Yukhu

Yukhu Azerbaijani: Yuxu
Origin	Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
Genres	Heavy metal, Hard rock
Years active	1988–2001
Labels	Uzelli Muzik, ADA Muzik
Past members	Ibrahim Emin Namig Naghdaliyev Jasur Nematov Chingiz Eyvazov Zaur Abdullayev

Yukhu (Azerbaijani: Yuxu (Latin)/Јуху (Cyrillic), Russian: Юху [juˈxu], Turkish: Yuhu) were an Azerbaijani rock band based in Sumgayit, that were active from 1988 to 2001. They became one of the most popular Azerbaijani rock bands during the 1990s. The group released three studio albums.

Yukhu became known for singing exclusively in the Azerbaijani language.

History

In 1989, the group won the "Gyzyl Payiz" musical festival. As a result, a French woman who was in the audience that night made the group an offer to record and release an album. They accepted, purchasing a ticket from Baku to Paris via Istanbul. Due to problems acquiring the necessary permits to live and work in France, the band were stranded in Istanbul, so they decided to stay there. Since their albums were released on Turkish labels, all text on them is in Turkish, although they are still sung in Azeri. They recorded their debut album Xəzərin sahilində in Istanbul in 1989, but it was not released until 1993.

In 1990, the group filmed a video for their song "Xəzərin sahilində", directed by Vahid Nakhysh. Later that year, they also performed at the Mayence Rock festival in Mainz, West Germany, and contributed their track "Yuxu" (Sleep) to the official compilation, although the band name was listed as "IOXY" (a misreading of Юху, the band's Russian name).

In 1998, founding vocalist Jasur Nematov left the band, moved to Moscow and was replaced by Zaur Abdullayev.

After Yukhu

Yukhu split after 1999 İzmit earthquake due to collapse of their last studio, ADA Muzik. Naghdaliyev and Eyvazov stayed in Turkey. Eyvazov became a tattoo artist and Naghdaliyev continued to involve himself in music. Later Eyvazov returned to Baku and currently lives there. Ibrahim Emin also returned from Turkey in 2003 to form the group Sirr in 2004. He became bassist of the band until its split in 2015, and remained in Azerbaijan for the rest of his life. However, the former members claim the band has not disbanded, but due to members living in different countries, the band cannot reunite.

Emin died on 2 July 2019.

Members

Final line-up

• Ibrahim Emin − bass guitar, backing vocals (1988–2001) (died 2019)
• Namig Naghdaliyev − guitar (1988–2001)
• Chingiz Eyvazov − drums (1988–2001)
• Zaur Abdullayev − vocals (1998-2001)

Former

• Jasur Nematov − vocals (1988–1998)

Discography

• "Xəzərin sahilində/Хәзәрин саһилиндә" (On the Coast of the Caspian Sea, 1993)
• "Sumqayıt/Сумгајыт" (Sumgait, 1994)
• "Ölümə çarə yox/Өлүмә чарә јох" (There is No Cure for Death, 2001)