Gökhan Semiz

Gökhan Semiz — Biography

Gökhan Semiz (12 January 1969 – 17 January 1998) was the lead vocalist and songwriter of the Turkish pop-parody group Grup Vitamin, and also took occasional acting roles. He first got involved in music by forming an amateur band called Blasphemous while in high school, and during his university years he wrote sketches with friends and performed in theatre.

He founded Grup Vitamin in 1990, and the band's debut album, Bol Vitamin, became the best-selling record of 1991; their self-titled second album that same year drew wide attention for its unconventional style. The group quickly grew into one of Turkey's most popular acts, and Semiz released his first solo album, Mikrop, in 1992. Grup Vitamin won Best Group at the 1994 Altın Kelebek (Golden Butterfly) Awards, and in 1996 the band issued Deli Dolu (Best of), the last release Semiz saw come out during his lifetime. His second solo album, İnan ki Teksin, followed in 1997 and ranked among that year's standout releases.

While the band was recording its eighth studio album in early 1998, Semiz died in a traffic accident on the Bakırköy coast on 17 January, just five days after turning 29. His sudden death devastated his bandmates and fans, who went on to finish and release the unfinished album under the title İyi Günler Türkiye.