Original sentence: In the early 80s and in the last Interview with Merdan, he said that their friendship was so close that since the day Zirek died, he has not wrote or sang at all because his death affected him deeply.On the 24th of July 1981, Ali Merdan died at the age of 77
Edited sentence: In the early 80s and in the last Interview with Merdan, he said that their friendship was so close that since the day Zirek passed away, he has not wrote or sang at all because his death affected him deeply.On the 24th of July 1981, Ali Merdan passed away at the age of 77