Macedonian singer and songwriter Vladimir Blažev, widely known as Pancho from the popular music duo DNA, has died from injuries sustained in a nightclub fire in the eastern town of Kočani seven months ago, local media reported on Monday.
Blažev became the 63rd victim of the tragedy at the “Pulse” nightclub, where his longtime friend and bandmate Andrej Gjorgjievski also lost his life, along with several of their colleagues.
Born in Skopje on July 29, 1979, Blažev and Gjorgjievski formed DNA in 2001. Within a few years, the group rose to prominence as one of Macedonia’s most influential pop-hip-hop acts, known for songs that captured the urban spirit, love, and friendship of a generation.
“Those who are truly talented often aren’t the most ambitious,” Blažev once said in an interview. “But I tell them they should be – because they can go much further than those who rely on others to open doors for them.”
With hits such as Thank You in Advance, Full Moon and Addicted to You, DNA filled concert halls and topped charts, releasing six albums over two decades. The duo celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2022 with a major concert at Skopje’s Boris Trajkovski Arena.
“You can’t decide a song will be a hit,” Blažev once said. “It’s the audience who decides. Your only job is to work hard and stay true to what you love — because if you fake it, people will see through it.”
Beyond his music career, Blažev was known for his humanitarian work. Together with Gjorgjievski, he frequently organized benefit concerts, supported young artists, and donated to low-income families.
“Humility is the mark of great people,” he once said. “We were raised that way. We’ve donated the equivalent of several music videos’ worth of money to charity. It’s important that we’re happy at the end of the day — God sees everything.”
Blažev is survived by his wife Maja and their two sons, Andreja and Marjan.
Fans and fellow musicians across North Macedonia mourned his passing, remembering him as an artist whose music and kindness left an enduring mark on the country’s cultural scene.