Tomo Miličević
A Bosnian-born guitarist who channeled his immigrant experience into the soaring, cinematic sound of a multi-platinum rock band.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American musician·Birthday: September 3·Generation X
Biography
Tomo Miličević’s story is one of displacement and finding a voice through a six-string. Born in Sarajevo, his family fled the brewing conflict of Yugoslavia when he was a toddler, settling in Michigan. There, he immersed himself in the local metal scene, honing a precise and melodic style. His big break came in 2003 when he answered an ad and joined the then-struggling band Thirty Seconds to Mars. Miličević’s textured guitar work and string arrangements became a defining element of their sound, helping transform them from Jared Leto’s side project into a global arena act. His contributions were crucial on albums like 'A Beautiful Lie,' where his riffs provided both heft and haunting beauty. After fifteen years and millions of records sold, he stepped away from the band in 2018, later focusing on production and his own musical ventures, leaving a distinct sonic imprint on 2000s rock.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tomo was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tomo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Tomo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for Thirty Seconds to Mars during their rise to global fame, contributing to multiple platinum albums.
- His guitar work and string arrangements were central to the sound of the band's breakthrough album, 'A Beautiful Lie' (2005).
- Performed on and co-wrote songs for the band's Grammy-nominated album 'This Is War' (2009).
- Toured extensively worldwide, headlining major festivals and selling out arenas as part of the band's live spectacle.
Did You Know?
He is a classically trained violinist, which influenced his approach to guitar melodies and orchestral arrangements in the band.
Before joining Thirty Seconds to Mars, he worked in a guitar shop and played in a band called Morphic.
He became a U.S. citizen in 2010.
After leaving the band, he opened a wine bar and restaurant in Michigan.
“I was born in Sarajevo, but I grew up in Detroit, and that shaped my sound.”
