Brygada Kryzys is one of the most important and most influential Polish rock/punk/reggae bands. Founded in 1981 by two already well-known musicians and composers from Warsaw, Poland - Robert Brylewski - guit., voc. (previously Kryzys) and Tomasz Lipiński - guit., voc. (previously Tilt).

BK’s Timeline:

1981 - July - Robert Brylewski asks Tomasz Lipiński whether he would be willing to start a new band. Lipiński agrees.

August - A new band, Brygada Kryzys (BK) is formed. After a few rehearsals its members are: Brylewski, Lipiński, Jarek Gruszka Ptasiński: perc, Tomek Men Świtalski: sax, Ireneusz Jeżyk Wereński: bass; Sławek Słociński: drums.

The musicians describe 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 in Gdansk is canceled because its organizers do not like the message of BK which was regarded as too political.

September - The first concert at Warsaw’s Riviera. This gig was recorded and later issued in London as a bootleg.

November - A two-week tour around Poland with British band TV21. At Monopol hotel in Gdańsk Brylewski is severely beaten by a bunch of gangbangers. Militiamen refuse to help. In Poland a general strike takes place.

December - The band goes to Belgrade to participate in Days of Young Polish Subculture. The bus however is stopped at Polish-Czechoslovak border and the gadgets are confiscated. BK finally reaches Belgrade by plane where two concerts take place (one of them is recorded).

After return to Poland the group plans a tour to the Netherlands, scheduled for February of 1982 as well as another trip to Jugoslavia. On December 13 martial law and curfew are promulgated in Poland.

1982 - February - On posters in Warsaw a new band, “Brygada K.” appears. The communist government thus wanted “BK” to shorten its provocative name (it means "Crisis Brigade" in English), but the musicians refuse. As a reprisal, BK is prohibited from public shows. The band does not go to the Netherlands either.

March - Recording company “Tonpress” opens a new studio at Warsaw’s Wawrzyszew district. The management needs a band which would test it. BK manager, Jacek Olechowski, suggests the group. During a few days and a few nights some songs are recorded. “Tonpress”, although with hesitation, agrees to publish a record. Also, a new drums player - Janek Rołt (RIP) becomes a member of BK.

Summer - The band spends whole summer of 1982 at a village near Lublin. There some scenes are recorded which will later appear in the movie “Koncert”.

August 31 - Demonstrations and street fights in Warsaw. Tomek is severely beaten and arrested by militia. Released shortly afterwards as there was no space in overcrowded jails.

September 1-4 - Concerts at Warsaw’s club Remont, first since December of 1981. BK members decide to dissolve the band as there were numerous obstacles which made it impossible to act. Robert with some musicians start a reggae band Izrael, Tomek returns to Tilt.

1989 - A week before Berlin’s Wall collapse, on the way to Berlin’s concert, Tomek and Robert talk about rebirth of BK.

1991 - August - During the Jarocin Festival the band plays the first concert after 9 years. The publicity welcomes BK enthusiastically.

October 1991-August 1992 - At the Izabelin studio the band records a new album “Cosmopolis”. The LP consists both of old songs as well as new ones. BK now consists of: Robert Brylewski, Tomek Lipiński, Irek Jeżyk Wereński and new musicians: Piotr Stopa Żyżelewicz (drums), Brylewski’s wife Vivian Quarcoo (voc.), Włodek Kiniorski and Aleksander Korecki (both sax.).

December 13, 1992,1993,1994 - The band organizes series of concerts which commemorate promulgation of martial law in Poland. One of them is later released on tape. In 1994 the band again ceases to exist.

2003 - In the spring BK returns after 10 years of hibernation. Its members are: Robert Brylewski and Tomek Lipiński, also Filip Gałązka - drums, Tomek Szymborski - bass and Sergiusz Lisecki - sax. The band plays several concerts, including a tour "PRL czyli Punk Rock Later". In December BK goes to London where it plays at the Garage club.

2005 - With Aleksander Korecki back replacing Lisecki as saxophone player, they work 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 participate in TVP3's program Muzyka łączy pokolenia ("Music Connecting Generations") with the rap duo "Vienio i Pele". In November-December, another tour through clubs in Poland and (December 4) again at the Garage in London. A new recording session is scheduled for winter 2005/2006.

Discography

1982 Brygada Kryzys / LP Tonpress

1982 Live / LP Fresh Records UK

1992 Cosmopolis / Izabelin Studio

1996 Live in Remont '93 / MC Gold Rock Studio

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