One of the earliest pioneers of Polish rock was Tadeusz Nalepa

Tadeusz Nalepa

Tadeusz Nalepa – was a Polish composer, guitar player, vocalist and lyricist.-Career:Nalepa graduated from the Music Academy in Rzeszów in the departments of violin, clarinet and contrabass...

, a singer, guitarist and songwriter who began his career playing pop music in his group, Blackout before turning to blues rock and changing the band's name to Breakout in 1968.

In 70's due to political and censorship pressure, there were very few bands that managed to gain success or good artistic level

significant 70's artists: Niemen, Budka Suflera

Budka Suflera

Budka Suflera is a Polish rock band which was started in 1969 in Lublin by Krzysztof Cugowski, and, after disbanding soon thereafter, resurrected by Cugowski and Romuald Lipko in 1974 and active to this day...

, SBB, Marek Grechuta

Marek Grechuta

Marek Grechuta was a Polish singer, songwriter, composer, and lyricist.-Biography:...

 (artist only sometimes playing on the edge of rock, usually not of that genre)

1982 - beginning of the "boom of rock" in Poland - debuts or first success of many important bands. On 24.04.1982 was first broadcast of Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego, voting chart that helped promoting many rock bands. Underground artists were promoted at Rozgłośnia Harcerska

1987-1990 - crisis of rock, many artists emigrated, bands broke up, split or were suspended. On that time there was second wave of polish rock called Krajowa Scena Młodzieżowa (Sztywny Pal Azji

Sztywny Pal Azji

Sztywny Pal Azji is a Polish rock band, popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was founded in 1986 in Chrzanów by Jarosław Kisiński, a guitarist and composer of the band's hits. Sztywny Pal Azji first came to prominence during the 1986 Jarocin Festival, gaining a large following with its mix...

, Chłopcy z Placu Broni, Róże Europy, Kobranocka, Tilt

Tilt (Polish punk band)

Tilt was a Polish rock band, regarded as one of the first punk bands in Poland. It was founded in Warsaw in 1979 by Tomasz Lipinski and it has been existing with several breaks until now. In its first years, it performed songs in English, later switching to Polish...

, Mr Z'OOB, Rezerwat), but with minor market and artistic success

significant 80's artists:

- official market: "THE GREAT FOUR": Perfect

Perfect (band)

Perfect is a Polish rock music band founded in 1977 by drummer Wojciech Morawski, bass guitar player Zdzisław Zawadzki and lead guitar player Zbigniew Hołdys...

, Republika

Republika

Republika means "Republic" or "The Republic" in several languages. It may refer to:* Republika , a former Polish rock band active 1978–1986* Republika , a Croatian monthly for literature, arts and society established in 1945...

, Lady Pank

Lady Pank

Lady Pank is a popular Polish rock band, started in 1981 in Warsaw by Jan Borysewicz and Andrzej Mogielnicki. Its first hit was "Mała Lady Punk" ....

, Maanam

Maanam

Maanam is a popular Polish rock band, formed by Marek Jackowski, Kora and Milo Kurtis in 1976. Originally an acoustic outfit, the band went electric in 1980, and since then has recorded some of the best-selling singles and albums in Poland over the past 25 years.During the first half of the...

. Other: Oddział Zamknięty, Lombard

Lombard (band)

-Band line-up:* Grzegorz Stróżniak: Keyboards, vocals, lead * Marta Cugier: Vocals * Daniel Patalas: Guitar * Michał Kwapisz: Bass guitar * Mirosław Kamiński: Drums -Discography:...

, TSA

TSA (band)

TSA is a Polish hard rock and heavy metal band.As is the case with the vast majority of heavy metal bands with acronym-based names, there appears to have been no actual meaning behind TSA's name, although in a 2003 press release one of the founders claimed that the acronym originally meant "Tajne...

