Early years (1966–1973) Siyah Örümcekler During his first performance with the band
Siyah Örümcekler at a school event, Edip Akbayram played the drums while also serving as the lead vocalist. At the time when
Berkant's
Samanyolu had become a national hit, they performed the same song seven times in a single night due to popular demand. They saved the money they earned and used it to have blue jackets and black trousers made, inspired by
The Beatles. Their performances were well received, and they began receiving offers to perform at weddings and local events. As demand from nearby cities increased, they eventually performed at Beyaz Saray, a popular nightclub in
Adana. Their repertoire included a wide range of artists, from
Aşık Veysel to
Cem Karaca,
Barış Manço to
Tom Jones. During rehearsals, they also began composing songs using poems by
Pir Sultan Abdal and
Karacaoğlan. Akbayram later recalled a memory with his friends Mesut Mertcan and Hasan Bora: After graduating from high school, Siyah Örümcekler did not continue and disbanded. Akbayram took the university entrance exam for the first time and went to
Istanbul for the exam, but he did not succeed. As he continued with music, he started working with the Gaziantep Orchestra, which was founded by
Mehmet Zeki Dinçer and was the first music ensemble in
Gaziantep. As he kept singing at weddings and ceremonies, they began receiving performance offers from nearby provinces, especially from
Adıyaman and
Diyarbakır. The group, which made a name for itself in
Southeastern Anatolia, came to an agreement with
Aziz Plak, a wholesale record distributor in Gaziantep. Since they did not have enough money, they recorded the single
Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldum on the condition that the revenue from the record would be used to cover studio expenses. The record was released under two different titles: "Siyah Örümcekler Edip Albayrak" and "Siyah Örümcekler Gaziantep Orchestra". It attracted more attention than expected in the Southeast and achieved high sales.
Nejat Taylan Orchestra In 1970, he took the university entrance exam for the second time, and when he did not succeed again, he found himself in
Adana. There, he began working with the
Nejat Taylan Orchestra. With the support of the city's local record dealer,
Seç Plak, Akbayram entered the studio again with the orchestra and recorded the single
İşte Hendek İşte Deve in 1971. Since the format required a 45 rpm record, he placed
Mahzuni Şerif's
Boşu Boşuna on the B–side. The music company paid the necessary copyright fees. During the production, composer
Norayr Demirci transcribed and arranged the songs. Accompanied by the Süheyl Denizci Orchestra, Akbayram recorded his first solo single. The single was released by the
İstanbul Plak label, but it failed to attract much attention. Disappointed, he told Norayr Demirci: "What am I to do? I was the winner. I dreamed of so much but this record didn't catch on." Demirci responded, "Son, go back to your hometown Antep." Akbayram snapped back, "I'd kill myself–I'll never go back." Despite these setbacks, he continued his music and signed a two–year contract with one of the era's leading labels,
Sayan. He had formed his musical identity, aiming like –Cem Karaca and
Fikret Kızılok– to reinterpret folk poets songs in a
rock style and reintroduce them to the public. Having earned insufficient income from records to even pay his rent, he realized that winning the Golden Microphone was not enough in itself to change his financial situation. After winning the contest, he was introduced to the prominent organizer
Zeki Tükel, leaving contact information for possible work. Tükel later declined to hire him based on his physical appearance an experience that deeply affected Akbayram. He told Tükel the conditions would change someday and that if Tükel offered him work then, he would decline it which would later happen. Years later, during a difficult financial period, Tükel called with a job offer, but Akbayram refused, citing their past and said that decision gave him great honor. Curious about the origin of
Boşu Boşuna the song that won him acclaim, he asked the studio staff who owned it. Upon learning it belonged to
Mahzuni Şerif, he traveled to his village Berçenek to meet him. During their conversation, Mahzuni Şerif said: "You sang my ugly folk song so beautifully." He granted Akbayram permission to perform his songs for free for life. Following this meeting, Akbayram later said he gained much knowledge about the social and political dimension of art.
