Miroslav Wanek
Encyclopedia
Miroslav Wanek is a Czech
poet
, musician
, and lyricist
. He is the frontman for the avant garde punk rock
group Už Jsme Doma
, in which he has served as the lead singer and bandleader
since 1986, the bassist
from 1986–1988, the guitar
ist and keyboardist
since 1988, co-composer from 1986–2001, and composer since 2001. Prior to Už Jsme Doma, he played bass and sang in the Czech punk rock
group FPB
(Fourth Price Band), from 1981–1985, and has led a resurrected version of the group from 2008 onward. His musical background includes classical piano training.
He has authored two books: Eyeball to Eyeball, about the avant garde group The Residents
, which he co-authored with Karel Císař; and 11, a pop-up book illustrated by artist Martin Velíšek
, inteded to be a companion piece to the music of Už Jsme Doma.
He has produced records for bands, including Dybbuk, Zuby Nehty
, Ženy, Činna, and Už Jsme Doma.
He is the founder of the O. Wenzl Society for the poet of the same name.
Besides performing with his rock bands, Wanek has scored various Czech films, including the movie Fimfárum. He has also taught music theory at high-professional school in Zlín
.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
. He is the frontman for the avant garde punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group Už Jsme Doma
Už Jsme Doma
Už Jsme Doma, , are a progressive rock band from Prague, Czech Republic, who originally formed in the Czech border town Teplice in 1985. The group's complex and genre-bending sound, longevity, relentless touring and diverse involvement in outside artistic media have earned them a large...
, in which he has served as the lead singer and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
since 1986, the bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
from 1986–1988, the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist and keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
since 1988, co-composer from 1986–2001, and composer since 2001. Prior to Už Jsme Doma, he played bass and sang in the Czech punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group FPB
FPB
FPB, short for Fourth Price Band, is an influential Czech punk rock band formed in 1981 in Teplice, a Czech town bordering Germany, by bassist, singer and poet Miroslav Wanek and his friend, Petr Růžička, who was considered the band's manager. These two were soon joined by drummer Milan Nový and,...
(Fourth Price Band), from 1981–1985, and has led a resurrected version of the group from 2008 onward. His musical background includes classical piano training.
He has authored two books: Eyeball to Eyeball, about the avant garde group The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
, which he co-authored with Karel Císař; and 11, a pop-up book illustrated by artist Martin Velíšek
Martin Velíšek
Martin Velíšek is a popular Czech artist whose work spans the media of glass and canvas, animated film, album covers, book covers, photography, sculpture, and interiors....
, inteded to be a companion piece to the music of Už Jsme Doma.
He has produced records for bands, including Dybbuk, Zuby Nehty
Zuby Nehty
Zuby Nehty are an all-female underground rock group from the Czech Republic.-History:The band formed under the name Plyn in 1980. Plyn played concerts at the 007 Club, Euridika, and at alternative festivals...
, Ženy, Činna, and Už Jsme Doma.
He is the founder of the O. Wenzl Society for the poet of the same name.
Besides performing with his rock bands, Wanek has scored various Czech films, including the movie Fimfárum. He has also taught music theory at high-professional school in Zlín
Zlín
Zlín , from 1949 to 1989 Gottwaldov , is a city in the Zlín Region, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic, on the Dřevnice River. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company...
.