Login
Login

Gogol Bordello

{{Short description|American punk band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Gogol Bordello 2014.jpg

| caption = Gogol Bordello performing in 2014

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| origin = New York City, New York

| genre = {{flatlist|

  • Punk rock
  • Folk punk
  • Latin rock
  • polka
  • folk rock
  • dub
  • Romani
  • Gypsy punk{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18734600.looking-back-gypsy-punks-gogol-bordello-stunned-cropredy-festival-energetic-set|title=Looking back: gypsy punks Gogol Bordello stunned Cropredy Festival with an energetic set|access-date=December 14, 2020|via=Oxford Mail|first=Andrew|last=Ffrench}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/03/27/gypsy-punk-veterans-gogol-bordello-bring-their-cultural-mishmash-to-the-beacham|title=Gypsy punk veterans Gogol Bordello bring their cultural mishmash to the Beacham|first=Xander|last=Peters|access-date=December 14, 2020|via=Orlando Weekly|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120003956/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/03/27/gypsy-punk-veterans-gogol-bordello-bring-their-cultural-mishmash-to-the-beacham|url-status=dead}}

}}

| years_active = 1999–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|gogolbordello.com}}

| current_members = * Eugene Hütz

| past_members = * Oren Kaplan

}}

File:Gogol Bordello - Rock in Rio Madrid 2012 - 43.jpg

File:Gogol Bordello - Rock in Rio Madrid 2012 - 57.jpg

File:Gogol Bordello - Rock in Rio Madrid 2012 - 06.jpg

File:Pasha Newmer In Concert, Saturday in the Park, Sioux City Iowa July 2014.jpg

File:Gogol Bordello - Rock in Rio Madrid 2012 - 47.jpg

Gogol Bordello is an American punk rock band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 by musicians from all over the world and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring. Much of the band's sound is inspired by Romani and Ukrainian music mixed with punk and dub, incorporating accordion and violin (and on some albums, saxophone).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jun/15/worldmusic4|title=Meet Gogol Bordello, the gypsy-punk oddballs bringing the sexy back|last=Boden|first=Sarah|date=2008-06-14|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-06-23}}

The band has appeared in several popular films, most notably Everything Is Illuminated (2005) in which lead singer Eugene Hütz co-starred with Elijah Wood in a dramedy/adventure story about the Nazi purges in Ukraine. The group appears playing a brass band in a set that included the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the traditional Yiddish song "Bublitschki". Gogol Bordello contributed the song "Start Wearing Purple" to the film's score. The band is the focus of the 2008 documentary Gogol Bordello Non-Stop. The band recorded the song "Let's Get Crazy" for Coca-Cola's Euro 2012 advertising campaign.{{cite web |url=http://relevant.at/kultur/musik/550833/gogol-bordello-liefern-coca-cola-hymne-zur-em.story |title=Gogol Bordello liefern "Coca-Cola-Hymne" zur EM |publisher=Relevant.at |access-date=2012-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128090328/http://relevant.at/kultur/musik/550833/gogol-bordello-liefern-coca-cola-hymne-zur-em.story |archive-date=2012-11-28 |url-status=usurped }}

History and influences

"Gogol" comes from Nikolai Gogol, a classical writer of Ukrainian origin. He serves as an ideological influence for the band because he "smuggled" Ukrainian culture into Russian society, which Gogol Bordello intends to do with Romani/East-European music in the English-speaking world.{{cite episode | title = Gogol Bordello: Music from 'Gypsy Punks' | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5371385 | series = In Performance | airdate = 2006-04-29 }} "Bordello", in Italian, refers to a brothel or a "gentleman's club". The band was originally titled Hütz and the Béla Bartóks, but Eugene Hütz says that they decided to change the name because "nobody knows who the hell Béla Bartók is in the United States." The band played their first show as the unofficial band at an after-hours club called Pizdetz where they became the house band and DJ Hütz became the house DJ.

