Miljenko Matijevic

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Miljenko Matijevic

| image = Miljenko Matijevic of Steelheart in 2017..jpg

| alt =

| caption = Matijevic performing with Steelheart in 2017

| birth_name =

| alias = Michael, Mike, Mili

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|11|30}}

| birth_place = Zagreb, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia

| origin =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}

| years_active = 1989–present

| label = MCA, MCM/Steelheart, Bad Boss Company

| current_member_of = Steelheart

| past_member_of = Manzarek–Krieger

| website = {{URL|https://steelheart.com/}}

| module =

}}

Miljenko Matijevic (born November 30, 1964) is a Croatian-American singer, best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the hard rock band Steelheart. He has a big following in South Korea and has worked on several South Korean TV series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreatimesus.com/more-and-more-international-stars-branching-out-to-korea/|title=More and more international stars branching out to Korea|website=The Korea Times|first=Dong-hwan|last=Ko|date=March 4, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2016}} He has also released several soundtracks for South Korean TV series.{{Cite web|url=http://sports.donga.com/3/all/20160310/76930268/2|title=[인터뷰] 밀젠코 "'쉬즈곤' 음이탈? 평생 한 번도 없었다"|website=Sports DongA|language=ko|first=Hyun-jung|last=Choi|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2016}} In 2010, he did a tour with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of rock band the Doors, singing the parts of the late Jim Morrison.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-06 |title=Steelheart Singer Miljenko Matijevic On Eddie Van Halen's Generosity |url=https://www.vhnd.com/2023/05/06/steelheart-singer-miljenko-matijevic-on-eddie-van-halens-generosity/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Van Halen News Desk |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Geurts |first=Jimmy |title=Steelheart frontman Miljenko Matijevic on band's legacy, South Korea and 'Rock Star' |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/events/2019/02/13/steelheart-frontman-miljenko-matijevic-on-bands-legacy-south-korea-and-rock-star/6005366007/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Christopher |first=Michael |title=Steelheart's Miljenko Matijevic on the stage mishap that nearly killed him, the long road back and the triumphant 'Steelheart 30' album |url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/interviews/steelhearts-miljenko-matijevic-on-the-stage-mishap-that-nearly-killed-him-the-long-road-back-and-the-new-steelheart-30-album |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Metal Edge Magazine |language=en}}

Early life

Matijevic was born on November 30, 1964 in Zagreb.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-30 |title=Happy Birthday To Greenwichs Miljenko Matijevic |url=https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/greenwich/neighbors/happy-birthday-to-greenwichs-miljenko-matijevic/419876/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Greenwich Daily Voice |language=en}} He lived there with his brother and grandparents until 1970 when his parents collected him from Croatia and moved with him and his brother to Scarsdale, New York. When Matijevic was 7, the family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut. Michael's brother, John, learned to play the guitar and Michael would often sing along, particularly country music, as that is what their father enjoyed. When Michael was 9 he joined the local church choir. However, the biggest change was when Michael was 11 and discovered Led Zeppelin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/music/Miljenko+Matijevic/+wiki|title=Miljenko Matijevic Biography|work=last.fm|access-date=June 10, 2016}}

Career

After being seen playing at a local club in the band The Mission, Don Stroh, owner of Showcase Studios, called Matijevic saying he should come in and rehearse with a band in his studio. This is where Matijevic first met Chris Risola and James Ward, along with Jack Wilkinson, and Red Alert was formed.

Jack Wilkinson was eventually replaced and two former members of the band Rage of Angels who played on their 1989 debut album joined: John Fowler (1966-2008) on drums and Frank DiConstanzo as a rhythm guitarist.{{Cite web |title=Rage of Angels - Rage of Angels - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Rage_of_Angels/Rage_of_Angels/5664 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.metal-archives.com}} Michael soon devoted all attention to the band, and not his college work. He, John and James left for Los Angeles in the hope of getting a record deal, despite having no contacts. However, within a month, the band had a record deal.

Their first album, Steelheart, released in 1990, sold over a million copies and was supported by a world tour. The follow-up, Tangled in Reins, released in 1992, was supported by a tour in Europe and Asia.{{Cite web |last=Bosshart |first=Becky |date=2009-02-05 |title=Heavy metal band is big on love |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/feb/05/heavy-metal-band-big-love/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Schelle |first=Crystal |title=Steelheart is the headliner at Rockin' at Riverbottom on Saturday |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/entertainment/music/2013/09/11/steelheart-is-the-headliner-at-rockin-at-riverbottom-on-saturday/46175081/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Herald-Mail Media |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Steelheart brings power balladry to Las Vegas |url=https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2024/jan/12/steelheart-downtown-las-vegas-golden-nugget/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Las Vegas Magazine |language=en}}

At the end of their U.S. tour in 1992 opening for Great White, Steelheart was invited to open an additional show for the band Slaughter. On Halloween night, at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado, Steelheart was performing "Dancing in the Fire" from the Tangled in Reins album when Matijevic was involved in a serious accident. Matijevic decided to climb a lighting truss which was for some reason improperly secured. He failed to climb the rig and failed to dodge the 1000 pound piece of equipment, which hit him in the back of the head, driving him face first into the stage. The outcome of the accident was a broken nose, cheekbone, jaw, twisted spine, and severe memory loss. Matijevic found the strength to walk off the stage and was immediately taken to the hospital. The incident marked the end of the original lineup of Steelheart.

Steelheart reformed with a new lineup and released the album, Wait, in 1996. The band released the album Good 2B Alive in 2008. In 2010, Michael did a tour with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of rock band The Doors, singing the parts of the late Jim Morrison.

File:Miljenko Matijevic - picture by Simone van den Boom.jpg at the Bospop festival, Weert, Netherlands, 2010]]

Steelheart released the album, Through Worlds of Stardust, in 2017 and the live album, Rock'n Milan, in 2018.{{cite web|last=Prato|first=Greg|title=Steelheart Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steelheart-mn0000746128/biography|access-date=April 26, 2020|publisher=AllMusic}}

Discography

= Steelheart =

= South Korean singles =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Year ! Title ! Album
2015 \| "Stay" \| My Beautiful Bride OST – Part.2
rowspan="4"\| 2016 \| "My Love Is Gone" \| Glamorous Temptation OST – Part.9
"The Story of the Rain and You" \| rowspan=2\|King of Mask Singer Episode 48
"Confession"
"I Miss You to Death" \| {{Non-album single}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

Year

! Title

! Album

2015

| "Stay"

| My Beautiful Bride OST – Part.2

rowspan="4"| 2016

| "My Love Is Gone"

| Glamorous Temptation OST – Part.9

"The Story of the Rain and You"

| rowspan=2|King of Mask Singer Episode 48

"Confession"

"I Miss You to Death"

| {{Non-album single}}

Filmography

= Television series =

width=10\|Year ! Title ! Role ! Network
class="wikitable" style="width:600px"
rowspan=4 \| 2016	King of Mask Singer	Himself (A Quiet Sort Of Lightning Man) Episode 47 - 48	MBC
Flaming Youth	himself	SBS
The God of Music	himself	Mnet
My Neighbor, Charles	himself	KBS1

= Film appearance =

class="wikitable" style="width:600px"
width=10\|Year ! Title ! Role ! Released by
rowspan=4 \| 2001	Rock Star	singing voice of Mark Wahlberg's character Chris (Izzy) Cole	Warner Bros.

class="wikitable" style="width:600px"

width=10|Year

! Title

! Role

! Released by

rowspan=4 | 2001

Rock Star

singing voice of Mark Wahlberg's character Chris (Izzy) Cole

Warner Bros.