Ivan Maksimović

Ivan 'Ivica' Maksimović (12 August 1962 – 7 November 2019) was a Serbian rock, Balkan ethnic, folk and pop guitarist. He was also a composer, arranger songwriter and actor. He played in the Yugoslavian heavy metal band Metro, pop-folk band 'Ljute papričice' and was a member of The No Smoking Orchestra. He was also active in several other side projects with pop singers.

Ivan Maksimović was born on 12 August 1962 in Jagodina, Serbia. Maksimović started to play guitar on 1971, inspired by the music of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. His first band was formed on 1972. He played with a lot of musicians, from the smallest clubs to the largest halls and stadiums. As a studio musician he recorded around 1500 records, tapes and CD's, although a precise number can not be determined. Maksimović also played other string instruments, such as bouzouki, tzouras, baglamas, saz and oud.

In 2003, he met the film director, guitar player and composer Emir Kusturica and started to play with him and Dr Nele Karajlić in their band The No Smoking Orchestra. He played guitar on the soundtrack for the movie Life is a Miracle (as a member of TNSO) and Promise me this (with Stribor Kusturica's band The Poisoners). Maksimović also portrayed the role of inspector Maksimovic in Emir Kusturica's film Promise me this. He also took part in a punk-opera called Time of Gypsies, made by Emir Kusturica, which he accompanied successfully in several cities in the world.

Maksimović died on 7 November 2019.