Danas, 25.07.2009.

As long as we live there is a chance for "Haustor"

For Darko Rundek & Cargo Orchestra the capitol of Serbia is regular musical stop. This summer in Belgrade, they will perform at Beer Fest (12^th – 16^th August), which makes their second time at this festival of great music and beer. Since the songs of former front man of the band "Haustor" are always the guarantee for the good time, organizers believe that this Croatian musician will be welcomed with great atmosphere, and probably around 100.000 people.

Since your fans usually differ time when "Haustor" was a band, and the time after that, we have inevitable question for you. Is there a possibility for the reunion of this legendary band?
- As long as we live, there is such a possibility. This year, it is the 30^th anniversary since the band has gotten its name (the band was founded in 1977), the next year is an anniversary of our first single "My first love", and the year after that - that is 2010 the anniversary of the "Haustor" first album. And these are all very good reasons for that. We will see, Rundek says.

Since the band is not active, you are mostly making softer and more acoustic songs. Do you find that change is a sign of musical maturity or you have had that kind of songs in your mind but they couldn’t fit in the "Haustor" sound at that time?
- Both, I believe. It was in 1982, while Sacher was in army (Srđan Sacher, a bass player in "Haustor"), I made the demo of my first solo album, mostly with acoustic songs. Certain number of those songs appeared at my solo albums. Today, it seems to me that a rock and roll sound is related to certain age, and one only later discovers and finds his expression within much wider musical field.

It is usually being said that your songs are not for every mood due to their heaviness. Why do your songs mostly describe either black or white without any middle?
- It is very hard for me to talk about that. To tell the truth, I have tried with most of my albums, to write at least one song, which would be considered as radio friendly, but more joy I have felt while listening to the so called B side of the single or LP.

Once, you admitted that after going to France (1991), you had thought you would never again perform your songs and that you would only write the songs for the others. What made you start performing again in 1996?
- I felt needed. At that time, "Haustor" compilation 81-88 was released, I had written lots of songs referring to the new post communist reality, "Jabukaton" from Zagreb had proposed to me very concrete plan for the gigs and records, and so the story begun again.

In your opinion, why is the number of young musicians who succeed in attaining popularity as yours, so small?
- At this time of global media and instant star production, an average listener is very hard to orient oneself and therefore he relies on verified values and artists whose continuity is traceable. Unfortunately, that leaves very small space for new authentic creators, who are constrained to the smaller audience.

At Belgrade Beer Fest, many ex-YU musicians will perform. Is there any performer whom you would like to listen from the audience?
- Of course. I am staying in Belgrade for just one day, and I am going to listen to Rambo, Letu Štuke and Esma Redžepova.

In Serbia we find more hospitality than hostility Do you find the ex-Yu musicians, who out of their nationalistic impulses refuse to perform in Serbia or Croatia, responsible for those vandalism excesses, such as one that has happened to you four years ago in Belgrade? - Well, it seems to me the number of those musicians is getting smaller or at least I am not aware of them. On the other hand, I know that a great number of Serbian musicians have performed in Croatia and vice versa. Sport fields are different story, where political needs increase or decrease chauvinist passion on daily basis, which are of course always there. Of course, I have to add that in Serbia, I have come across more hospitality than hostility.

Vlada Živanović