1. DZIDZIO: The Ukrainian Party Band
2. Origin and Members
3. Musical Style
4. The Lesik Controversy
5. DZIDZIO's Response
6. Dzidzi'off
7. Post-Turko Era
8. Films
9. Recent Developments
10. Current Status

DZIDZIO: The Ukrainian Party Band

DZIDZIO, a Ukrainian pop band, is renowned for its jovial and vibrant performances that transform every show into a celebration. Their rise to fame was swift, taking them from restaurant gigs and YouTube monologues to stadium concerts and the largest fan club in Ukraine.

Origin and Members

DZIDZIO's frontman, Mykhailo Khoma, a graduate of Kiev National University of Culture and Arts, adopted the stage name "DZIDZIO," meaning "grandfather" in the Boyko dialect. He formed his first band, "Mykhailo Khoma i Druzi," which performed at weddings and corporate events in Novoyavorivsk, his hometown. Their repertoire included traditional folk songs as well as original compositions. Khoma's stage persona was complete with a feathered hat, a fake beard (later replaced by his own), and colorful costumes that gave the band a distinctive and authentic look.

Musical Style

The official start of DZIDZIO's journey is marked as September 9, 2009. The band gained wider recognition when childhood friend, the late Kuzma Skryabin, wrote "Stari Fotografii" for them. This song became their first hit and paved the way for airplay on local radio stations. The subsequent track "Yalta" propelled their popularity to new heights. Outside Ukraine, the band gained exposure through humorous video monologues posted by Khoma, featuring his pet pig, Meison. Soon, Meison the pig became DZIDZIO's official emblem, and the band amassed the largest fan club in the country.

Khoma attributes the band's success to their unique blend of comedy, anti-glamor, and pop, infused with colloquial Ukrainian dialects and colorful language. The original "golden" lineup comprised Khoma, Nazarii Guk (known as Yulik), and Oleh Turko (Lesik). Nadya, a muse and inspiration for the band, never appeared on stage but starred in all their music videos.

The Lesik Controversy

In 2016, Lesik was replaced by Lyamour (Orest Galitsky) after Turko left the band amidst скандалы and mutual grievances. According to Khoma, Turko resigned voluntarily (intending to start his own project), but later demanded a compensation of 5 million hryvnias. The request was denied as DZIDZIO had no such funds.

DZIDZIO's Response

Responding to Lesik's accusations on social media, DZIDZIO presented protocols of a meeting where Turko was indeed offered compensation but found the amount unsatisfactory—demanding 100 times more. Unable to reach an amicable solution, Turko transferred his shares in the projects to Alexei Skryabin's mother.

Dzidzi'off

Subsequently, Lesik formed Dzidzi'off, which performed DZIDZIO's hits such as "Banda-Banda," "Pavuk," and "Kadilak." Their new frontman, Ostap Danilov, imitated Khoma's image, donning a beard and colorful tracksuits.

Turko claimed that Dzidzi'off was not a parody or a double as he held 50% of the copyrights and had the right to do so. This move understandably drew outrage from his former bandmates. DZIDZIO, led by Khoma, initiated legal proceedings, but the dispute remains unresolved.

Post-Turko Era

Shortly after Turko's departure, the band released a new music video for "Ptahopodibna." The video featured a customized statue of the titular "bird-like man," weighing nearly 500 kg. Despite the effort put into the video, it received a significant number of dislikes on YouTube as fans expressed their disapproval of the band without Turko.

In 2017, another band member, keyboardist Yulik, announced his departure to pursue a solo career as a DJ. He was replaced by two new musicians, Ahrus and Rumbambar.

Films

DZIDZIO's YouTube videos have consistently garnered massive viewership, with fans clamoring for a full-length film. In 2016, Khoma decided to make their dream a reality and starred in "DZIDZIO Kontrabas." The screenplay was co-written by Khoma, Lyubomyr Levitsky, and Oleg Borschevsky. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2017.

While audiences enjoyed the comedy (grossing $785,000), critical reception was mixed. They praised the imaginative screenplay and acting but criticized the direction. The film won the "Golden Flying Elephant" at the Vinnytsia International Festival of Comedy and Parody.

Recent Developments

Inspired by their initial success, DZIDZIO released a second film in 2018 titled "Pershyi Raz." This romantic comedy explored personal growth and relationship issues, with Khoma starring as a renowned artist and a big kid simultaneously.

Current Status

In 2018, DZIDZIO celebrated Constitution Day with a grand concert at Lviv Arena, which was telecasted by 1+1. The band's setlist included a mix of new and old hits, including "Ya i Sara," "Rozl

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