Acid Drinkers
Encyclopedia
Acid Drinkers are Polish thrash metal
band formed in September 1986 in Poznań
. Acid Drinkers were formed on September 21, 1986 consisting of Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki (vocals, bass) and Robert "Litza" Friedrich (guitar, vocals). The band's style from back then to present is thrash metal
, with influences of heavy metal
. Acid Drinkers are one of the most important bands in Polish thrash and heavy metal world.
.
After returning from the army, Titus tried to reactivate his first band, Los Desperados. His attempts misfired and Titus himself, after meeting with Popcorn, decided to reform Acid Drinkers with Litza and Ślimak. Their debut took place 26 August 1989 on Wyspa Słodowa in Wrocław. That performance was actually the beginning of the band's true career. Rumors about a new, excellent metal group swiftly spread across Poland. Soon afterwards the Acids received an opportunity to record an album and continue walking along their path of glory. With this line-up there emerged their best-known classics, including their debut, Are You a Rebel?
, Vile Vicious Vision
and their most famous, Infernal Connection
. At the end of 1998, Litza decided to leave the band. Przemysław "Perła" Wejmann, a vocalist and guitarist and a leader of Guess Why, replaced him. With "Perła" on board, Acids recorded three albums Amazing Atomic Activity, Broken Head and Acidofilia. At the very beginning of 2003, Perła made up his mind to leave the band. It took almost a month before the new guitarist was chosen. The new member turned out to be a well-known frontman of an already disbanded group – Illusion – Tomek "Lipa" Lipnicki. Together with Lipa, the Acids recorded a well-received long-play, Rock Is Not Enough. After over a year of cooperation, the new guitarist left Acid Drinkers for his own project, Lipali. His place in the band was taken over by Aleksander "Olass" Mendyk from None. The new member of Acid's crew quickly integrated himself into the band and was an active member. The band released a critically acclaimed album Verses of Steel
, with most of the songs written by the new guitarist. On 30 November 2008, Alexander Mendyk died due circulatory failure, in Cracow, at the age of 29. He has been replaced on 9 May 2009, by a new member , Wojciech "Jankiel" Moryto.
To date, Acid Drinkers are widely considered the best and most
spectacular thrash-metal band in Poland. Their popularity has gone far
beyond the typical metal music sphere. The Acids have played over 500 shows e.g. on Jarocin
festivals, Metalmania
, Węgorzewo
,
Przystanek Woodstock
or Odjazdy. The Acids performed there as foreground
celebrities. They preceded performances in Poland by, among others,
Deep Purple
, Megadeth
, Bruce Dickinson
, Sepultura
,
Paradise Lost
and Slayer
. Moreover, many
known Polish artists such as: Edyta Bartosiewicz
, Kazik Staszewski
,
Tomek Lipnicki, Patrycja Kosiarkiewicz or Grzegorz Skawiński took part
in Acids’ recordings. Acid Drinkers were four times (on 1998, 2000,
2004, 2009) awarded with a Fryderyk
in the hard and heavy category, and
received in 1998 from TVP 2
the "Złoty bączek" (Golden spinning top) award for being the best
music group from Poland. Additionally, they were acknowledged as one of
the five best Polish bands of the 1990s (together with Hey
, Kazik Staszewski
, Edyta Bartosiewicz
and O.N.A.
) by journalists and readers of Tylko Rock
(Only Rock) magazine.
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band formed in September 1986 in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. Acid Drinkers were formed on September 21, 1986 consisting of Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki (vocals, bass) and Robert "Litza" Friedrich (guitar, vocals). The band's style from back then to present is thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
, with influences of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Acid Drinkers are one of the most important bands in Polish thrash and heavy metal world.
History
Line-up soon expanded as Dariusz "Popcorn" Popowicz (lead guitar) and a drummer Piotr "Chomik" Kulk (shortly after replaced by Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta) joined the band. With this line-up the band worked on its own compositions; such as "Barmy Army", "Del Rocca" and "I Mean Acid". Within a month of the band's creation, Titus was called to join the army and left the band for two years. The others did not intend to idle their time away; Litza and Popcorn undertook a reactivation of the band named Slavoy. Soon both of them received a proposal to play for reputable groups: Popcorn from Wolf Spider, Litza from TurboTurbo (Polish band)
Turbo is a Polish heavy metal band. It was started in January 1980, in Poznań, by Henryk Tomczak . Turbo is one of the most important bands in polish heavy metal. Turbo's most famous album is Kawaleria Szatana , considered an opus of Polish heavy metal...
.
After returning from the army, Titus tried to reactivate his first band, Los Desperados. His attempts misfired and Titus himself, after meeting with Popcorn, decided to reform Acid Drinkers with Litza and Ślimak. Their debut took place 26 August 1989 on Wyspa Słodowa in Wrocław. That performance was actually the beginning of the band's true career. Rumors about a new, excellent metal group swiftly spread across Poland. Soon afterwards the Acids received an opportunity to record an album and continue walking along their path of glory. With this line-up there emerged their best-known classics, including their debut, Are You a Rebel?