Dostlar (1973–1988) Establishment of Dostlar It was very difficult for an artist who focused on experimental work to find accompanying teams. Since teamwork was important for songs in this line, harmony within the group was very important. Akbayram, who was working in the orchestra Dönüşüm, was experiencing similar difficulties with the bass guitarist in the team,
Vecdi Ören. In the end, Ören, who could no longer endure working with that team, made a proposal to Akbayram: "Hey man, your voice is beautiful. Let's form a band together." Afterwards, Akbayram expressed that he wanted them to have a different line and told his thoughts about how much he loved
Mahzuni Şerif and how suitable his
folk songs were for
rock. Then, Akbayram, who accepted the offer, together with Ören, brought in
Koral Sarıtaş,
Cudi Koyuncu, and
Galip Kayıhan according to talent criteria. The group, which was founded in October 1973, was named
Dostlar, believing it symbolized love, brotherhood, and commitment. They gave their first concert at the
Ankara Dedeman Cinema and quickly began working on records. During rehearsals, they received help from folk poets and abdals. In October 1973, they released their first single,
Değmen Benim Gamlı Yaslı Gönlüme, and the record was chosen as the record of the year in
Cyprus. Gaining attention in a short time, the group released their second record,
İnce İnce Bir Kar Yağar in 1974. Akbayram's self–titled debut album,
Edip Akbayram, was also planned to be released that same year. At this time, Akbayram claimed that Sayan had released a long–play album without his knowledge. While continuing his work with Dostlar in İzmir, he made a statement about the issue: "Sayan has no right to release this long play, we will pursue our rights." Following this statement, the company owner Fahrettin Sayan quickly responded and said: "Such a long play has not yet been released. However, I plan to release it very soon." Additionally, Sayan, stating that there was still a record debt despite the contract having expired, said, "The release of the mentioned long play is not hindered by the contract made between the singer and me." Later, it was learned that the album would include Boşu Boşuna and Kükredi Çimenler. These songs had first been released under the
İstanbul Plak label and were later transferred to
Kervan Plak. Then, it was learned that the long-play rights of this single had passed from Kervan to Sayan. The album, a compilation of songs from 1972 to 1974, was released in 1974. Considered one of the first examples of
Turkish progressive rock, motif illustrations were used in the album to express its musical theme. Edip Akbayram and Dostlar decided to part ways during this period of their career, but the separation was short–lived, and the two sides reunited through
Hey magazine. During this time, since he held the
naming rights of the band,
Vecdi Ören attempted to form his own group under the name Dostlar. After the reconciliation, the group participated in the 2nd Mediterranean Music Festival and then performed in a nightclub for a program that lasted approximately fifty days. During this period, Akbayram argued that changes in the lineup were necessary so that the group could undertake more innovative and progressive projects in the future. He had expressed that especially in order for their recent records to move beyond the conventional style, a musical renewal was needed. There were also various structural and contractual issues within the group. As Akbayram's contract with
Sayan ended, many record companies began to get in touch with the artist. During this process, Akbayram also considered establishing his own record label. However, it was not yet clear which company he would sign with until the end of the İzmir Fair. Around the same time,
Barış Manço and
Kurtalan Ekspres announced that they would part ways after the
İzmir Fair, which created an opportunity for a new musical formation. In this context, Edip Akbayram and his manager Celal Tuncel made their first contact with Murat Ses, believing that he would bring a new color to their musical direction. After Ses responded positively to the offer,
Özkan Uğur also agreed to join Dostlar due to the absence of a bass guitarist in the group. Additionally,
Nadir Uygun, who had previously been in the band Ağrı Dağı Efsanesi founded by Murat Ses, also joined the lineup, becoming a part of Dostlar's new era. Once this lineup was completed, the second major step was signing with a record label. While it was initially expected that Edip Akbayram would establish a new label under his own name,
Yavuz Asöcal, the owner of
Yavuz Plak, founded a new record company named
Burç Plak. As the company's first artist, Edip Akbayram and Dostlar signed a contract at the
