Demir Demirkan
A genre-defying Turkish musician who moved from thrash metal anthems to composing the nation's first Eurovision-winning song.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Turkish musician·Birthday: August 12·Generation X
Biography
Demir Demirkan represents the eclectic soul of modern Turkish music. He first made his name as the fierce, driving guitarist for Mezarkabul (Pentagram), a band that brought thrash metal to the forefront of Turkey's rock scene. His musical identity, however, refused to be confined. He seamlessly pivoted to writing sleek television jingles and evocative film scores, demonstrating a melodic sensibility far beyond metal's boundaries. His most mainstream triumph came in 2003 when he composed 'Everyway That I Can' for Sertab Erener. The song's infectious blend of pop and Eastern motifs won the Eurovision Song Contest, a first for Turkey, proving Demirkan's knack for crafting cross-cultural hits. His career is a map of Turkey's own diverse musical landscape, navigated with equal parts power and precision.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Demir was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Demir Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Demir's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote 'Everyway That I Can,' which won the Eurovision Song Contest for Turkey in 2003.
- Has been the lead guitarist for the influential Turkish thrash/heavy metal band Mezarkabul since the early 1990s.
- Composed scores for numerous Turkish films and television series, including the popular drama 'Ezel'.
- Released multiple solo albums that blend rock, folk, and Anatolian musical traditions.
Did You Know?
He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, in the early 1990s.
He is married to famous Turkish pop singer Sertab Erener, for whom he wrote the Eurovision winner.
Beyond music, he is also a published author, having written a book of personal essays and reflections.
“Music is a river; you can't stop it from flowing into new shapes.”
