Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: Лаза Ристовски, pronounced [lǎːza ristǒʋskiː]; 23 January 1956 – 6 October 2007) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav keyboardist of Macedonian descendants, 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.

[1] During the autumn of 1974, Ristovski started performing with Kragujevac-based progressive rock band Smak, but became their official member as of January 1975.

[1] As Bregović left for his own army stint in November 1977, thus putting the band on hiatus, Ristovski and Ivandić decided to start working on a side project.

[3] Naming their act Laza & Ipe, they recorded the symphonic rock-oriented album entitled Stižemo (Here We Come) in London during February and March 1978.

[3] On 10 September, the same day for which the beginning of the promotional tour was scheduled, Ivandić, Kovačević and Boban were arrested for owning hashish, which ended Laza & Ipe activity.

[1] Until his return to Bijelo Dugme in 1985, he released three more solo albums: 2/3 (1983), Roses for a General (1984) and Vojnički dani (Army Days, 1984).

[1] In 1990, Ristovski became a joined member of the heavy metal band Osvajači, playing keyboards on and producing their debut album Krv i led (Blood and Ice, 1990).

[10] 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.

[13] The album, on which Ristovski worked before his death, featured guest appearances by Dragi Jelić, Tijana Dapčević, Nikola Čuturilo, members of Del Arno Band, Igor Lazić, Dado Topić, Saša Ranđelović, and others.

The concert featured performances by Ristovski's former bandmates, collaborators and friends: Radomir Mihajlović "Točak" and Slobodan Stojanović "Kepa" (of Smak), Alen Islamović, Goran Bregović, Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti, Zana, Saša Lokner, Vasil Hadžimanov, Bilja Kristić & Bistrik, Neverne Bebe, Ognjen Radivojević, Kornelije Kovač, Nikola Čuturilo, Pera Joe, Bata Kostić, Dragan "Krle" Jovanović (of Generacija 5) and others.

[1] He played keyboards on albums by Slađana Milošević, Zana, Oliver Mandić, Raša Đelmaš, Dušan Prelević, Vatreni Poljubac, Rajko Kojić, Bilja Krstić, Željko Bebek, Milić Vukašinović, Leb i Sol, Aska, Seid Memić, Aerodrom, Boris Novković, Viktorija, Jura Stublić & Film, Nikola Čuturilo, Piloti, Bebi Dol, Galija, Balkan, Vlado Janevski among others.

[1] Ristovski wrote music for the films Lazar (1984), Zaboravljeni (1988), Hajde da se volimo 2 (1989), Violinski ključ (1990), Pokojnik (1990), A Holy Place (1990), Hajde da se volimo 3 (1990), Velika frka (1992), Mrav pešadinac (1993), Napadač (1993), Osmeh Margaret Jursenar (1993), Obračun u kazino kabareu (1993), Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (1996), and Impure Blood (1997).