Unkapanı Manifaturacılar Bazaar. The founding of a new company at a time when the record market was shrinking and many labels were shutting down was met with surprise in the music circles. Yavuz Asöcal made the following statement on the matter: "Burç Plak will soon take its place alongside the biggest companies. I have not the slightest concern about founding a second company at a time when the record business is heading toward bankruptcy. Within fifteen days, I will transfer the big names of the market to my new label." After signing the agreement with the newly established Burç Plak, the group released their single
Garip. The song won an award in the arrangement category and became one of the hits of the year. During this period,
Murat Ses, who was responsible for the group's musical arrangements, also acted as the group's spokesperson. However, during this successful period, the group faced a serious problem. It was revealed that they had been defrauded by their manager
Celal Tuncel. This incident created a breach of trust among the group members and they struggled for a long time to recover from the impact of this betrayal. Although the crisis led to internal turmoil and tensions among the members, Edip Akbayram and Dostlar continued their musical production. When the new lineup did not last long, the group returned to its original lineup, including Vecdi Ören, who had previously tried to form his own group. The single
Kolum Nerden Aldın Zinciri, released in 1975, drew attention with its lyrics criticizing the social and political atmosphere of the time. This song was followed in 1976 by the record
Mehmet Emmi, based on a work by
folk poet
Mahzuni Şerif. This record marked a turning point for the group. On the B–side of the record, the song Affetmem Seni also attracted attention. Although the same song had been released by Mahzuni Şerif in a different version, it was partially altered and rearranged for this record. This new version, in which electric guitar motifs were heavily used, attracted great interest from listeners and earned numerous awards for the group members.
Nedir Ne Değildir? In 1976, the single
Zalim was recorded using synthesizers brought from the Netherlands by
Galip Kayıhan. Coming from a financially well–off family, Kayıhan had the opportunity to travel abroad and was thus able to procure various effect pedals and synthesizers from Europe for the band. The technical deficiencies experienced in Turkish studio conditions were largely overcome in this way. During this period, in which high–quality equipment was used, the team entered the studio between July and December 1976 and recorded many long plays. These recordings were used in the album
Nedir Ne Değildir?, released in January 1977. In the album, alongside seven new long–play recordings, there were also three previously released 45s. The album cover was prepared using the illustration technique and was created by taking inspiration from
Jethro Tull's 1969 album
Stand Up, with its design and puppets. In the middle section of the track
Arabam Kaldı Yolda on the album, the speed of the song was altered by manually pulling the reel tapes together with the tonmeister Sıtkı Acim. The exclamations "dehha" and "hayda" in the track were voiced by the band's producer
Osman Bayşu (Edip Akbayram's producer for 20 years.) After the album, the band quietly disbanded due to financial difficulties. With the initiative of then–drummer Ayzer Danga and Akbayram, the reestablished band's team went through a radical change this time. The new team recorded
Aldırma Gönül Aldırma, a composition by
Kerem Güney, on vinyl in 1977. The same team released
Kıymayın Efendiler in 1978 and on the B–side of the single, their own composition
Adiloş Bebe. Due to these critical songs, many of the band's concerts were canceled, and they faced numerous attacks on stage. After a difficult year full of fights, the band won a
Gold Record with their single
Gidenlerin Türküsü, recorded in 1979, which sold over five hundred thousand copies. Akbayram received the award from his producer
Yavuz Asöcal as a wedding gift. Taking part in many tours and unable to stay away from the stage, Edip Akbayram and Dostlar could not find the time to enter the studio. On 12 September 1980, the group gave a concert at the İzmir Fair but was suddenly expelled on the same day. Due to the political content of his songs, Akbayram was subjected to torture. After the
September 12 Coup, he was criticized by some circles because of his socialist views. He was banned from appearing on
