BRYGADA KRYZYS

One of the most important and most influential Polish rock/ punk/ reggae bands was founded in 1981 by two already well-known musicians and composers from Warsaw - Robert Brylewski - guit., voc. (previously Kryzys) and Tomasz Lipinski - guit., voc. (previously Tilt) together with Jarek Gruszka Ptasinski - perc, Tomek Men Switalski - sax, Ireneusz Jezyk Werenski - bass and Slawek Slocinski - drums. The musicians described their music as "punkadelic", claiming they have two sources of inspiration - early punk and psychedelic of the second half of the 60. The first planned gig at Solidarity Fest in Gdansk was canceled because its organizers regarded BK's message as too politicallly radical for draconian restrictions of communist regime. The first public concert (supported by Republika) at Warsaw's Riviera in September ' 81 was illegaly recorded and released in London later on without band's permission. After a two-week tour around Poland (together with british band TV21) in November and two concerts in Belgrade the group planned a tour to the Netherlands, scheduled for February of 1982 as well as another trip to Jugoslavia, but on December 13 martial law was promulgated in Poland - telephones didn't work, tanks and armoured cars were on the streets. The communist government wanted BK to shorten its provocative name (it means "Crisis Brigade" in English), but the musicians refused. As a reprisal, BK was prohibited from public shows and the band didn't go to the Netherlands either. In March' 82 due to BK manager Jacek Olechowski the band became a test group for a new studio of a recording company Tonpress. During a few days and a few nights some songs were recorded. Tonpress, although with hesitation, agreed to publish a record. Also, a new drums player - Janek Rolt (RIP) became a member of BK. On September 1-4 some concerts were played at Warsaw's club Remont, first since December' 81, but members of BK decided to dissolve the band as there were numerous obstacles which made it impossible to act. Robert with some musicians started a reggae band Izrael, Tomek returned to Tilt.

A week before Berlin's Wall collapsed, Tomek met Robert on the way to Berlin's concert and they talked about rebirth of BK. In August' 91 during the Jarocin Festival the band played the first concert after 9 years, which was enthusiastically welcomed by fans. Robert Brylewski, Tomek Lipinski, Irek Werenski and some new musicians like Piotr Stopa Zyzelewicz (drums), Brylewski's wife Vivian Quarcoo (voc.), Wlodek Kiniorski and Aleksander Korecki (both sax.) gathered at the Izabelin studio to record a new album. The 'Cosmopolis' LP was composed of old songs as well as new ones. BK appeared on several concerts, 'Odjazy' 91' among them. On December 13 for three following years (92-94) the band organized series of concerts to commemorate promulgation of martial law in Poland. One of them was later released on tape. In 1994 the band again ceased to exist.

In the spring of 2003 BK returned after 10 years of hibernation, stimulated by increasing solar rays. Filip Galazka - drums, Tomek Szymborski - bass and Sergiusz Lisecki - sax became new members. The first open show took place at Ucho Club in Gdynia, next the band played several concerts including a tour "PRL czyli Punk Rock Later". In December BK went to London where it played at the Garage club. In 2005 with Aleksander Korecki back replacing Lisecki as saxophone player, they worked on the "Black Album" project, featuring remixes of the first album (which was simply titled with the band's name) by Kuba Nowakowski and some early unreleased recordings. They participated in TVP3's program Muzyka laczy pokolenia ("Music Connecting Generations") with the rap duo "Vienio i Pele". In November-December, another tour through clubs in Poland was organized and a concert again at the Garage in London. The third stage of BK's activity ended up by the decline 2007.



Discography:



* Brygada Kryzys / LP Tonpress 1982

* Live 1982 (bootleg)

* Cosmopolis / Izabelin Studio 1992

* Live in Remont ' 93 / MC Gold Rock Studio 1996