Ivica Vdović: Remembering the influential Yugoslav rock drummer

Ivica Vdović, the influential drummer known as Vd, is remembered on the anniversary of his death. A central figure in the Yugoslav rock and new wave scenes, Vd played for iconic bands including Šarlo akrobata, Limunovo drvo, and Suncokreti. He was noted for his avant-garde approach, such as being one of the first to replace drumsticks with a rhythm machine to shape the sound of his era.

Vd's life was marked by significant personal struggle following his diagnosis as one of the first officially registered HIV-positive individuals in the former Yugoslavia in 1985. Despite facing social stigma and isolation in Belgrade, he continued to perform for a period. He passed away in Belgrade on September 25, 1992, at the age of 31, due to complications from AIDS.