Big Cyc
Encyclopedia
Big Cyc is a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band formed in 1988.

The band is well known in Poland for their controversial behaviour. The cover of their first album, Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem (Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

 for With a Party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...

 Greeting
), was an image of Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...

 with a Mohawk hairstyle
Mohawk hairstyle
The mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...

. The title of their second album, Nie wierzcie elektrykom (Don't Trust Electricians) refers to the Polish president Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...

, an electrician by education. Their fourth album cover, Wojna plemników (War of Spermatozoons) featured a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...

 drying condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...

s on a clothes line
Clothes line
A clothes line or washing line is any type of rope, cord, or twine that has been stretched between two points , outside or indoors, above the level of the ground. Clothing that has recently been washed is hung along the line to dry, using clothes pegs or clothes pins...

. In May 1999, the band leader Krzysztof Skiba
Krzysztof Skiba
Krzysztof Skiba is a Polish musician, song writer, satirist, essayist and actor. In 1983 cofounder of anarchy organization Ruch Społeczeństwa Alternatywnego . In 1988 cofunded a rock band Big Cyc...

 was charged with indecent exposure
Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...

 and fined the equivalent of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

308 for mooning
Mooning
Mooning is the act of displaying one's bare buttocks by removing clothing, e.g., by lowering the backside of one's trousers and underpants, usually bending over, whether also exposing the genitals or not...

 the Polish prime minister Jerzy Buzek
Jerzy Buzek
Jerzy Karol Buzek is a Polish engineer, academic lecturer and politician who was the ninth post-Cold War Prime Minister of Poland from 1997 to 2001...

 during a festival in February 1999.

Members

  • Jacek Jędrzejak aka Dżej Dżej (Polish pronunciation for J.J., born August 22, 1963)
  • Jarek Lis aka Dżery (Polish pronunciation for Jerry, born April 18, 1963)
  • Roman Lechowicz aka Piękny Roman (Polish for Pretty Roman, born September 27, 1963)
  • Krzysztof Skiba
    Krzysztof Skiba
    Krzysztof Skiba is a Polish musician, song writer, satirist, essayist and actor. In 1983 cofounder of anarchy organization Ruch Społeczeństwa Alternatywnego . In 1988 cofunded a rock band Big Cyc...

     aka Skiba (born July 7, 1964)

History

The members of Big Cyc met at the University of Łódź. Jędrzejak played guitar in a student reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...

 band Rokosz (laureate of the Golden Ten during the Jarocin Festival
Jarocin Festival
Jarocin Festival was one of the biggest and most important rock music festivals in the 1980s Europe, by far the biggest festival of alternative music in the Warsaw Pact countries....

), Skiba performed in student theatre Pstrąg and in many school cabarets, also co-creating street happenings named “The Orange Alternative
Orange Alternative
Orange Alternative is a name for an underground protest movement which was started in Wrocław, a town in south-west Poland and led by Waldemar Fydrych , commonly known as Major in the 1980s...

”. In 1988 Rokosz broke up, and Jędrzejak wanted to create a new rock band. In this new group such artists as Jarosław Lis (drums), Roman Lechowicz (guitar) and Robert Rejewski (vocal) performed. After some time Rejewski was replaced by Skiba, who introduced a significant creative potential. Jędrzejczak, Lis, Skiba, and Lechowicz became the four of Big Cyc. The members of the band took pseudonyms: JJ (Jędrzejak), Jerry (Lis) and Lovely Roman (Lechowicz). Skiba remained with his own name.

In March 1988 the student club and hostel number 2 Balbina housed the first show of Big Cyc, during a cultural event Uroczysta akademia na cześć 75-lecia wynalezienia damskiego biustonosza (A solemn ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of invention of women's brassiere
Brassiere
A brassiere is an undergarment that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting breasts....

).
The nationwide media were invited (among others: Teleexpress
Teleexpress
Teleexpress is the second news program of the TVP, broadcast daily on TVP1 at 17.00.It broadcasts at different hours on TVP1 is the schedule of some sporting events that the channels broadcast interfere with the usual TV schedule....

, Polish Radio Channel 3), and the cabaret performance was introduced by Piotr Trzaskalski
Piotr Trzaskalski
Piotr Trzaskalski is a Polish film director. He attended the National Film School in Łódź. He is probably best known for his film Edi , which won several awards at the Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, and also won the special Audience Award at the 2003 Polish Film Awards...

