Book Explores Bijelo Dugme's Legacy: 'They Are for Our Region What The Beatles Were for World Rock'

A new book, "Šta bi dao da si na mom mjestu" (What Would You Give to Be in My Place), by Dušan Vesić, offers a comprehensive look at the legendary Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme. The book, released in 2014 to mark the band's 40th anniversary, is described as the most complete biography to date, aiming to reveal numerous secrets behind the group's enduring legacy.

Music critic Darko Glavan, in a premonition of his untimely death, provided a powerful endorsement of the band's significance. He compared Bijelo Dugme's impact on the Yugoslav music landscape to that of The Beatles on the global stage. "In the 40 years I've followed rock music from this region, nothing can compare to Bijelo Dugme," Glavan stated. "For our region, they are what The Beatles were for world rock."

Vesić, who was closely associated with the band as a "sixth member," acknowledges that some details remain untold, but insists the book is a vast improvement on previous accounts. "Some things I had to keep silent about, but I didn't lie about anything," Vesić wrote in the introduction. "Perhaps the book didn't go all the way because I don't know some things myself, but it went miles ahead of everything before it."

The author expresses deep admiration for the band, calling his involvement with them "the greatest thing I've ever been involved in." He argues that while the emergence of figures like Elvis Presley in the US or The Beatles in England was natural, Bijelo Dugme's appearance in Yugoslavia was extraordinary. "That's why Bebek is more important to me than Presley. Between Brega and Lennon, I will choose Brega and prove it at every step," Vesić declared.

The book covers Bijelo Dugme's entire 40-year history, starting from its formation in 1974 and extending to recent times. It also explores events preceding 1974, when future members were active in local Sarajevo bands. A pivotal moment highlighted is Željko Bebek's initial reluctance to sing, preferring to play guitar and earn money with a band performing foreign hits.

“

Neke stvari morao sam prešutjeti, ali ništa nisam slagao. Možda knjiga nije otišla sasvim do kraja jer neke stvari ne znam ni ja, ali otišla je miljama daleko u odnosu na sve do sada.