Massimo Savić, one of the most respected and recognizable vocalists of the Croatian rock and pop scene, and one of those voices that left a permanent mark on the face of the wider regional music scene, has died at the age of 61 after a short but severe illness. He started out in the band Dorian Gray, who released their debut studio album “Sjaj u tami” in 1983, followed by a second album, “Za tvoje oči”, in 1985. In later years he became a household name with his solo career. The crown of his journey was a concert at Arena Zagreb on November 5, 2022!
Savić died of lung cancer on December 23, 2022, in Zagreb, at the Vinogradska hospital.
The sad news was first shared with the public on Facebook by his wife and daughter:
“Father, husband, pride and love, Massimo Savić, has left us after a short but heroic battle. Even though he has left this world, he will live on in our souls forever smiling, warm, strong, full of love and artistic refinement. We will always be your girls.”
Massimo was born in Pula. Even as a young man he was considered a hugely talented guitarist, but later he decided to put his vocals first. That voice had always been a one-of-a-kind oddity, and Savić kept developing its special qualities and maturing them throughout his career, earning a lasting reputation as one of the most striking and distinctive voices not only in the former Yugoslavia but across the wider region. With an immeasurable vocal charisma.
Massimo kicked off his career back in his student days, when he co-founded the new wave art rock band Dorian Grey in 1982. Writing under the influence of the sonic innovations of the time from acts like Brian Ferry and Roxy Music, David Bowie (the “Berlin trilogy”), David Sylvain and Japan, the band released their debut studio album “Sijaj u tami” in 1983. The album brought the band instant recognition with its title track, a cover of The Walker Brothers’ hit The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore. The song was first recorded by its writer, Frankie Valli, back in 1965, but a year later it was The Walker Brothers’ version that turned it into a real success. The song was later covered by Keane, Bruce Springsteen and Cher as well.
In 1985 Dorian Gray released their second studio album, “Za tvoje oči”. It was recorded in Sweden and produced by Sjunne Ferger.
A year later the band fell apart because of growing tensions between its members, as well as money troubles. Drugs took their toll too. Recording the second album in Sweden took twice as long as Jugoton was willing to pay for, so the label demanded that the band cover the remaining debt out of their own pockets. The band’s manager at the time, Marijan Crnarić, managed to set up a tour of 42 dates across Yugoslavia. The band members only covered their travel costs, accommodation and food with the earnings, while Jugoton took all the rest.
Massimo Savić carried on with his career and became a successful pop rock singer. Between 2004 and 2007, and again in 2012, he won five Croatian Porin awards for best male vocalist.
After Dorian Gray came the solo albums: “Stranac u noći” (1987), “Riječi čarobne” (1988), “Muzika za tebe” (1989), “Zemlja plesa” (1990), “Elements” (1992), “Benzina” (1995), “Massimo” (2003), “Vještina I” (2004), “Vještina II” (2006), “Sunce se ponovo rađa” (2008), “Dodirni me slučajno” (2011), “1 dan ljubavi (2015)”, “Sada” (2018).
Thanks to his dynamic and distinctive voice, Massimo worked with the likes of Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola, among others, but the war years in Croatia hit him hard. During that time he drifted away from writing new music altogether.
Massimo sang his last concert on November 5, 2022, at Arena Zagreb. Right before the show he found out he had lung cancer. His doctor advised him against performing, but Massimo didn’t cancel the gig. Instead, he shocked the doctor by suggesting that the doctor and their medical team come to the concert and wait ‘backstage’ in case anything went wrong while he was singing.
Even though he may have already sensed back then that the Arena show would be his last, he said goodbye to the 13,000-strong crowd that came to cheer him on that night in true concert style, with the attitude of the greats!
With his passing, a giant void has opened up in the region, because Massimo was famous for an elusive charisma and a truly one-of-a-kind voice. That charisma shone with full intensity and fierce glow, and the passion and emotion he put behind his poetry could either set a listener’s heart on fire in an instant or break it completely.
