Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: ÃÂð÷ð àøÃÂÃÂþòÃÂúø, ; 23 January 1956 â 6 October 2007) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav keyboardist, known for being a member of rock bands Smak and Bijelo Dugme, as well as for his eclectic solo work that spanned many different musical genres.
Lazar Ristovski was born in Novi Pazar, as his father, a Yugoslav People's Army officer, was stationed there at the time. When Ristovski was two years old, the family moved to Kraljevo, which is where he grew up.
Ristovski formed his first band, Bezimeni (The Nameless), when he was fourteen. The band made only one recording, the song "Maà ¡tarenje", which was released on various artists album VeÃÂe uz radio (Evening by the Radio) in 1975. In the summer of 1974, Bezimeni performed in BeÃÂiÃÂi, where a well-known clarinetist Boki Miloà ¡eviàheard their performance. After Miloà ¡eviÃÂ's invitation, Ristovski moved to Belgrade and became a member of Miloà ¡eviÃÂ's orchestra.
During the autumn of 1974, Ristovski started performing with Kragujevac-based progressive rock band Smak, but became their official member as of January 1975. With Smak he recorded their debut self-titled album (1975), the EP Satelit (Satellite, 1976), Radomir MihajloviÃÂ's first solo album, R. M. ToÃÂak (1976), and several singles.
In October 1976, Ristovski was persuaded by Goran Bregoviàto join Sarajevo-based hard rock band Bijelo Dugme as the band was getting ready to start recording their third studio album Eto! Baà ¡ hoÃÂu! (There! I Will!). Ristovski was a replacement for their regular keyboardist Vlado PravdiÃÂ, who had to serve the mandatory army stint. With Bijelo Dugme he recorded the album Eto! Baà ¡ hoÃÂu! (1976) and the live album Koncert kod HajduÃÂke ÃÂesme (1977).
As Bregoviàleft for his own army stint in November 1977, thus putting the band on hiatus, Ristovski and Ivandiàdecided to start working on a side project. Naming their act Laza & Ipe, they recorded the symphonic rock-oriented album entitled Stià ¾emo (Here We Come) in London during February and March 1978. The album, featuring lyrics by Ranko Boban, was recorded in London with Leb i Sol leader Vlatko Stefanovski on guitar, Zlatko Hold on bass guitar, and Goran KovaÃÂeviàand IvandiÃÂ's sister Gordana on vocals. The album was well received by the critics, and Ristovski and Ivandiàdecided to leave Bijelo Dugme.
On 10 September, the same day for which the beginning of the promotional tour was scheduled, IvandiÃÂ, KovaÃÂeviÃÂ and Boban were arrested for owning hashish, which ended Laza & Ipe activity. At the beginning of 1978, Ristovski worked with the band Vatra, but eventually returned to Smak in late 1978.
In 1980, Ristovski recorded the album Rok cirkus (Rock Circus) with Smak. During the same year, Ristovski released his debut solo release, a 7-inch single with the songs "Traà ¾ià ¡ oproà ¡taj" ("You Seek Forgiveness") and "Andà ¾elika" ("Angelica"), both composed by Tugomir VidanoviÃÂ. Members of Mama Co Co and Vatra were involved in the single recording.
In 1981, he recorded another album with Smak, Zaà ¡to ne volim sneg (Why I Don't Like the Snow), however, the band disbanded shortly after the album release. After Smak disbanded, Ristovski took part in the recording of Smak former vocalist Boris AranÃÂeloviÃÂ's solo album Iz profila (1982).
Ristovski's debut solo album Merge was released in 1982, and became the best-selling instrumental music album in Yugoslavia 1983. Until his return to Bijelo Dugme in 1985, he released three more solo albums: 2/3 (1983), Roses for a General (1984) and VojniÃÂki dani (Army Days, 1984). The latter featured instrumental versions of Yugoslav revolutionary songs.
He returned to Bijelo Dugme in 1985. From 1985 to 1989, both Ristovski and Vlado PravdiÃÂ were the members of the band, Ristovski usually playing various keyboards and synthesizers, while Vlado PravdiÃÂ played the organ.
Ristovski stayed in Bijelo Dugme until the band broke up in 1989, releasing the studio albums Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo (Spit and Sing, My Yugoslavia, 1986) and ÃÂiribiribela (1988) and the live album Mramor, kamen i à ¾eljezo (Marble, Stone and Iron, 1987) with the band. During this period, he also recorded the album Opera (1986) with percussionist Nenad JeliÃÂ.
In 1990, Ristovski became a joined member of the heavy metal band OsvajaÃÂi, playing keyboards on and producing their debut album Krv i led (Blood and Ice, 1990).
