Green Grey — a Ukrainian rock band founded in Kyiv in 1993. Over three decades, the group has evolved from an underground experiment into one of the most influential and recognizable rock acts in Ukraine. Their music combines elements of funk, rap, rock, electronic music, and social commentary — while their live shows are synonymous with energy and large-scale production.
Formation and Early Years (1990–1995)
The story of Green Grey began with the band Playboy, formed in 1990 by guitarist Andriy “Diezel” Yatsenko (25.12.1969–20.10.2025), bassist Serhii Smyrnov, and vocalist Serhii Manek. Playboy performed mostly abroad — in Prague and Budapest — and released their debut album at Kyiv’s Artima studio in 1992. After the group disbanded, Yatsenko and Smyrnov created a new project with drummer Andriy Kuzmenchuk and vocalist-poet Mykhailo Smyrnov (formerly of U.K.Rain). Thus, Green Grey was born — a band blending rap, heavy metal, and funk.
By the summer of 1993, Green Grey had already won the Grand Prix at the “Live Sound” festival in Moscow — an award personally presented by Aleksandr Barykin, Vladimir Kuzmin, and Yuriy Antonov. The group became the flagship act of the “Otchim Records” production center and began recording their debut album at the Komora studio. Songs like “Hey, You,” “Basketball,” and “Arguments and Facts” brought them their first recognition.
In 1994, Green Grey received a special MTV Europe prize at the “White Nights of St. Petersburg” festival. After the original lineup dissolved, Andriy Yatsenko revived the project as an electronic duo with vocalist Dmytro “Murik” Muravytskyi (b. 06.02.1971), a former member of Kyiv bands Monkey’s Work and Phantom Lord. Since then, Diezel and Murik have remained the creative core of Green Grey.
Breakthrough and First Success (1996–1998)
In spring 1996, the band released the video album “New Youth of the New Europe”, which cemented Green Grey’s image as one of the most forward-thinking and visually bold acts in the country. That same year, singer and model Olha Plotnykova (Yadviga Yuslegko) joined with her dance troupe A-6.
The song “Under the Rain” became a breakthrough hit, winning the “Generation-96” festival in Moscow. The video, directed by Stepan Polyansky and Art Pictures, was one of the first professional music videos produced in the CIS. Their debut album “Green Grey” (1997, REC Records) topped Russian charts and sold tens of thousands of copies, while songs like “Arguments and Facts” and “Sh.A.L.A.-la” secured the band’s status as innovators of Ukrainian rock.
Green Grey won the “Golden Firebird” award twice — in 1998 as Best Alternative Band and in 1999 as Best Rock Band of Ukraine.
Evolution and Maturity (1999–2003)
Their second album, “550 MF” (“550 Meters of Funk”), released in 1999, became one of the most important Ukrainian rock albums of its time. Tracks like “Depressive Autumn,” “Mazafaka,” and “Criminal” achieved cult status. The video for “Mazafaka” won the Muz-TV Award for Best Video in 2002, and the song became one of the first mash-ups in post-Soviet music history.
The following album, “Emigrant” (2002), expanded the group’s sound into hard rock and alternative territory. The title track and a collaboration with Detsl titled “Spring of the 8th Day” confirmed the band’s readiness for experimentation. It became one of their most diverse works, mixing punk, blues, funk, and rap-rock.
In May 2003, Green Grey celebrated their 10th anniversary with a grand concert at the National Opera of Ukraine, accompanied by a symphonic orchestra. The acoustic album “Two Epochs” became the first official recording of a Ukrainian rock concert with an orchestra, setting a new bar for live performance production.
New Millennium and “Metamorphosis” (2004–2005)
The album “Metamorphosis” marked a new phase — a more pop-oriented yet still technically sophisticated sound. Hits like “Stereo System,” “Sun and Moon,” “Everything Has Passed,” and “Our Right” proved Green Grey could thrive in any musical environment. Videos for these songs were directed by Viktor Pryduvalov and Kateryna Tsaryk.
Meanwhile, Diezel launched his electronic side project Diezel DJ Power, and Murik formed the grunge project MRK, demonstrating the members’ versatility.
International Success and MTV Europe Music Awards (2006–2009)
Between 2006 and 2009, Green Grey made a strong comeback in the media spotlight. Their joint track and video “Trideo” with Sister Siren became the most expensive Ukrainian music video of its time ($150,000). In 2009, Green Grey won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Ukrainian Act, becoming the first Ukrainian rock band to receive European-level recognition.
Return and Experiments (2010–2014)
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Green Grey unveiled a new electro-rock sound and released the album “Leopard’s Eye” (2014), featuring the tracks “Black Snow,” “Help Me Find,” and “Mickey & Mallory,” which became symbols of their new era. The compilation “Greatest Hits” served as a retrospective of their 20-year career.
The DubRock Era (2015–2017)
Green Grey developed their own unique sound — dub-rock (or “dabrock”) — a fusion of rock, electronics, and dub. Their sixth album, “WTF?!” (2016, Moon Records), solidified this direction. The videos “Everything Is Epic,” “Pendulum,” and “Money to the Bosses” (featuring Grigory Leps) returned them to MTV rotation. Their duet with Monatik on “Under the Rain” opened the YUNA Awards ceremony, where they received the “Golden Hit” award.
25 Years on Stage and the Present (2018–Present)
In 2018, Green Grey marked their 25th anniversary with an acoustic concert titled “Without Electricity,” featuring guest vocalist Alloise, and prepared a new program for summer festivals. The band continues to experiment with sound, combining rock, electronic textures, social messages, and modern production.
Social Activity and Influence
Green Grey have always engaged with social issues. They collaborated with Greenpeace Ukraine and initiated campaigns such as “Our Right” (2005) and “Help Me Find” (2013, in partnership with UNICEF). Their songs often touch on ecology (“Black Snow”), addiction (“Depressive Autumn”), war (“Don’t Shoot”), and social inequality (“Money to the Bosses”).
Band Members
Current lineup:
-
Dmytro Muravytskyi (Murik) — vocals, lyrics, music
-
Dmytro Pavlenko (DJ Khoroshyi) — DJing
-
Yuriy Lysiak (Pinky) — guitar
-
Volodymyr Kostyk — drums
-
Andriy Mazepa — sound engineering, production
Former members: Andriy Yatsenko (Diezel), Petro Tsymbal, Anatoliy Vekslyarskyi (DJ Tolya), Zhan Yanochkin, DJ Ekspert, and others.
Main Awards
-
1993 — Grand Prix, “Live Sound” Festival (Moscow)
-
1994 — MTV Europe Special Prize, “White Nights of St. Petersburg”
-
1998 — “Golden Firebird” — Best Alternative Band
-
1999 — “Golden Firebird” — Best Rock Band
-
2002 — Muz-TV Award — Best Music Video (“Mazafaka”)
-
2009 — MTV Europe Music Awards — Best Ukrainian Act
-
2016 — YUNA — “Golden Hit” (“Under the Rain”)
Discography (Selected)
-
Green Grey (1997)
-
550 MF (2000)
-
Emigrant (2002)
-
Metamorphosis (2004)
-
Leopard’s Eye (2014)
-
WTF?! (2016)
-
Matchstick (2021)
Conclusion
Green Grey represent a unique phenomenon in Ukrainian rock culture. They managed to bridge the gap between the underground and the mainstream while maintaining artistic integrity and innovation. Since 1993, the band has evolved through many sounds and eras without losing its identity. Their music tells the story of a country, a generation, and the pulse of Ukrainian street culture — woven into guitar riffs and electronic beats.