Gogol Bordello's first single was released in 1999, and since then they have released six full-length albums, and one EP. In 2005 the band signed to punk label SideOneDummy Records. On 27 April 2010 Gogol Bordello made its major record label debut with Transcontinental Hustle on Rick Rubin's American Recordings, a subsidiary of Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment. Many of the songs on Transcontinental Hustle were inspired by Hütz's move to Brazil.{{cite web | url = http://www.nthword.com/issue7/Gogol_Bordello_Exclusive_Interview_by_Gina_Ponce.php | title = Gogol Bordello: nthWORD Exclusive | last = Ponce | first = Gina | date = August 2010 | website = nthWORD Magazine | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100918015906/http://www.nthword.com/issue7/Gogol_Bordello_Exclusive_Interview_by_Gina_Ponce.php | archive-date = 2010-09-18 }}

The band has toured extensively throughout Europe and America. They have made numerous appearances at international festivals and have toured with such diverse bands as Primus, Flogging Molly, and Cake. In an interview with NPR, frontman Eugene Hütz cites Jimi Hendrix and Parliament-Funkadelic as among the band's main musical influences. They have also mentioned Manu Chao, Fugazi, Zvuki Mu, Karamelo Santo, Sasha Kolpakov and The Clash as influences.

They performed live at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival 2011 for Bonnaroo's 10 year anniversary, playing a 1.5 hour set in the middle of the night and performed with Devotchka.

Gogol Bordello released "Let's Get Crazy" in 2012, the new song was part of Coca-Cola's advertising campaign for the European Football Championships, which were part-hosted by Ukraine. The track samples one of their earlier singles, "Wonderlust King", and the Coca-Cola advertising jingle.{{cite web |url=http://www.heute.at/freizeit/musik/art31330,715048 |title=Gogol Bordello: "Let's geht Crazy" mit der Hymne der Euro 2012 |publisher=Heute.at |date=2012-05-22 |access-date=2012-09-05 |archive-date=2012-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903185153/http://www.heute.at/freizeit/musik/art31330,715048 |url-status=dead }}

In 2012 former guitarist Oren Kaplan sued Hütz for personal damages.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/08/gogol-bordello-eugene-hutz-sued-stealing/|title=Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz Sued for Allegedly Stealing $500,000 From Band|last=Reilly|first=Dan|date=2013-08-01|website=Spin|access-date=2016-06-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/01/gogol-bordello-eugene-hutz-sued-band-accounts|title=Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz sued over alleged hole in band accounts|last=Michaels|first=Sean|date=2013-08-01|website=the Guardian|access-date=2016-06-23}}

The 2010 song "Immigraniada" was remixed by Bassnectar.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hütz released a video on social media condemning the Russian invasion, and has remained vocal about raising relief funds for the victims of the invasion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/gogolbordello/videos/385802289544876|title=Gogol Bordell on facebook Facebook |last=Reilly|first=Dan|date=2013-08-01|website=Facebook|access-date=2022-03-06}} Gogol Bordello announced a benefit concert shortly after which sold out quickly, followed by announcing a benefit tour. Bordello collaborated with Les Claypool of the band Primus on the song "Man with the Iron Balls", praising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's courage. The proceeds of the track are set to benefit Nova Ukraine, a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian relief to the people of Ukraine.{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2022-04-20 |title='Man With the Iron Balls:' Les Claypool, Eugene Hütz, Stewart Copeland, and Friends Sing an Ode to Zelensky and His Testicles |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/man-with-the-iron-balls-les-claypool-stewart-copeland-and-friends-sing-an-ode-to-zelensky-and-his-testicles-1340024/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

