Prljavo Kazalište was formed in 1977 in Dubrava, part of Zagreb, the capital of the then SR Croatia. They name themselves after an episode of the satirical Italian comic book Alan Ford, which was very popular in the former Yugoslavia. In its early beginnings, Prljavo kazalište's was a punk band, although they initially wanted to sound like The Rolling Stones for whom they maintained a great admiration.
In the same year, Prljavo kazalište released its first single, the punk rock sounding Televizori for the major record label Jugoton. It featured three songs: Televizori, Majka and Moje djetinjstvo. In 1979, Suzy Records released their second single Moj je otac bio u ratu. This is pure proto-hardcore punk for all lovers of raw sound.
That song was also included in the compilation album Novi Punk Val compiled by Igor Vidmar, along with Pankrti, Paraf and other prominent artists of the former Yugoslav punk scene.
Their first self titled album was produced by Piko Stančić and soon came to prominence all over the former Yugoslav federation for its social commentary and provoked the then-ruling one-party system, additionally because it also featured probably the first gay-themed song in Yugoslavia titled "Neki dječaci (Some Boys)" (followed later by "Retko te viđam sa devojkama" by Idoli). The record sleeve was designed by Mirko Ilić and featured a parody of the famous John Pasche's Tongue and Lips (The Rolling Stones logo).
