I’ve been a fan of Gogol Bordello for… a long time now. I’ve seen a ton of their shows–probably fewer than ten, but not by many. I’ve seen them in Russia (though I didn’t go there just for the purpose of seeing them). I downloaded their new album last night and need to listen to it.
So when I stumbled into this this morning, I can’t say it gave me a very good feeling.
We’ve yet to hear Hutz’s side, and we don’t know whether the rest of the band is standing with him or not. But it’s got me nervous–this’d be a tragic end for a great band.
I met Hutz in a bookstore before a show a few years ago. He is one of the most self centered, conceited, cooler-than-thou jerks I have ever had the misfortune of crossing paths with. Based on that, if the story is true, is not surprising to me in the least.
Haha you suck. I’m seeing them for the first time tomorrow night, and i could’ve done without seeing this story. I always had the impression they were a down to earth group of folks.
Hopefully it won’t influence the show–they’ve always put on a killer act.
Two Dollar Tallboy, I’d never heard that before (though I’ve also never went around googling “is eugene hutz a douche”, either). Surprising to me–he’s always come off very down to earth and cool in interviews. Really, the whole band did.
Reading it a second time, some of it sounds weird and fishy–e.g., that Hutz tricked everyone into kicking him out of the band, that Hutz sent him off to Israel to be with his ailing relatives so that he could secretly do a Coca-Cola spot… some of that sounds more like a personal fight, coupled with an itch to get a little Bordello cash. We’ll see.
I always had the impression they were a down to earth group of folks.