Film appearances

  • 2004 – Kill Your Idols – Hütz was interviewed in this documentary about New York's "art punk" music scene.
  • 2005 – Everything Is Illuminated – In Liev Schreiber's directorial debut, which stars Elijah Wood, the role of Alexander Perchov was played by Eugene Hütz. It includes cameo appearances by other Gogol Bordello members in the train scene.
  • 2006 – The Pied Piper of Hützovina – Documentary by Pavla Fleischer about a road trip she and Eugene Hütz took to Ukraine to trace his roots.
  • 2006 – Wristcutters: A Love Story – "Eugene", played by American actor Shea Whigham, is partly based on Eugene Hütz, whose music ("Through the Roof and Underground", "Occurrence on the Border", and "Huliganjetta") is featured in the film as that recorded by the character's old band. Contrary to the belief that he has received no credit for this, the film credits show the copyrights for both Gogol Bordello songs, as well as giving thanks to Eugene multiple times throughout the credit roll.
  • 2008 – Filth and Wisdom – The entire band appeared in this independent film directed by Madonna.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1042499/ "Filth and Wisdom (2008)"] at IMDb, retrieved 2007 August 7 Eugene Hütz is the protagonist. Madonna also allowed Eugene to add his own dialogue into the script.
  • 2008 – Gogol Bordello Non-Stop – The development of the band was documented in this film directed by Margarita Jimeno. It follows the band's rise from underground legends to international fame from 2001 to 2007.
  • 2009 – Larger Than Life in 3D – Live High-def digital concert footage shot in stereoscopic 3-D at the Austin City Limits festival in October 2009.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1546999/ "Larger Than Life in 3D"] at IMDb, retrieved 2010 January 7{{cite web|url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/tbt/2009/07/gogol-bordellos-eugene-hutz-talks-gypsy-rock-recording-with-rick-rubin.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726033539/http://blogs.tampabay.com/tbt/2009/07/gogol-bordellos-eugene-hutz-talks-gypsy-rock-recording-with-rick-rubin.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 26, 2009 |title=Tampa Bay, Florida news |publisher=Blogs.tampabay.com |access-date=2013-07-24}}
  • 2009 – Live From Axis Mundi: Professionally recorded live concert footage shot in New York.
  • 2011 – Grain: Short film, 'Against the Nature' appears on the credits.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTkOUpsoQEg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/uTkOUpsoQEg |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Grain: A short film by Carl Denham |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-06-16 |access-date=2012-09-05}}{{cbignore}}
  • 2013 – 'Not a crime' Grimm Season 2 Episode 18 "Volcanalis". Adalind Shade arrives at Rom camp
  • 2017 – "American Wedding" Fargo Season 3 Episode 2 "The Principle of Restricted Choice" closing credits
  • 2017 – "Risky Bismuth" The Tick Season 1 Episode 10 "Trans Continental Hustle" closing credits
  • 2018 – “I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again” intro plays during monster wedding scene in Hotel Transylvania 3
  • 2023 – "[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27546324/ Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story]" is a documentary about Gogol Bordello.
  • 2024 – Multiple Gogol Bordello songs, including "Start Wearing Purple" and "American Wedding", appear in the score of the first season of the DC Comics animated series Creature Commandos.{{cite web|last=Zalben|first=Alex|date=2024-12-05|url=https://comicbookclublive.com/2024/12/05/every-song-in-creature-commandos-so-far/|title=Every Song In ‘Creature Commandos’ (So Far)|work=Comic Book Club|access-date=2024-12-29}} The band also appeared as a cameo during the episode The Tourmaline Necklace, in a flashback sequence, while playing "American Wedding".

Members

; Current members

File:Gogol Bordello tour.JPG 2015.]]

  • Eugene Hütz (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion) – Ukraine (1999–present)
  • Sergey Ryabtsev (violin, backing vocals) – Russia (2000–present)
  • Pedro Erazo (percussion, MC) – Ecuador (2007–present){{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Ryan |title=An Interview with Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello |publisher=About.com |year=2007 |url=http://punkmusic.about.com/od/interviews/a/Eugenehutz.htm |access-date=2007-09-09 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003329/http://punkmusic.about.com/od/interviews/a/Eugenehutz.htm |url-status=dead }}
  • Korey Kingston (Drums, percussion) (2020–present)
  • Gil Alexandre (Bass, backing vocals) – Brazil (2021–present)
  • Erica Mancini (Accordion, backing vocals) (2023–present)
  • Leo Mintek (Guitar, backing vocals, 2021-present)