Are You a Rebel?
-Bonus Tracks:-Personnel:* Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki - vocals, bass guitar* Robert "Litza" Friedrich - backing vocals , guitar* Dariusz "Popcorn" Popowicz - guitar* Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta - drums* Music - Acid Drinkers* Engineered - Piotr Madziar...
, Vile Vicious Vision
Vile Vicious Vision
Vile Vicious Vision is the fourth studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on October, 1993 in Poland through Loud Out Records. The album was recorded from 5 to 16 June 1993 at HELLENIC Studio, Poznań. The cover art was created by Mariusz Łechtański and Litza and...
and their most famous, Infernal Connection
Infernal Connection
Infernal Connection is the sixth studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on December, 1994 in Poland through Mega Czad. The album was recorded from September 8 to October 3, 1994 at Modern Sound Studio in Gdynia...
. At the end of 1998, Litza decided to leave the band. Przemysław "Perła" Wejmann, a vocalist and guitarist and a leader of Guess Why, replaced him. With "Perła" on board, Acids recorded three albums Amazing Atomic Activity, Broken Head and Acidofilia. At the very beginning of 2003, Perła made up his mind to leave the band. It took almost a month before the new guitarist was chosen. The new member turned out to be a well-known frontman of an already disbanded group – Illusion – Tomek "Lipa" Lipnicki. Together with Lipa, the Acids recorded a well-received long-play, Rock Is Not Enough. After over a year of cooperation, the new guitarist left Acid Drinkers for his own project, Lipali. His place in the band was taken over by Aleksander "Olass" Mendyk from None. The new member of Acid's crew quickly integrated himself into the band and was an active member. The band released a critically acclaimed album Verses of Steel
Verses of Steel
Verses of Steel is the thirteenth album by the Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on July 7, in Poland through Mystic Production. The album was recorded from March to April, 2008...
, with most of the songs written by the new guitarist. On 30 November 2008, Alexander Mendyk died due circulatory failure, in Cracow, at the age of 29. He has been replaced on 9 May 2009, by a new member , Wojciech "Jankiel" Moryto.
To date, Acid Drinkers are widely considered the best and most
spectacular thrash-metal band in Poland. Their popularity has gone far
beyond the typical metal music sphere. The Acids have played over 500 shows e.g. on Jarocin
Jarocin
Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin ( is a town in central Poland with 25,700 inhabitants (1995). Since 1999 Jarocin has been located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, prior to that it was located in the Kalisz Voivodeship (1975–1998).- History :...
festivals, Metalmania
Metalmania
Metalmania is one of the biggest heavy metal music festivals in Central Europe. It has been held annually since 1986. The 2008 edition was held on the 8th of March at Spodek in Katowice, Poland.-Large stage:*Sepultura*Paradise Lost*Testament...
, Węgorzewo
Wegorzewo
Węgorzewo is a tourist town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, not far from the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It is the seat of Węgorzewo County. Lake Mamry is close to the town.-Etymology:...
,
Przystanek Woodstock
Przystanek Woodstock
Przystanek Woodstock is an annual free rock music festival in Poland, inspired by and named for the Woodstock Festival, that has taken place since 1995...
or Odjazdy. The Acids performed there as foreground
celebrities. They preceded performances in Poland by, among others,
Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
, Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
,
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (band)
Paradise Lost are a heavy metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England.-History:Their first three full-length albums are examples of the death/doom style, although the latter two incorporated some melodic and gothic elements...
and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
. Moreover, many
known Polish artists such as: Edyta Bartosiewicz
Edyta Bartosiewicz
Edyta Bartosiewicz is a Polish rock singer, composer and songwriter. Her career has been awarded by five Fryderyks. In Poland, she's known for her highly reflective and unusual lyrics.- Early career :...
, Kazik Staszewski
Kazik Staszewski
Kazik Staszewski is a Polish lead singer, songwriter, and leader of the band Kult.Kazik founded Kult in 1982. Their latest album, Hurra, was released in September 2009....
,
Tomek Lipnicki, Patrycja Kosiarkiewicz or Grzegorz Skawiński took part
in Acids’ recordings. Acid Drinkers were four times (on 1998, 2000,
2004, 2009) awarded with a Fryderyk
Fryderyk
The Fryderyk is the annual award in Polish music. Its name refers to the original Polish spelling variant of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin's first name...
in the hard and heavy category, and
received in 1998 from TVP 2
TVP 2
TVP2 is a Polish public mainstream TV channel operated by TVP. Its varied line-up contains all kinds of programming although it focuses on entertainment: stand up comedy, comic shows, cabaret, and themed talk shows .-Polish soap operas:* M jak...
the "Złoty bączek" (Golden spinning top) award for being the best
music group from Poland. Additionally, they were acknowledged as one of
the five best Polish bands of the 1990s (together with Hey
Hey (band)
Hey is a Polish rock band founded in Szczecin in 1991 by guitarist Piotr Banach and lead singer Kasia Nosowska. It is one of the most popular Polish music acts of the 1990s....
