Rock Monsters Romania

The East European Rock Alliance (EERA) is a groundbreaking international initiative designed to support and empower young and emerging rock artists across Eastern Europe. Funded by the European Union, this ambitious project brings together Romania, Poland, and Slovakia in a unique cross-border collaboration. EERA 2025 aims to ignite the region’s rock scene, blending raw talent with established icons to shape the future of rock music.

Today, we’re talking to Dirty Shirt, a band that celebrates 30 years of activity this year with a European tour. Originally starting as a wedding band in the mid-’90s, they have maintained a core lineup for nearly three decades. Their impressive journey includes a second-place win at the international final of Wacken Metal Battle 2014, performances at major European festivals like Hellfest, Wacken, and Pol’and’Rock, and successful tours across 17 European countries. Dirty Shirt’s signature sound fuses modern rock/metal heaviness with the vibrant energy of East-European traditional music, blending elements of world music, industrial electro, hardcore, and funk. By incorporating traditional acoustic instruments both in the studio and on stage, they create an authentic and dynamic musical experience that reaches beyond just metal fans, delivering infectious, danceable songs that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Before we get into more “serious” questions: What is one random and lesser-known thing about you that people probably don’t know but would be nice to know before seeing you live on this mini-tour?

Mihai Tivadar: Probably our closest fans already know this, but when we go on tour, we become like excited kids heading to a holiday camp. The IQ level drops instantly, and we spend a lot of time joking and laughing. Surprisingly, though, the discussions in the van can suddenly become very elevated, covering topics like the universe, the future of humanity, history, architecture, and philosophy. And just as suddenly, without any warning, the IQ drops back down into silly jokes.

Dan Petean: You wouldn’t last a day… The love language in Dirty Shirt is tough love on a medieval level. We always say the meanest things to each other while at the same time love each other to death. Once we had a former Mossad member in charge of security on one of our tours. He said that what we got going on in our band, is exactly how the guys in the military act. 

Cosmin Nechita: One lesser-known fact is that almost everything the world sees and hears about us is made ‘in-house’, each person doing their best with what they know, skills learned and perfected over time, from ads and graphics to merch, audio production, campaigns, and van repairs. Oh, and at some point, each of us has held the title of ‘Champion of Snoring’.

You are one of the few Romanian rock bands that perform concerts and tours outside the country. Are there any cities on this tour, from abroad, that hold special significance for the band? Do you feel like you’ve created a connection with a specific country?

Mihai Tivadar: That’s true, we perform a lot abroad. For example, last year, out of over 60 shows, more than 20 were in other countries. Personally, I feel the strongest connection with the French audience, which makes sense since I’ve lived in France for a long time. I also feel a special bond with the Eastern European countries, probably because of the shared culture and similar experiences.

Sergio Ponti: Since I have been in the band, that is from the summer of 2022, I can see that countries like Czech Republic and Slovakia have been incredibly welcoming and supportive of us.

Dan Petean: I would categorise by country rather than cities. I personally like Poland the most, as it has been very welcoming to us and we have played many shows with large audiences there thanks to our good friends from Łydka Grubasa. France would take a close second place. 

Projects like EERA help bands interact with more people across Europe. How much does this help a band?

Mihai Tivadar: I believe that cultural exchange projects are one of the best strategies for going international. Not only is it a win-win in terms of exposure and reducing financial costs, but it also creates intense human experiences. Without exception, all the bands we’ve exchanged tours with have become good friends. Another important aspect is the transfer of know-how. We’ve learned a lot from these bands, and I hope we’ve inspired them too.

Sergio Ponti: Sharing experiences of how various bands operate in different countries and social and economic scenarios is something I feel is invaluable to the life of a band. You can see how things are done differently from band to band and nation to nation and one can take inspiration on what to do…or what not to do and get new marketing ideas, for example.

What setlist surprises should fans look forward to in these concerts?

Mihai Tivadar: These concerts are part of our 30th anniversary tour, so it will be a great opportunity to present a setlist that includes not only the band’s hits but also some rarities and new songs for the audience to discover.

Sergio Ponti: There’s a greater variety of songs encompassing all albums and I think this will satisfy old and new fans alike.

How does it feel to reflect on three decades of music and still have the chance to connect with audiences?

Mihai Tivadar: For us it’s incredible. Our fans have been the driving force that’s brought us here. We never imagined our band would reach this level, but year after year, the success kept growing, making it impossible to stop doing what we love.