; Former members

  • Pamela Jintana Racine (percussion, backing vocals, dance, general performance) – United States (1999–2017)
  • Eliot Ferguson (drums, backing vocals) – United States (1999–2009)
  • Sasha Kazatchkoff (accordion) (1999)
  • Vlad Solovar (guitar) (1999)
  • Oren Kaplan (guitar, backing vocals) – Israel (2000–2012)
  • Yuri Lemeshev (accordion, backing vocals) – Russia (2001–2013)
  • Ori Kaplan (saxophone, backing vocals) – Israel (no relation to Oren Kaplan, co-leads Balkan Beat Box with Tamir Muskat) (2001–2004)
  • Katheryn McGaffigan (percussion, backing vocals, dance, general performance) – United States (2001, 2002, 2005)
  • Susan Donaldson (percussion, backing vocals, dance, general performance) (2002–2003)
  • Andra Ursuța (percussion, backing vocals, dance, general performance) – Romania (2003–2006)
  • Chris Tattersall (drums, backing vocals) – United Kingdom (2004)
  • Elizabeth Sun (percussion, backing vocals, dance, general performance) – China and Scotland (2004–2016)
  • Rea Mochiach (bass, percussion, electronics and beat programming in the studio, backing vocals) – Israel (2005)
  • Karl Alvarez (bass) – United States (2006)
  • Oliver Charles (drums) – United States (2009–2016)
  • Michael Ward (guitar) – United States (2011–15)
  • Pasha Newmer (accordion; backing vocals) – Belarus (2013–2018)
  • James Ward (accordion) – Scotland
  • Kristian Mangieri (harmonica, general performance)
  • Thomas ‘Tommy T’ Gobena (Bass, backing vocals) (2006–2021)
  • Alfredo Ortiz (Drums) (2016–2020)
  • Vanessa Walters (percussion, backing vocals, general performance) (2016–2018)
  • Ashley Tobias "TOBI" (backing vocals, dance, percussion, general performance) – United States (2017–2024)
  • Boris Pelekh (guitar, backing vocals) – Russia (2015–2024)

= Timeline =

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

PlotArea = left:110 bottom:95 top:0 right:20

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1999 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1999

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1999

Colors =

id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:BVocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals

id:AGuitar value:brightgreen legend:Acoustic_guitar

id:EGuitar value:teal legend:Electric_guitar

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Violin value:drabgreen legend:Violin

id:Accord value:purple legend:Accordion

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:Percussion value:claret legend:Percussion

id:Perform value:yellow legend:Performance

id:bar value:black legend:Studio_album

id:bar2 value:gray(0.5) legend:Film

LineData =

at:09/01/1999 color:black layer:back

at:09/17/2002 color:black layer:back

at:08/09/2005 color:black layer:back

at:07/10/2007 color:black layer:back

at:04/27/2010 color:black layer:back

at:11/29/2011 color:black layer:back

at:07/23/2013 color:black layer:back

at:08/25/2017 color:black layer:back

at:09/16/2022 color:black layer:back

at:07/07/2006 color:bar2 layer:back

at:09/16/2005 color:bar2 layer:back

at:01/24/2006 color:bar2 layer:back

at:10/17/2008 color:bar2 layer:back

at:09/11/2009 color:bar2 layer:back

BarData =

bar:Hütz text:"Eugene Hütz"

bar:Solovar text:"Vlad Solovar"

bar:Kaplan text:"Oren Kaplan"

bar:Ward text:"Michael Ward"

bar:Pelek text:"Boris Pelekh"

bar:Mochiach text:"Rea Mochiach"

bar:Gobena text:"Thomas Gobena"

bar:Alexandre text:"Gill Alexandre"

bar:Ryabtsey text:"Sergey Ryabtsev"

bar:Kazatchkoff text:"Sasha Kazatchkoff"

bar:Lemeshev text:"Yuri Lemeshev"

bar:Newmer text:"Pasha Newmer"