, Kazik Staszewski
Kazik Staszewski
Kazik Staszewski is a Polish lead singer, songwriter, and leader of the band Kult.Kazik founded Kult in 1982. Their latest album, Hurra, was released in September 2009....
, Edyta Bartosiewicz
Edyta Bartosiewicz
Edyta Bartosiewicz is a Polish rock singer, composer and songwriter. Her career has been awarded by five Fryderyks. In Poland, she's known for her highly reflective and unusual lyrics.- Early career :...
and O.N.A.
O.N.A.
O.N.A. is Polish rock/Heavy Metal band, formed in 1994.-Band members:* Grzegorz Skawiński - lead guitar* Waldemar Tkaczyk - bass guitar* Zbigniew Kraszewski - drums* Wojciech Horny - keyboard* Agnieszka Chylińska - vocals...
) by journalists and readers of Tylko Rock
Tylko Rock
Tylko Rock is a monthly hobbymagazine in Poland about all kinds of rock music. It was founded on September 1991 by Wiesław Królikowski, and Wiesław Weiss. In 2003 Tylko Rock has been transformed into Teraz Rock magazine...
(Only Rock) magazine.
Members
- Tomek "Titus" Pukacki – vocals, bass
- Darek "Popcorn" Popowicz – lead guitar
- Maciek "Ślimak" Starosta – drums
- Wojciech "Jankiel" Moryto – rhythm guitar, vocals
Past members
- Alex "Olass" Mendyk (deceased 30 November 2008) – rhythm guitar, vocals (2004–2008)
- Robert "Litza" Friedrich – rhythm guitar, vocals (1986–1998)
- Przemek "Perła" Wejmann – rhythm guitar, vocals (1998–2002)
- Tomek "Lipa" Lipnicki – rhythm guitar, vocals (2003–2004)
Albums
- Are You a Rebel?Are You a Rebel?-Bonus Tracks:-Personnel:* Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki - vocals, bass guitar* Robert "Litza" Friedrich - backing vocals , guitar* Dariusz "Popcorn" Popowicz - guitar* Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta - drums* Music - Acid Drinkers* Engineered - Piotr Madziar...
(1990) - Dirty Money, Dirty TricksDirty Money, Dirty TricksDirty Money, Dirty Tricks is the second studio album by a polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was recorded in Studio Giełda in February 1991. Interestingly. the band's former album, Are You a Rebel?, was still to be released in Poland in April. What is more, similarly to their former act,...
(1991) - Strip Tease (1992)
- Vile Vicious VisionVile Vicious VisionVile Vicious Vision is the fourth studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on October, 1993 in Poland through Loud Out Records. The album was recorded from 5 to 16 June 1993 at HELLENIC Studio, Poznań. The cover art was created by Mariusz Łechtański and Litza and...
(1993) - FishdickFishdickFishdick is the fifth studio album and first cover album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on June, 1994 in Poland through Loud Out Records. The album was recorded from January 22 to March 20, 1994 at Modern Sound Studio, Gdynia...
(1994) - Infernal ConnectionInfernal ConnectionInfernal Connection is the sixth studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on December, 1994 in Poland through Mega Czad. The album was recorded from September 8 to October 3, 1994 at Modern Sound Studio in Gdynia...
(1994) - The State of Mind ReportThe State of Mind ReportThe State of Mind Report is the seventh studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on April 22, 1996 in Poland through Polton and Warner Music Poland. The album was recorded from January 22 to February 9, 1996 at Deo Recordings Studio in Wisła, and was mixed at Buffo...
(1996) - High Proof Cosmic MilkHigh Proof Cosmic MilkHigh Proof Cosmic Milk is the eighth studio album by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on March 18, 1998 in Poland through Metal Mind Productions. The album was recorded on January, 1998 at Deo Recordings Studio, Wisła. The cover art was created by Litza and Jacek Gulczyński...
(1998) - Varran Strikes Back: Alive! (1998)
- Amazing Atomic Activity (1999)
- Broken Head (2000)
- Acidofilia (2002)
- Rock Is Not Enough, Give Me The Metal (2004)
- Verses of SteelVerses of SteelVerses of Steel is the thirteenth album by the Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on July 7, in Poland through Mystic Production. The album was recorded from March to April, 2008...
(2008) - Fishdick Zwei – The Dick Is Rising Again (2010)
Singles
- 3 Version 4 Yonash / Acid On The Dance Floor (1994)
- Pump The Plastic Heart (1996)
- Walkay To Heaven (1996)
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1999)
- Swallow The Needle (2008)
Compilations
- Speed Kills 5 – Head Crushing Metal (1990)
- Speed Kills 6 – Violence of the Slams (1992)
- Maximum OverloadMaximum OverloadMaximum Overload is a compilation album released by Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers in 2002.-Track listing:#"Barmy Army" - 5:22 #"I Fuck the Violence " - 2:48...
(2002)