Hütz was born in Boyarka, to a Russian father, a butcher by profession, and a Ukrainian mother who was of half Servitka Roma ancestry. His father also played guitar in one of Ukraine's first rock bands, Meridian. When Eugene was 14, he and his father made his first guitar of plywood, his first distortion pedals out of radio parts, and his first drum set from large metal fish cans, skinned with layers of Scotch tape. Hütz learned English through his musical "mentors" because, as he put it, "Russian rock always had lyrics that were superb and more advanced than the original Western rock ‘n’ roll, I think. Of course, Western rock is much stronger when it comes to performance and production, but Russian songwriters were the champions of writing lyrics. So naturally, I picked mentors who taught me how to tell a story, like Johnny Cash or Nick Cave or Leonard Cohen or Shane MacGowan from The Pogues. I learned English through my mentors. I feel like they are kind of my uncles in this sense." Hütz's transition into a U.S. singer was a long journey through Poland, Hungary, Austria and Italy. Descendants of gypsies called the Servo Roma, Hütz and his family fled their hometown after hearing of the Chernobyl meltdown. However, Hütz's Roma/Ukrainian background provides his central inspiration, influencing his lifestyle and the music of his band Gogol Bordello. Hütz's connection with his cultural roots is not without controversy, however, and he is seen as a polarizing figure among international Romani rights activists due to stereotypical displays of Romani culture. Hütz arrived in the U.S. state of Vermont in 1992 as a political refugee through a resettlement program with his mother, father and cousin Yosef.
In New York Hütz made a name for himself as a DJ with a style best represented on his experimental side project J.U.F. and a newer incarnation, MITITIKA. He has also performed and recorded with the Kolpakov Trio. Hütz made his film debut in the 2005 film Everything Is Illuminated, playing the character Alex. In addition to his film role, Hütz wrote and performed some of the music for the film's soundtrack. Several Gogol Bordello members made cameo appearances in various roles in the movie. Hütz is the subject of the 2006 documentary, The Pied Piper of Hützovina. Directed by Pavla Fleischer, the film chronicles Hütz's annual trip across Ukraine and Eastern Europe exploring his musical and cultural roots. Hütz played the lead character in Filth and Wisdom, a 2008 film that marked Madonna’s directorial debut. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2008. Hütz wrote the introduction for the Subculture Books edition of Taras Bulba, released in December 2008. Hütz has worked with Les Claypool on various projects, including his performance on Claypool's album "Of Fungi and Foe". Hütz appeared on the cover of the May 2013 issue of the Ukraine edition of Vogue, with Estonian model Kätlin Aas.
Influence
In the 2006 movie , the character of Eugene is based on Hütz. Several of Hütz's songs are featured in the film. Hütz was also the inspiration for the character Evgeni in Madonna's film W.E. In the January 2008 Gucci menswear show in Milan, Hütz was cited as the key inspiration for the collection.
Personal life
In October 2008, Hütz told the LA Weekly that he had moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In November 2009, he told Página/12 that he had moved to São Paulo.