bar:Ferguson text:"Eliot Ferguson"

bar:Tattersall text:"Chris Tattersall"

bar:Charles text:"Oliver Charles"

bar:Ortiz text:"Alfredo Ortiz"

bar:Erazo text:"Pedro Erazo"

bar:McGaffigan text:"Katheryn McGaffigan"

bar:Usurta text:"Andra Ursuța"

bar:Racine text:"Pamela Racine"

bar:Tobias text:"Ashley Tobias"

bar:Donaldson text:"Susan Donaldson"

bar:Sun text:"Elizabeth Sun"

bar:Walters text:"Vanessa Walters"

PlotData =

width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Hütz from:start till:end color:AGuitar

bar:Kaplan from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2012 color:BVocals

bar:Pelek from:01/01/2015 till:end color:BVocals

bar:Mochiach from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:BVocals

bar:Gobena from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2021 color:BVocals

bar:Ryabtsey from:01/01/2000 till:end color:BVocals

bar:Ferguson from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2009 color:BVocals

bar:Tattersall from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:BVocals

bar:Lemeshev from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2013 color:BVocals

bar:Newmer from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2018 color:BVocals

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2003 color:BVocals

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:BVocals

bar:Donaldson from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2004 color:BVocals

bar:Usurta from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:BVocals

bar:Racine from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2017 color:BVocals

bar:Sun from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2016 color:BVocals

bar:Walters from:01/01/2016 till:end color:BVocals

bar:Tobias from:01/01/2017 till:end color:BVocals

width:7 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Hütz from:start till:end color:Percussion

bar:Mochiach from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:Percussion

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2003 color:Percussion

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:Percussion

bar:Donaldson from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2004 color:Percussion

bar:Usurta from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:Percussion

bar:Racine from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2017 color:Percussion

bar:Sun from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2016 color:Percussion

bar:Walters from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Percussion

bar:Tobias from:01/01/2017 till:end color:Percussion

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Hütz from:start till:end color:Vocals

bar:Kaplan from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2012 color:EGuitar

bar:Ward from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2015 color:EGuitar

bar:Pelek from:01/01/2015 till:end color:EGuitar

bar:Mochiach from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:Bass

bar:Gobena from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2021 color:Bass

bar:Alexandre from:01/01/2022 till:end color:Bass

bar:Ryabtsey from:01/01/2000 till:end color:Violin

bar:Lemeshev from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2013 color:Accord

bar:Newmer from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2018 color:Accord

bar:Ferguson from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2009 color:Drums

bar:Tattersall from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 color:Drums

bar:Charles from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2016 color:Drums

bar:Ortiz from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Drums

bar:Erazo from:01/01/2007 till:end color:Percussion

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2003 color:Perform

bar:McGaffigan from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:Perform

bar:Donaldson from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2004 color:Perform

bar:Usurta from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:Perform

bar:Racine from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2017 color:Perform

bar:Sun from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2016 color:Perform

bar:Walters from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Perform

bar:Tobias from:01/01/2017 till:end color:Perform

bar:Solovar from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:AGuitar

bar:Kazatchkoff from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:Accord

}}

Discography

=Albums=

=EPs=

=Compilations=

  • Punk Rock Strike Vol. 4 (2003)
  • 2005 Warped Tour Compilation (2005)
  • 2006 Warped Tour Compilation (2006)
  • Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers (2006)
  • The Rough Guide to Planet Rock (2006)
  • 2007 Warped Tour Compilation (2007)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Gogol Bordello}}

  • {{Official website}}
  • {{AllMusic|artist}}
  • {{Discogs artist}}
  • {{MusicBrainz artist}}
  • [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5371385 Interview at NPR's Studio 4A (2006) with several songs performed]

{{Gogol Bordello|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Musical groups from New York City

Category:Gypsy punk groups

Category:1999 establishments in New York City

Category:ATO Records artists

Category:Cooking Vinyl artists

Category:American Recordings (record label) artists

Category:Folk punk groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1999