, Bajm (most of them still active and popular in 2000's)

- underground scene: Kult

Kult (band)

-History:Kult was formed in 1982 from Kazik Staszewski’s previous band, Novelty Poland.In July 1982 the band performed at its first concert at the Remont Club in Warsaw....

, Dezerter

Dezerter

Dezerter, founded as SS-20 in 1981 in Warsaw, Poland, is one of the most popular punk bands from Poland. They had to change their original name to Dezerter because of the reaction of the Communist authorities...

, Brygada Kryzys

Brygada Kryzys

Brygada Kryzys or BK is one of the most important and influential Polish punk/rock reggae bands. The band was founded in 1981 by two well-known guitarist/vocalists from Warsaw, Robert Brylewski and Tomasz Lipiński .-1981:* July - Robert Brylewski asks Tomasz Lipiński if he would be willing to...

, Klaus Mitffoch

Klaus Mitffoch

Klaus Mitffoch was a Polish rock group founded in 1979 in Wrocław by Lech Janerka, Krzysztof Pociecha and Kazimierz Sycz. Soon joined by Wiesław Mrozik and Marek Puchała , the band gained a large underground following. They recorded their first single Ogniowe Strzelby/Śmielej in 1983 and their...

, Dżem

DZEM

DZEM is an AM station owned and operated by Christian Era Broadcasting Service which is the religious broadcast arm of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at Maligaya Building 2, 887 EDSA, Quezon City, and its transmitter is located at Obando, Bulacan. it is...

, T.Love Alternative, Turbo, Aya RL, Izrael, Daab

Daab (reggae band)

Daab is a Polish reggae band. They were previously named Daab - Muzyka serc .- History :The band was founded in December 1982 in Warsaw by Dariusz Gierszewski/dr./, Andrzej Zeńczewski/voc.,g./, Artur Miłoszewski/b./ and Piotr Strojnowski/voc.,g./. In few months the band took two other artists:...

1992-1995 - second boom of polish rock, many female vocalists

From 1997 till half of 2000's polish rock "went underground" due to not being played on greatest commercial medias, despite many artistic successes or attention of many fans.

significant 90's artists: Wilki

Wilki

Wilki are a Polish Alternative rock/Pop rock band from Warsaw. They, along with their contemporaries Myslovitz, are one of Poland's most popular rock bands....

, Myslovitz

Myslovitz

Myslovitz is a Polish rock band, whose music incorporates elements of college rock, shoegazing, and, arguably, Britpop. Since 2003, EMI Group has been attempting to establish them internationally, with considerable support from MTV Europe...

, Acid Drinkers

Acid Drinkers

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 and Robert "Litza" Friedrich . The band's style from back then to present is thrash metal, with influences of heavy metal...

, Homo Twist

Homo Twist

Homo Twist was a Polish rock band founded in 1993 by Maciej Maleńczuk.-Discography:* Cały ten seks * Homo Twist * Moniti Revan * Live After Death * Demonologic * Matematyk...

, Vader

Vader (band)

Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...

, Voo Voo

Voo Voo

-Band members:* Wojciech Waglewski - guitar, main vocals, and lyrics. Founder and leader of the band, its name comes from his initials. Father of Bartosz Waglewski and Piotr Waglewski, better known as Fisz and Emade. He also plays with the bands "Osjan" and "Gaya"....

, Armia

Armia

Armia is Polish punk rock and hardcore punk music band founded in 1985 by Tomasz Budzyński, Sławomir Gołaszewski and Robert Brylewski. Armia is famous for its use of horn, which was unusual of punk rock bands in late 1980s and 1990s...

, Sweet Noise

Sweet Noise

Sweet Noise is a Polish alternative metal band. The group was formed in 1990 in Swarzędz. They have released eight CDs and appeared three times at the Przystanek Woodstock festival with the special show in 2003 when more than 400 000 people watched the culmination of what the band refers to as...

, Kazik/Kazik na Żywo

Kazik Na Zywo

Kazik Na Żywo is a Polish rapcore band formed in 1991, in Warsaw.-History:Their first performance was during the music festival in Sopot, Poland, in 1992...

female rock: 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....

