Romania’s iconic rock singer Adrian Ple\u0219ca, known as \u201cArtan,\u201d died on Tuesday, December 2, after a fatal stroke, at the age of 64.\u00a0The artist founded the well-known band \u201cTimpuri Noi\u201d in 1982 and \u201cPartizan\u201d in 2001, and was popular on the Romanian rock scene.\u00a0Over the years, he left and returned to the two bands.<\/p>\n
Several of his former collaborators posted messages of condolence following his passing, and the band posted a mourning image of the singer. \u201cIt is very hard for us\u2026 Smooth journey, good soul, dear colleague,\u201d the bandmates wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rumors of Artan\u2019s bad health had surfaced earlier. Before his death, other members of \u201cPartizan\u201d referred to \u201cpossible health problems that have appeared recently\u201d that affected Adrian Ple\u0219ca.<\/p>\n
Alin Dinc\u0103, the vocalist of the band Trooper, another popular Romanian rock band, sent a message on his Facebook page commemorating Artan\u2019s passing. \u201cSmooth journey\u2026 Ple\u0219ca Adrian. The light has gone out,\u201d Dinc\u0103 wrote.<\/p>\n
Similar messages were conveyed by writer Vasile Ernu and folk singer-songwriter Maria Gheorghiu, among many others.<\/p>\n
Born in 1961, Artan studied violin, piano, and bass as a child, encouraged by his father, a music teacher. He graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest (Faculty of Metallurgy, 1981\u20131989), according to Digi24<\/a>.<\/p>\n Between October 1981 and February 2001, he sang with the band that made him famous, \u201cTimpuri Noi,\u201d which he founded together with his childhood friend R\u0103zvan Moldovan. The band reached its peak in the \u201990s. On May 28, 2010, Adrian Ple\u0219ca performed his last concert with \u201cTimpuri Noi,\u201d and in August 2010, he returned to the music scene with the band \u201cPartizan\u201d after a four-year break.<\/p>\n Last month, the artist was accused of harassment against an 18-year-old woman in a club in Bucharest. Adrian Ple\u0219ca stated on Facebook that he regrets what happened and asked forgiveness from those affected by his behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n