In their nearly two-decade long history, TBF has released four albums, all produced by Croatian singer/songwriter Dragan Lukic Lvky. The band has won numerous industry and audience awards, including Best Album for Uskladimo Toplomjere ( 2000), Maxon Universal (2005), Galerija Tutnplok (2007); Best Song for Alles Gut (2003), Nostalgicna (2005), and Smak svita (2008); Best Video for Genije (2000), and Smak svita (2008) and best production for Maxon Universal (2008).
The band's cult status was confirmed on 20 February 2009, when they sold out their concert in Zagreb's Sports Hall. Around 9.000 fans from Croatia and neighbouring countries danced, cheered and sung along with the artists.
The band's admirers are considered to be urban and educated. In a sea of entertainment tailored to feed consumers with disposable products, TBF fans have found their musical life-vest. As one of them put it, TBF's music is food for the soul – a critique of the world as we know it and the celebration of the world as we want it.
But how did the TBF infection start? In 1990, Mladen Badovinac (vocals) and Luka Barbic (vocals, keyboards, samples) shared both a classroom desk and their love for MC Hammer, Run DMC and Public Enemy. In primary school, they formed a band. At the age of 15, they debuted in their first public performance. 17 years later, they still live their teenage dream – to make good music and earn just enough to make more of it.
TBF first faced the audience as the opening band for the late 'king of funk' Dino Dvornik, one of Croatia's most talented musicians. Along with their love for the vibe, they had another thing in common – they all grew up in Split, the ancient city on the Adriatic cost. It is best known for its massive Diocletian’s palace, a retirement home of the Roman emperor Diocletian, built at the turn of the 4th century AD. The Splicani, inhabitants of Split, are well known for their cordiality, brusque sense of humor, and love for sports and music.
Growing up in this talent hub at turbulent times - the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, regime/social change, and formation of Croatian statehood - is reflected in numerous TBF songs. It took a relatively long time for the band to release their first album 'Ping-Pong' (1997), but once that was done, only the sky became the limit.
Today, TBF has six members – along with Mladen and Luka, they are Aleksandar Antic (vocals, turntable, samples), Ognjen Pavlovic (bass), Nikša Mandalinic (guitars) and Janko Novoselic (drums). In addition to playing in the band, TBF members joined an amateur actors' group that created and acted in a show produced by the Croatian National Theatre in Split.
The deep mark of the past turbulent times is reflected in nostalgic flashbacks to childhood and vivid descriptions of a different present. The 'transitional generation', which comprises their most faithful following, enjoys the bursts of cathartic emotions that mark the band's performances.