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, the only media and broadcasting institution in Turkey. Since he was rejected by many organizers and banned from performing on stage, he faced financial difficulties. He had to sell his wife's wedding bracelets and wedding rings, with her consent. He described those days when he could not afford to buy milk and shoes for his son in an interview as follows: He faced various obstacles for performing critical songs in his concerts. He received death threats from some attackers and felt concerned about his personal safety. To protect himself, he began going out with a gun on his waist and checked under his car for bombs before getting in. During this process, in his own words, he faced various forms of psychological pressure which left lasting effects on him. Some of his songs were evaluated by the
National Security Council, formed after the military coup, as "endangering state security" and "spreading destructive ideologies." These reasons were defined as part of the political repression policies applied to various artists during that period. During this time, arrests of leftist artists and intellectuals began. Akbayram was also taken into custody due to the political content of his lyrics and the statements he made during his concerts. In official statements, these remarks were labeled "objectionable," and punitive actions were taken. After being taken into custody, he was arrested in the fall of 1980 and remained in Istanbul Sağmalcılar Prison for five months. Akbayram, who was periodically arrested and detained, was released after it was determined that he had no affiliation with any organization. Due to political reasons, some record labels refused to work with him. Despite the challenges he faced, he continued to produce music. He took part in labor strikes and areas of resistance by giving concerts at these events. In 1981, he and Dostlar released their final single titled
Bugün Bizde Bayram Var. After this period, 45 rpm records gave way to long–play albums. In 1982, a group of folk dancers from the Edirne Public Education Center's folklore team traveled to the town of Enez in Edirne to perform as part of the "Enez Hunting and Fishing Festival." Their accommodation was arranged at facilities belonging to
Istanbul University. While rehearsing for their show, Edip Akbayram and Dostlar, who were also staying at the same facility, observed the rehearsals. After a while, Akbayram approached a member of the folklore team and said, "Let your friends and ours play a basketball match. If you beat us, I'll sing you any folk song you want, all night long." When one of the folklore team members asked, "What will you want from us if you win?" Akbayram replied, "What could we want from lads like you? Just playing basketball with you will be more than enough for us." The offer was accepted, and the match was held. Akbayram and Dostlar lost the game and kept their promise. During the concert, Akbayram performed the songs
Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz and
Aldırma Gönül Aldırma, as requested by the team members. Afterwards, the group began rehearsing for a major concert. In 1983, despite the political climate in Istanbul, they performed at Şan Theatre. Songs from the album they would release the following year were also performed during this concert. Due to the political atmosphere of the time, Edip Akbayram faced serious obstacles in performing on stage because of his political views. Many organizers were reluctant to invite him. During this period of financial struggle, Akbayram received offers that, in his own words, did not align with his moral or artistic values. He was offered an apartment in exchange for releasing an arabesque–style record or a Kurdish–language album. However, Akbayram emphasized that he prioritized the people and his artistic integrity over commercial gain, and he rejected these offers. During this time, his house was raided, he received threats, and due to financial hardship, he was even forced to sell the wedding rings given at his wedding. In 1993, he released the album
Bir Şarkın Olsun Dudaklarında. During these years, Akbayram created works that blended
Anatolian rock with
electronic music elements, becoming more visibly active in the Turkish music scene.
Escape from the Sivas Massacre In 1993, Edip Akbayram was invited to the "
Pir Sultan Commemoration Events" held at the
Madımak Hotel in
Sivas. However, as he was scheduled to participate in a program organized by
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, he postponed the invitation by two days. As a result, he narrowly escaped the
Sivas Massacre that took place on 2 July 1993, in which 37 people – including
Alevi writers, poets, and artists – lost their lives when the Madımak Hotel was set on fire. Akbayram described the incident with the following words: In the period following the Sivas Massacre, Akbayram achieved a major breakthrough in his career with the release of the album
Türküler Yanmaz in 1994. In addition to its social and political content, the album was prepared as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the massacre. One of the most notable tracks on the album,
Gittin Gideli, was written and composed by
