Pankrti (“The Bastards”) were a pioneering Slovenian punk rock band formed in Ljubljana in 1977 by Peter Lovšin and Gregor Tomc, often hailed as the first punk group behind the Iron Curtain. Inspired by the Sex Pistols and The Clash, they quickly gained notoriety with provocative, politically charged songs like Za železno zaveso (“Behind the Iron Curtain”) and Lublana je bulana (“Ljubljana is Sick”), becoming central to the Yugoslav punk and new wave scene. Their debut album Dolgcajt (1980) established them as cult figures, followed by acclaimed records such as Državni ljubimci (1982) and Rdeči album (1984), which cheekily referenced communism with a cover of Bandiera Rossa. Though they disbanded in 1987, Pankrti’s rebellious spirit and sharp social commentary left a lasting mark on Eastern European rock history, and they have reunited for occasional performances since.
