Eugene Hutz Ukrainian-American musician, actor and DJ Date of Birth: 06.09.1972 Country: USA

Biography of Eugene Hütz

Eugene Hütz is a Ukrainian-American musician, actor, and DJ, who became one of the pioneers of a musical genre known as gypsy punk in America. He was born in Boyarka, Ukraine, into a family of a butcher who played in one of the first Ukrainian rock bands called "Meridian" in his free time. After the tragic events of Chernobyl, his family was evacuated to Western Ukraine, where Eugene developed a serious interest in English and started learning the language through songs of his favorite American musicians.

Soon, Eugene, along with his family, became political refugees and moved from one European country to another. They lived in Poland, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and several other countries for several years. In 1990, he relocated to the United States, where he began his musical career.

A significant event in Eugene's early life was the realization that his grandmother was a pure-blooded gypsy, making him one-quarter gypsy. In America, he took pride in his heritage and made efforts to introduce the rich gypsy culture to the world. His early songs often focused on the themes of immigration and life without a home, reflecting his years of wandering around Europe.

After moving to New York, Eugene formed the band "The Fags," but the group disbanded shortly after. It was in New York that he met Sergey Ryabtsev, the first member of the future collective "Gogol Bordello." Other musicians from various countries, mostly immigrants, also joined them. The band performed in clubs and bars throughout the city for several years, and Eugene adopted his mother's maiden name, Hütz, to add more color to their performances.

In 1999, "Gogol Bordello" released their first album, "Voi-La Intruder," which quickly gained popularity in the United States and worldwide. Their unique blend of languages, distinctive style of performance, and gypsy motifs made Eugene particularly prominent among other young American musicians. The band performed at major music festivals and showcased their songs at exhibitions in Europe and America. They were hailed as the "most noticeable band of modern times" by critics and listeners alike.

In addition to "Gogol Bordello," Eugene engaged in various other projects during his time in America. He established himself as a talented DJ and his project "Jüdisch-Ukrainische Freundschaft" gained popularity among electronic music enthusiasts. He also collaborated multiple times with the popular group "Kolpakov Trio."

The year 2005 proved to be especially successful for Eugene as he made his big-screen debut as charismatic Alex in the film "Everything Is Illuminated." The soundtrack for the movie, which included contributions from Eugene and other members of "Gogol Bordello," also received significant attention. In 2006, Eugene became the subject of the documentary film "The Pied Piper of Hützovina," which documented his annual tour in Ukraine with concerts and performances.

In 2008, Eugene starred in the film "Filth and Wisdom," directed by Madonna, who is a friend and fan of his music. Interestingly, his likeness was also featured in the film "Wristcutters: A Love Story." The same year, he was recognized as a source of inspiration for a new men's collection by "Gucci."

Recently, there have been reports that Eugene has moved to Latin America, a decision that many of his fans found predictable given his joyful personality.