Mazlum Çimen, who dedicated the song to his father,
Aşık Nesimi Çimen, one of the victims of the Sivas Massacre. Another track from the same album,
Aşkolsun Sana Çocuk, was dedicated to
Deniz Gezmiş, one of the key socialist figures in Turkey's political history. Maintaining his social consciousness, Akbayram joined the
Saturday Mothers sit–in protest on 27 May 1995 at
Galatasaray Square in
Istanbul, to support those demanding the whereabouts of their forcibly disappeared loved ones. In 1996, he released the album
Güzel Günler Göreceğiz. The song that gave the album its name was nominated in the category of "özgün müzik" (a term in Turkish often used to describe contemporary music rooted in traditional Turkish folk music, original music) at the 3rd
Kral TV Video Music Awards in 1997. However, since
Ahmet Kaya's song
Yakamoz won first place, Güzel Günler Göreceğiz came in second and did not receive an award. Around the same time, in a televised interview about his musical style, he stated: "My musical style is very different. In some places and in the media, it's labeled as 'özgün müzik' or similar terms. But if a person creates good music, I believe it is both authentic and original. As for my own style, I've been doing Anatolian pop folk for years. It's a synthesis of our country's minstrels, troubadours, poets, and authentic folk songs with Western instruments. That's what I call Anatolian pop folk." The following year, in 1997, he released the album
Yıllar. Songs like
Bu Gecede Bir Hal Var and
Gönül Dağı were especially well received. In 1998, he signed with
Prestij Müzik and released the album
Dün ve Bugün, in which he reinterpreted some of his earlier classics such as
Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz,
Hasretinle Yandı Gönlüm, and
Aldırma Gönül. This project marked a turning point due to its high sales figures and its ability to reach a wide audience. In 1999, the album
İlk Günkü Gibi was released. The song Suçlayamazlar on this album drew attention for its criticism of the political administration of the time. These developments in the second half of the 1990s marked a period of resurgence in Edip Akbayram's musical career and showed that he maintained his political stance through his socially and politically themed works.
Refusal of Fethullah Gülen's award In 2000, he declined an award offered by the Journalists and Writers Foundation, which was founded by
Fethullah Gülen. This foundation was shut down after the coup attempt on 15 July 2016, coup attempt. Although the foundation's head of press stated, "Only two artists rejected our award: Edip Akbayram and
Macide Tanır," research revealed that many more artists also declined the offer. It was reported that a total of eleven artists did not accept the award. Akbayram expressed his reason for rejecting the award with the following words: "I did not accept the award because I am an intellectual of this Republic." In 2001, Edip Akbayram released the album
Selam Olsun. The track
Yanman mı Gerek from the album drew attention for referencing various historical and social events in Turkey. In 2002, he released his 33rd album titled ''
33'üncü''. The album featured compositions based on poems by prominent Turkish poets such as
Sabahattin Ali,
Can Yücel,
Ahmed Arif, and
Yılmaz Odabaşı. The album's repertoire was prepared by Edip Akbayram together with
Dostlar group member
Galip Kayıhan. Media reports described the album as a work that stood out for its literary content. In 2004, he released the album
Dün ve Bugün 2. In this album, previously performed and charted songs were reinterpreted with new arrangements. Although Edip Akbayram initially stated at the release of the first album in the series that he was doing this concept for the first and last time – because he did not see it as commercially appropriate – he released a second one due to high demand. In 2005, the music label
Mod Müzik released a compilation album titled
Dün ve Bugün 3, consisting of selected tracks from ''33'üncü
and Dün ve Bugün 2''. In 2008, the artist released the album
Söyleyemediklerim, which brought together songs whose release had been delayed due to various obstacles. The album's repertoire was prepared together with
Galip Kayıhan, one of the original members of the Dostlar group. The album included previously performed songs. He performed a duet with his daughter
Türkü Akbayram in the track
İlle de Memleket. Until this album, Edip Akbayram had not produced a studio album for four years. He explained this wait by saying he was hoping for the music industry in Turkey to reach a better position. However, he was saddened to see that the sector had regressed contrary to expectations during this time. Still, due to high demand from listeners, he stated that he saw it as his duty to produce and began sharing his works with music lovers again.