In 1992, Ristovski took part in Smak reunion, performing with them on one Kragujevac and three Belgrade concerts, the first Belgrade concert resulting in a live album OdLIVEno (LIVEquefied, 1992). After the Belgrade concerts, the band, despite the plans for recording a studio album, disbanded.
In 1993, Ristovski released his first solo album since 1986, Quit. In 1994, he recorded well-received album Naos (Nave) with Bajaga i Instruktori keyboardist Saà ¡a Lokner. Some of the songs on Naos were inspired by Orthodox spiritual music. In 2003, he released the album Gondola, and in 2006, the album Laza Ristovski Plays Simon & Garfunkel, featuring instrumental versions of Simon & Garfunkel songs.
Despite using a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, Ristovski took part in three Bijelo Dugme reunion shows (in Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Belgrade) during June 2005. The shows resulted in a live album Turneja 2005 - Sarajevo, Zagreb, Beograd (Tour 2005 - Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade, 2005).
Ristovski died in Belgrade on 6 October 2007 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
After his death, a posthumous album Drvo à ¾ivota (Tree of Life) was released in 2008. The album, on which Ristovski worked before his death, featured guest appearances by Dragi JeliÃÂ, Tijana DapÃÂeviÃÂ, Nikola ÃÂuturilo, members of Del Arno Band, Igor LaziÃÂ, Dado TopiÃÂ, Saà ¡a RanÃÂeloviÃÂ, and others. In 2008, PGP-RTS released two compilation albums, one featuring Merge and 2/3, and the other featuring VojniÃÂki dani and Roses for a General in their entirety.
In March 2016, a documentary about Ristovski was announced. The documentary will be directed by Ivan GrliÃÂ. On November 9, 2016, in Belgrade's Sava Centar a concert entitled Iza horizonta was held, honoring Ristovski. The concert featured performances by Ristovski's former bandmates, collaborators and friends: Radomir Mihajlovià"ToÃÂak" and Slobodan Stojanovià"Kepa" (of Smak), Alen IslamoviÃÂ, Goran BregoviÃÂ, Kiki Lesendrià& Piloti, Zana, Saà ¡a Lokner, Vasil Hadà ¾imanov, Bilja Kristià& Bistrik, Neverne Bebe, Ognjen RadivojeviÃÂ, Kornelije KovaÃÂ, Nikola ÃÂuturilo, Pera Joe, Bata KostiÃÂ, Dragan "Krle" Jovanovià(of Generacija 5) and others. The concert also featured appearance by the actor Lazar Ristovski.
Ristovski played on more than thousand albums of rock, jazz and folk music. He played keyboards on albums by SlaÃÂana Miloà ¡eviÃÂ, Zana, Oliver MandiÃÂ, Raà ¡a ÃÂelmaà ¡, Duà ¡an PreleviÃÂ, Vatreni Poljubac, Rajko KojiÃÂ, Bilja KrstiÃÂ, à ½eljko Bebek, MiliàVukaà ¡inoviÃÂ, Leb i Sol, Aska, Seid MemiÃÂ, Aerodrom, Boris NovkoviÃÂ, Viktorija, Jura Stublià& Film, Nikola ÃÂuturilo, Piloti, Bebi Dol, Galija, Balkan, Vlado Janevski among others.
During his career Ristovski worked with international stars like Falco and Richard Palmer-James. At the beginning of the 1980s, Ristovski was a member of Alvin Lee Band and played on their Yugoslav and Hungarian tour. Ristovski also worked with RTB Jazz Orchestra.
Ristovski wrote music for the films Lazar (1984), Zaboravljeni (1988), Hajde da se volimo 2 (1989), Violinski kljuà(1990), Pokojnik (1990), A Holy Place (1990), Hajde da se volimo 3 (1990), Velika frka (1992), Mrav peà ¡adinac (1993), Napadaà(1993), Osmeh Margaret Jursenar (1993), ObraÃÂun u kazino kabareu (1993), Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (1996), and Impure Blood (1997). The music from Impure Blood was released on the album Muzika iz filma NeÃÂista krv (1997). He was one of Goran BregoviÃÂ's closest associates on BregoviÃÂ's early movie soundtrack projects.
Ristovski was voted the best Yugoslav keyboardist for eleven years in a row by Yugoslav music magazines. On the 1984 film festival in Sopot Ristovski was awarded for the Lazar movie soundtrack. He also won the Golden Medal on the 36th and the 39th animated movie festival in Belgrade. In 1986, he was awarded with Estradna nagrada Srbije.