, then a student.

Big Cyc made successive songs, and in 1990 in new political environment - after Solidarity's victory and fall of communism in Poland - they published their first album, With the Party’s salutations. 12 hits in lambda-hardcore style
Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem. 12 hitów w stylu lambada hardcore
Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem. 12 hitów w stylu lambada hardcore - released in 1990 was the debut album of Polish punk group Big Cyc.-Track listing:#"Berlin Zachodni"...

. The album contained hilarious poetics mocking the atmosphere of the late PRL (Polish People's Republic) - which the title and the cover – Lenin’s portrait with punk-like mohawk – bear witness to. The record introduced such well-known compositions as: “Highlander’s song”, “Western Berlin” (reminiscences from first performances in western society) and “Ballad about a Sad Skinhead”. It became a hit in Poland, and in short time Big Cyc became well known in the country. Soon after, the band played part in the film named “The chemical weapon”, devoted to life and creative activity of the group, accomplished by independent creators team Garage-Film.

The following records never caused such sensation as the debut. The authors precisely stigmatized polish reality, but the music background was weaker and less innovative.
The second one, Nie wierzcie elektrykom
Nie wierzcie elektrykom
Nie wierzcie elektrykom is the second studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1991. The title is a pun on "Don't trust the politicians" an it alludes to Lech Wałęsa's profession...

(“Don't believe electricians”)(1991) carried a prophecy of Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...

’s failed presidency, the third Miłość, muzyka, mordobicie (“Love, music, brawl”) (1992), brought an ironic critic of the musical environment – the Jarocin Festival
Jarocin Festival
Jarocin Festival was one of the biggest and most important rock music festivals in the 1980s Europe, by far the biggest festival of alternative music in the Warsaw Pact countries....

. The Fourth record, Wojna plemników
Wojna plemników
Wojna plemników is fourth studio album of punk rock band Big Cyc, released on 1993.-Track listing:#"Wojna plemników" #"Towar schodzi cały dzień"#"Od przyjaciół moskali"...

(“War of spermatozoon’s”) (1993) was condemned by members of the Catholic party ZChN (National-Christian Union) for moral boldness and provoking cover. Nie zapomnisz nigdy
Nie zapomnisz nigdy
Nie zapomnisz nigdy is 5th album of punk rock band Big Cyc, released on 1994. Nie zapomnisz nigdy is compilation album-Track listing:#"Nie zapomnisz nigdy"...

“You'll never forget” form 1994 was a collection of the greatest hits and some new songs, among which “It’s for you my brother” can be stated as a bands ideological hymn. Subsequent one, Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki
Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki
Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki - is studio album by punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1995.-Track listing:#"Śmierdzące podwórka"#"Dramat fryzjerski"...

(“Pig Knuckles, Intestines and Other Delicacies”) (1995) became a sneer of the pseudo-grunge wave and TV-commercial culture (“Hairdresser drama”).

Successive songs and albums of Big Cyc took a sarcastic look on the reality of Polish politics and people. Often in ironic manner, the songs expose issues like problems of Polish youth, economic disproportions, drug addiction, or silliness of TV commercials. In 1996 Big Cyc published their seventh album, called Z gitarą wśród zwierząt
Z gitara wsród zwierzat
Z gitarą wśród zwierząt - is a studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1996....

(With guitar among animals), which contains the most famous song in history of band, Makumba, the stereotypical story of an African student in Poland. In that period the musicians ridicully but bitterly commented their world. They didn’t fail to notice new social phenomena: growing disproportions in wealth, clericalism, corruption, formation of gangs and mafia in Poland, and contrasted it with freedom and neutrality of the young people. Another vocalist, Jarosław Janiszewski from “Bielizna”, appeared in this record, and soon he has created a parallel band, named “Czarno-Czarni”, with the members of Big Cyc.

Celebrating the 9th anniversary in 1997 the band introduced subsequent record, with quite shocking title: Pierwsza komunia, drugie śniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita
Pierwsza komunia, drugie sniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita
Pierwsza komunia, drugie śniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita - is a studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1997....

(“First Communion, second breakfast, third Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita is a traditional name of the Polish State, usually referred to as Rzeczpospolita Polska . It comes from the words: "rzecz" and "pospolita" , literally, a "common thing". It comes from latin word "respublica", meaning simply "republic"...