Allegation of a Concert Involving the PKK In the early 2000s, Edip Akbayram faced criticism from certain circles following his participation in a Newroz event. Mehmet Gül, a member of parliament from the
Nationalist Movement Party at the time, claimed on a television broadcast that Akbayram had performed at
Newroz celebrations in
Diyarbakır, where symbols of the
PKK were allegedly displayed. Gül also accused Akbayram of performing under similar slogans at events in London, stating, "Then you come and say, 'I love this country very much.' What kind of love is this?" In response, Akbayram explained that he had attended the event upon the advice of his manager and was unaware of the content and atmosphere in advance. Emphasizing that he had no connection to any terrorist organization, the artist stated, "If you can present a single piece of concrete evidence showing that Edip Akbayram has ever said anything against the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish flag, or his country, I will leave this country and abandon my art. I love this country more than you do." Throughout his artistic career, Akbayram maintained that he opposed all forms of violence and embraced an understanding of art based on peace, freedom, and the brotherhood of peoples.
Cancellation of the Strawberry Festival Concert In 2008, the
Ereğli Municipality arranged for Edip Akbayram to perform at the Strawberry Festival held on 18 June, the anniversary of Ereğli's liberation. After discussions with his manager, Akbayram agreed to perform at the festival. However, it was later reported that the concert was canceled due to the municipality's political affiliation. In a statement to the local press, he said, "I embrace the people of Ereğli, whose hearts beat with love for
Atatürk and enlightenment. I cannot attend because I do not participate in any
Justice and Development Party (AKP) events. I ask for their understanding." In another interview on the same topic, he stated that he had previously performed at a concert organized by a municipality of a different political stance, during which he was attacked on stage. Akbayram, who stated that he did not take part in any events organized by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), also declined an invitation to a breakfast hosted by the prime ministry during the same period. He explained the situation as follows: "The Prime Minister invited artists to a breakfast. I was invited too. I said I would not attend. A week later, I was informed that my financial records for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 would be audited by the Chief Revenue Controller. How can something like this happen?" He dedicated the song "1 Mayıs," which he had previously recorded in the studio, to workers at the state–owned tobacco company during a television broadcast. In 2011, he performed
Mahzuni Şerif's song
Sarı Saçlım Mavi Gözlüm, which had been written in praise of
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This recording was included in the album CHP Kılıçdaroğlu – Bir Islıkta Sen Çal, prepared by
Seyhan Müzik. Akbayram's latest studio album Mayıs was released in 2012. The song
Seni Seven Öldü (Haberin Var mı?) from the album was written and composed by
Hasan Hüseyin Demirel. Demirel had written the piece for a woman he loved but whose feelings were not reciprocated. After reaching an agreement with a member of Akbayram's stage crew, Demirel was able to deliver the song to Akbayram. After its release,
Seni Seven Öldü (Haberin Var mı?) became one of the most notable tracks on the album and resurfaced in public attention two years later, following Demirel's suicide by self–immolation after dousing himself with thinner.
Final Years in the Studio In 2013, Edip Akbayram performed the song
Bana Bir Gül Ver, written by
Yılmaz Odabaşı, as part of the compilation album
Onurlu Yıllar, which featured various artists. In 2016, he entered the studio for the last time and recorded the song
Unutamadım for the compilation album
Güzelcan Türküleri. On 28 February 2017, he participated in the memorial concert "Deniz 70 Yaşında" (Deniz at 70) and performed the song
Aşkolsun Sana Çocuk in memory of
Deniz Gezmiş. As a member of the board of directors of
MÜYORBİR (Professional Union of Music Interpreters), Akbayram received the
Nazım Hikmet Friendship Award in 2019, presented by the Nazım Hikmet Foundation of Culture and Arts. He was awarded the prize by artist
Zülfü Livaneli during the Nazım Hikmet Commemoration Events held in Moscow. The award was given to Akbayram in recognition of his consistent artistic and social stance throughout his musical career. The Republic Day concert planned to be held in
Zonguldak on 29 October 2022 was cancelled by the Zonguldak Governorship due to the mining accident in the
Amasra district of
Bartın, where 41 miners lost their lives. Following the cancellation, Akbayram made a statement on social media, expressing that he always stood by laborers and workers. He also said, "I wish I could celebrate the Republic enthusiasm together with our working brothers and be their voice." He emphasized that the mining disaster was not only a tragedy for Bartın but a shared grief for the whole of Turkey. == Swiss days ==