, 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 :...

, Kasia Kowalska

Kasia Kowalska

Katarzyna Kowalska is a Polish pop rock singer/songwriter/producer/actress.Her musical experience began in the 1980s when she sang as a female vocalist for numerous Polish bands, including Human, Fatum and Talking Pictures. In 1994 she started solo career releasing album Gemini...

, 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...

, Closterkeller

Closterkeller

Closterkeller is a Polish Gothic rock band from Warsaw. It was formed in 1988 by Przemysław Guryń, Jacek Skirucha, and the vocalist Anja Orthodox. Despite many changes in the band's line-up it has created a characteristic sound. Orthodox is the only member of the original line-up, performing...

gained new success: Kult, Dżem, T.Love

T.Love

T.Love is a Polish rock band formed in 1982, originally known as Teenage Love Alternative, by Zygmunt "Muniek" Staszczyk, Janusz Konorowski, Dariusz Zając and Jacek Wudecki, all friends from high school in Częstochowa....

 (after changing style from punk to rock shortened its name from T.Love Alternative)

reunioned and managed to gain new fans: Perfect, Republika, Lady Pank, Maanam

significant 2000's artists: Myslovitz, Kult, Hey, Dżem, Wilki, Cool Kids of Death

Cool Kids of Death

Cool Kids of Death is a Polish alternative rock band. It was formed in Łódź in 2001. Their name comes from a Saint Etienne song. They are well known in Poland because of radical lyrics and widely expressing the "Generation Nothing" voice - the "movement" which accused Polish establishment of...

, Coma

Coma

In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...

, Koniec Świata

Koniec Świata

Koniec Świata is a polish musical band which plays a mixture of punk, rock and ska music. The band has been founded in 2000 in Katowice by Jacek Stęszewski who is the only member in the band from its beginning...

, Lao Che

Lao Che

Lao Che may refer to:* Lao Che , character of the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom* Lao Che , a Polish music band* Lao Che , the family of Laozi. See also taoism...

, Nosowska, Pogodno, Ścianka

Scianka

Ścianka is a Polish rock band formed in 1994 in Sopot by guitarist Maciej Cieślak. In 1998 Ścianka were signed by independent label Biodro Records and recorded their debut album entitled Statek kosmiczny Ścianka . After its release, the group received critical and audience acclaim...

, Vader

Vader (band)

Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...

, Behemoth, Voo Voo, Lech Janerka

Lech Janerka

Lech Janerka is a Polish songwriter, vocalist and bassist. In the 1980s he was leader of a notable Polish post-punk/new wave band called Klaus Mitffoch, based in Wrocław.- Discography :...

, Strachy na Lachy

Strachy na Lachy

Strachy Na Lachy is a Polish rock band ....

, Acid Drinkers

Poland has a very active underground extreme metal

Extreme metal

Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...

 Music Scene. Some of the bands that have heralded and helped the cause are Vader

Vader (band)

Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...

, Behemoth

Behemoth (band)

Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground, alongside bands such as Vader, Decapitated, Vesania and Hate....

, Yattering, Decapitated

Decapitated (band)

Decapitated is a death metal band that formed in Krosno, Poland in 1996. The group comprises guitarist, founder and composer Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski and Austrian drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner. Decapitated have gained recognition as one of the genre's most widely respected...

 and Lux Occulta

Lux Occulta

Lux Occulta was a Polish avant-garde metal band, founded in late 1994. Their work, also strongly influenced by progressive metal and black metal, commonly incorporates elaborate arrangements often featuring multiple sections and unpredictable time changes.- Biography :The band was started when...

. This has paved ground for a large underground movement. One of the biggest record labels of death metal

Death metal

Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....

in Poland is Metal Mind Records.

External links

• http://www.warsawvoice.pl/archiwum.phtml/8398/
• http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/12740
• http://www.paulwertico.com/biography/sbb.php