that, during those years, a story circulated that if they had been born in another country and had written their lyrics in English instead of Croatian, they would have entered the pantheon of great hard rock bands. In their own way, during the 1980s and 1990s, they opened Balkan tours for bands such as Motörhead, Whitesnake and Uriah Heep, groups famously demanding when choosing their opening acts. In particular, it is said that the Motörhead frontman, after sharing the stage with them, praised Atomsko Sklonište, calling them a true, uncompromising band. Whether this really happened or not, we cannot know; one thing, however, is certain: the sound of Atomsko Sklonište is still powerful, clean and authentic today.

Atomsko Sklonište today

If you walk around Pula, you may have noticed a peculiar gentleman, sure, impossible to miss. He is a big man with long, curly white hair who drives a perfectly restored and impeccably maintained 1970s Mercedes. That person is Bruno Langer, former bass player of Atomsko Sklonište and today the band's vocalist and bass player.

But why this long introduction about a rock band born in the 1970s? The reason is simple: on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with very little notice and almost no advertising, Atomsko Sklonište performed on the beach in Fažana. A date that, for many people, including myself until the evening of the concert, might not have meant much, but which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the band's formation.

The Fažana concert

As happens with all great bands, Atomsko Sklonište also had a support band to open the evening: the "The Primo Tajo Blues Band", a local group featuring, among others, former Atomsko Sklonište drummer Saša Dadić, this time performing as vocalist, and former keyboard player Eduard Kancelar, still behind the keyboards. The band performed a blues rock repertoire spanning from the 1960s to the 1980s, moving from the Blues Brothers to The Doors and even presenting an original reinterpretation of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" arranged by Kancelar.

Then, despite the truly merciless heat, they finally stepped onto the stage: Atomsko Sklonište.

The current line-up, unfortunately, can no longer count on the original singer, Sergio Blažić, who passed away in 1987. However, it still features the band's historic bass player, now also vocalist, Bruno Langer, together with drummer Erik Vojak and guitarist Matija Dadić. The surname is no coincidence: Matija is in fact the grandson of legendary drummer Saša Dadić, who is also part of the opening band.

Almost a family reunion, in a way.

Although it started slightly later than scheduled, the concert proved to be an incredibly engaging event. The band played for around two hours and, when the end finally seemed to arrive, they showed no intention of stopping. Instead of leaving the stage, each member would take turns starting a new song, and the others would immediately follow without hesitation. The result? More than two hours of hard rock, almost without any break.

It was a real concert: honest, passionate and full of energy. Unfortunately, the audience was not particularly large, probably also because of the limited promotion of the event, but those who were there created a truly special atmosphere. Many people sang every song loud and, at certain moments, it almost felt as if we were no longer on the beach in Fažana, but rather in a stadium at a major rock concert.

Despite the suffocating heat and a crowd that was not especially large, the band never held back, playing with the same intensity they would have shown in front of thousands of people.

As often happens in Pula during concerts by legendary bands, this time too the audience was extremely diverse: teenagers, young people, adults and... let's say many "former young people" as well. People who may no longer be young in terms of age, but who still have the desire to enjoy themselves, remember the past and sing along to the songs that have accompanied an important part of their lives.

Happy Birthday!

At a certain point during the performance, a surprise arrived, especially for those who know the history of the band well. On stage, drummer Erik Vojak handed over his drumsticks to Saša Dadić, vocalist of The Primo Tajo Blues Band and, as already mentioned, drummer of the first line-up of Atomsko Sklonište. But that was not all: for a brief moment, Atomsko Sklonište also had their historic keyboard player Eduard Kancelar back on stage. A symbolic gesture that gave the audience a true reunion, made even more special by the celebration of the band's 50th anniversary.

Personally, I found it deeply moving to see grandfather and grandson playing together on the same stage, in the same legendary band. These are the moments that explain the true meaning of music better than any words: passion, memory and continuity between generations.

I can therefore say, without fear of contradiction, that for those who were in Fažana that evening it was not simply a concert, but a small piece of Balkan rock history coming back to life in front of the sea, right in the land where it was born, on such a special day.

After fifty years of career, Atomsko Sklonište continue to prove that rock is not only about charts or huge international stages. It is above all about the energy a band can still transmit live, the passion with which music is played and the bond that continues to unite a band with its audience.

On Thursday evening, on the beach of Fažana, all of this was clear. No special effects, no impressive stage production, just a great band that, after half a century, still has something to say and the desire to do it with the same honesty and the same power as always.