The lead singer of Hands!, Sergey Zhukov, described in an interview a troubling incident in which fans once tried to poison him. The memory sits close to the surface of his recollections, a stark reminder that fame can bring both admiration and danger. In recounting the event, Zhukov paints a picture of a band under scrutiny from fans who crossed a line, turning a moment of performance into a moment of risk and reflection for everyone involved. The episode is not just a scar in memory; it became a turning point that shaped how the group approached security, travel, and the relationship with their audience, especially during times when attention from the public and media intensified.
Zhukov remembered that desserts sent to the group were laced with poison. He and his colleagues quickly noticed the hazard in the sweets, and he emphasizes that if any member had tasted them, serious harm would have followed. The alarm was raised promptly, and the band members rallied to ensure no one consumed any dessert from the same source. The incident underscored a chilling fact about high-profile music scenes: even seemingly ordinary hospitality can hide a threat, and vigilance becomes a shared responsibility among artists, managers, and crew. The memory of those moments continues to influence how the band screens material, handles catering at events, and communicates with fans at concerts and in the studio environment.
According to Zhukov, this was not the only alarming moment. A fan caused him a knife wound, and a girl briefly cut the soloist’s hand. He later learned that the motive behind these acts was to provoke a reaction, a disturbing reminder of how some individuals push boundaries with the aim of creating sensational headlines. The incident was later shared in a film about the group, reinforcing the idea that the line between devotion and danger can blur in the music world. Such stories also serve as a cautionary tale for other performers about the kinds of attention that fame can attract and the need for clear boundaries between artists and audiences, especially in moments of public exposure and intense media interest.
Zhukov explained that the truth about these events emerged after some time, and the band addressed this history in their film. It served as a reminder that the music industry can be unpredictable and that performers carry lasting memories of what happened behind the scenes. By acknowledging these experiences on screen, the group offered transparency about the risks involved in touring, recording, and interacting with fans. The retelling became part of a broader conversation about safety, responsibility, and resilience in the creative process, showing both the vulnerabilities and the strengths that persistent artistic work requires.
In February Zhukov joined the Tribal album Hands Up!, aiming to contribute to a collaborative track with OG Buddha, also known as Grigory Lyakhov. The move signaled a desire to explore fresh sounds within the project and to push the boundaries of the band’s musical expression. The collaboration was framed as a creative opportunity, a chance to blend distinct voices and ideas into a track that could stand out within the album’s concept while still honoring the band’s identity and its fans’ expectations. The decision to pursue this track reflected Zhukov’s openness to experimentation even as the group maintained its own stylistic core.
According to Zhukov, OG Buddha showed strong enthusiasm after the proposal and invited him to visit his studio, even his son. The meeting was marked by a sense of sincerity as the two artists explored potential directions for the song. OG Buddha offered a bold approach to the composition, insisting on a frank, uncompromising arrangement that immediately impressed Zhukov with its ingenuity and intensity. Yet the collaboration proved to be a mismatch for the Tribal album’s overall concept. The track’s aggressive energy and stark musical choices did not align with the surrounding material, leading Zhukov to politely decline the partnership. The experience highlighted how collaborations can be both inspiring and risky, demanding a careful alignment of artistic vision, timing, and album-wide coherence.
Earlier, Sergey Zhukov had considered removing a line from his own song, reflecting the constant negotiation between personal artistry and collaborative input. The possibility of altering a lyric reveals how artists balance authenticity with evolving collaborations, sometimes choosing to preserve a original statement and other times embracing a shared direction. The reflection illustrates the care that goes into decisions about what remains in a track and what is surrendered to a different musical path, especially when multiple voices contribute to a single piece. It is a reminder that every creative choice can carry weight far beyond a single release, shaping the band’s voice and public perception in lasting ways.