Marinko Colnago, the esteemed founder of New Fossils, has sadly passed away at the age of 83.

Marinko Colnago, a founding member and stalwart of the group Novi Fosili, has sadly passed away. He had reached the age of 83. The announcement was made on their official Facebook page.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved fossil, dear Marinko. He will be sorely missed. His absence will be profoundly felt. “Marinko, you shall always remain in our hearts,” the post states.

At the tender age of 15, he assembled his inaugural band

Marinko Colnago, a Croatian musician, gained recognition as the bassist and vocalist for the band Novi fosili. He entered the world at Petrova Hospital in Zagreb, raised amidst the vibrant influences of an artistic family. His mother Zora, hailing from St. Petersburg, was a ballerina and choreographer, while his father Ferrante Colnago, an Italian from Split, played football for Hajduk Split and represented the Yugoslav national team.

Following the divorce of his parents, Marinko resided with his mother in Varaždin, where he embarked on his musical education. At just 15 years old, he established his inaugural band, and among his early collaborators was Ruža Pospiš Baldani, who would go on to achieve global acclaim as an opera diva.

New Fossils was established in 1969

In 1969, he established the band Novi fosili alongside drummer Slobodan Momčilović Moka. The name of the band was proposed by Arsen Dedić during a chat at the Junferica pastry shop in Zagreb.

The initial formation of the band featured six male members, and their tracks, including Plovi mala barka and Leptiri se rađaju, gained popularity during the early 1970s.

In 1976, the band experienced a pivotal moment in their career with the addition of singer Đurđica Miličević, who would later become known as Barlović. This was soon followed by the arrival of keyboardist Rajko Dujmić and guitarist Vladimir Kočiš Zec.

This particular line-up marked the pinnacle of Novi fosili’s success, propelling them to become one of the most renowned pop bands in the former Yugoslavia.

Following the band’s disbandment in 1991, Colnago stepped away from the music scene and took on a variety of roles, including selling crockery, vacuum cleaners, and ice cream. In 2005, he made a return to the music scene, as the New Fossils line-up came together once more, featuring Sanja Doležal and Vladimir Kočiš Zec. In November of the previous year, New Fossils graced the stage for a farewell concert at the Arena Zagreb.

Happily married for more than half a century

He spent many years married to Nada, an actress and whisperer at the Zagreb Youth Theatre. The couple shared over fifty years of companionship, with Marinko providing loving and devoted care for Nada throughout her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, right up until her passing in 2018.

Even in his later years, Marinko persisted in his performances with Novi Fosili, maintaining the allure that had enchanted audiences for many years. The audience consistently expressed their admiration and esteem for him during his concerts, underscoring his importance and enduring impact on the national music landscape.