Cosmin Nechita: I can reflect on three decades of life because I was born around the same time as the band. Who knows, perhaps the band and I were destined to cross paths, as if we were somehow bound together, each existing for the other. There’s a certain connection, an invisible thread that ties us, and over time it’s become clear—our fates intertwined in ways that feel both inevitable and extraordinary. On a more serious note, after almost 9 years of hitting the road together, I can say that a life of touring isn’t for everyone, but at the same time, few things make you feel like nine guys in a van, on stage, and in front of an audience.

When you first started the band, did you ever imagine you’d still be touring 30 years later? What’s one of the proudest moments as a band in the past 30 years?

Mihai Tivadar: We started in the mid-90s, in post-communist Romania, so definitely, no, we never imagined we’d still be touring 30 years later. There have been many moments I’m incredibly proud of, and several dreams have come true. To name a few: winning second place at the Wacken Metal Battle in 2014, playing at major festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, and Pol’and’Rock, opening for bands I’ve been a huge fan of (like Megadeth, Godsmack, Skindred, and Gogol Bordello), and having an interview with a live performance on the legendary TV show Xtracks (Arte TV).

What’s been the biggest challenge in staying together as a band for so long? And who helped you the most to overcome those challenges?

Mihai Tivadar: I think staying together for such a long time depends on two main factors: the human connection between us and the band’s success. One of the biggest challenges over the years has been finding enough time to balance family, jobs, and music. Our families and close ones have helped us the most, and of course, our fans, many of whom have become friends.

Sergio Ponti: Me being the newest member I could see things from a bit of an “outsider” perspective and can tell there’s a deep sense of friendship here. This is the main glue. This does not mean there are no confrontations or arguments, but they are always sorted out pretty easily and arguments interrupted by some of us – often me, lately 🙂 – saying something silly that takes the pressure off.

Dan Petean: I would say the secret to sticking together in Dirty Shirt is the love for performing live shows. It’s the thing we all love to do and we are most good at as a band. 

What advice would you give to a band or artist looking to have a long and successful career like yours?

Sergio Ponti: The old Zappa quote he said when asked about advice to young artists: “There are two things that you need to do. One of them is to not stop, the other one is to keep going – even when you get there and you’ll find out that it’s still tough”.

Mihai Tivadar: Passion and patience. 

Dan Petean: Be original or/and extremely good. Capitalise on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. It’s not only about music these days: Looks, moves, social media, videos, live shows, having a good front man, creating content… all that is important. Be prepared to do everything and do it better than most. Also enjoy the process. Being a musician is beautiful and unique. 

Speaking of young bands—you are well known for bringing emerging talents to open your shows. Can you name three bands that impressed you the most and why?

Mihai Tivadar: Yes, we always try to invite young bands to open for us whenever possible. I think it’s important for the rock scene. All the bands we’ve selected have impressed us with their music, dedication, and professionalism. Some of the bands that stand out are Revolter, Fittonia, Gadjo Dilo, Carousel, Antpile, Onenightstand, and MXM.

What are the plans for 2025? Any hints about the upcoming album? Some collaborations maybe? A change of style?

Mihai Tivadar: This year will be mostly dedicated to our 30th anniversary, which will include not only the tour but also several surprises. We’ll be also releasing a few new singles from our upcoming album, which is scheduled for release in 2026. The first single, FOMO, premiered on Sunday, February 23rd. There will be several collaborations on the new songs, one of which is with the legendary Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. The style won’t change drastically, but it will always be evolving.

Finally, do you have any message for the people reading this interview? But for the ones who will be attending your concert from Quantic?

Mihai Tivadar: I invite rock fans to join us at the three concerts in Romania as part of the EERA – East European Rock Alliance Tour (Bucharest, Brasov and Cluj Napoca). Not only will they enjoy our special anniversary show, but they’ll also discover two amazing bands: Lydka Grubasa from Poland and Hel’enine Oci from Slovakia (if they haven’t already). I also invite musicians, or anyone working or interested in the music industry, to join us at the EERA international workshop – Do It Yourself Strategies for Young and Emerging Bands, on February 27th at Pub Universitatii. The event is free, but prior registration is required, and the workshop will be broadcast online. It will be a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experience, as well as insights from our guest speakers, both professionals and musicians. You find all necessary info on the project site.

Interview by Bianca Iosub and Radu Mihai