M.O.R.T.

M.O.R.T. is a Croatian rock band from Sinj that plays its own songs in a loud, energetic mix of rock, punk and blues and is known for its live shows. The name comes from a Terry Pratchett novel, where "Mort" stands for an origin or starting point.

The band began as a garage band in autumn 2003, founded by singer Ivan Katić "John", guitarist Božo Blajić "Zvrk" and bassist Jakov Maleš "Kikos", who have been its core ever since while several other musicians came and went. In 2012 they played Split Rock Fest and reached the final of HR demo klub. While recording their demo album Vrhunsko dno for Zdenko Franjić's label Slušaj najglasnije at the end of 2012 they were joined by drummer Milan Mijač "Mile". The album came out in summer 2013, the year they won Jelen Demofest in Banja Luka and came third at WHF.

The 5,000 euro Demofest prize paid for the recording of Odjel za žešće, released by Croatia Records in July 2014 with the singles "Tango", "Pas", "Meni se skače" and "Nina". It won excellent reviews and was named album of the year by some music portals, and "Nina" took the main prize at Karlovačko Rock Off in November 2014. In 2015 M.O.R.T. were nominated for the Porin for best new act.

Tužna kocka followed on 1 April 2016, with videos for "Volim", "Na cesti", "Plamen što kriješ" and "U najljepšoj priči". On 5 September 2019 the band released its first album in English, Standing Runningman, and took it to audiences in the United Kingdom. Samo hrabro i bezveze! (2023) brought "Imam sve", "Svijet se sužava", "Mamuran" and "Osoba A", and later came the live album Vintage. In 2023 John and Kikos were guests on the HRT talk show Nedjeljom u 2.

At home in Sinj the band helped found the arts association SUK, which for years held concerts in the abandoned Ivaniša Nelipić barracks, among them the S.A.R.S. festival, and started the Gljevstock gathering for young bands of the Cetina region. Among their influences they name Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, Majke and KUD Idijoti.