”), was chosen by the public present. Wszyscy święci (“All saints”) (1998), based on texts of a dead poet Wieslaw Dymny, proved to be an interesting experiment. Two subsequent records: Świat według Kiepskich (“World according to Kiepscy”) and Zmień z nami płeć (“Change your gender with us”) were less popular. Nevertheless the texts of do not lose their inner sharpness and validity, they ridiculed pop-folk fashion or the dres
Dres
Dres or dresiarz is a term used in Poland to describe a specific subculture or class of young males. Dresiarze stereotypically live in urban tower blocks or tenement houses. They are usually portrayed as undereducated, unemployed, aggressive and anti-social. The dresiarz phenomenon was first...

dressing tendency. Recently the politics have returned as the major subject of their satires - the “Golden braid” concerning Renata Beger
Renata Beger
Renata Beger is a Polish politician, a prominent member of the populist political party Samoobrona and a member of the Sejm between 2001 and 2007....

, the member of the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....

 (Polish parliament), the “Mohair berets
Mohair berets
Mohair berets - a tongue-in-cheek expression that stands for people who support the views expressed by Polish conservative Catholic movement with its main representative being the media strictly connected with Father Tadeusz Rydzyk. This expression originated from the characteristic headgear worn...

” a satire on Polish government elected in 2005 and a commentary on vocal older generation in Poland, viewed by many younger people as old-fashioned, or criticizing the president of Belarus
President of Belarus
The office of President of Belarus is the head of state of Belarus. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Soviet. This replaced the office of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet as the head of state...

 – Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...

.

The band has never forgotten about it’s happening origin. Several times it managed to present, in an unconventional way, the absurd and disabilities of public life. The musicians had chained themselves to radiators in publishing house “Polish Records”, protesting against unwillingness to pay artist’s royalty, they have eaten tax forms (along with politician Janusz Korwin-Mikke
Janusz Korwin-Mikke
Janusz Ryszard Korwin-Mikke is a Polish conservative liberal political commentator and politician. He is the leader of the Congress of the New Right, which was formed in 2011 from Freedom and Lawfulness, which he led from its formation in 2009, and the Real Politics Union, which he led from...

) fighting with too high taxes, and they protested under the Minister of Culture’s cabinet unmasking partiality of the financial politics.

Some time ago a new member has joined, Piotr Sztajdel Gadak, keyboard player. Jan Borysewicz
Jan Borysewicz
Jan Borysewicz is the co-founder and guitar player for Lady Pank, a Polish rock band and composes most of their music.In the 1970s, Borysewicz played for Izabela Trojanowska and Budka Suflera...

, Marek Piekarczyk, Paweł "Konjo" Konnak, Wiesława Warszawska and Viganna Papina also had a chance to perform along with Big Cyc.

Discography

  • Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem. 12 hitów w stylu lambada hardcore
    Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem. 12 hitów w stylu lambada hardcore
    Z partyjnym pozdrowieniem. 12 hitów w stylu lambada hardcore - released in 1990 was the debut album of Polish punk group Big Cyc.-Track listing:#"Berlin Zachodni"...

    - (With a Party
    Polish United Workers' Party
    The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...

     greeting; 12 hits in a lambada hardcore style
    , 1990)
  • Nie wierzcie elektrykom
    Nie wierzcie elektrykom
    Nie wierzcie elektrykom is the second studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1991. The title is a pun on "Don't trust the politicians" an it alludes to Lech Wałęsa's profession...

    - (Don't trust the electricians, 1991)
  • Miłość, muzyka, mordobicie - (Love, music, brawl, 1992)
  • Wojna plemników
    Wojna plemników
    Wojna plemników is fourth studio album of punk rock band Big Cyc, released on 1993.-Track listing:#"Wojna plemników" #"Towar schodzi cały dzień"#"Od przyjaciół moskali"...

    - (War of spermatozoons, 1993)
  • Nie zapomnisz nigdy
    Nie zapomnisz nigdy
    Nie zapomnisz nigdy is 5th album of punk rock band Big Cyc, released on 1994. Nie zapomnisz nigdy is compilation album-Track listing:#"Nie zapomnisz nigdy"...

    - (You'll never forget, 1994)
  • Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki
    Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki
    Golonka, flaki i inne przysmaki - is studio album by punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1995.-Track listing:#"Śmierdzące podwórka"#"Dramat fryzjerski"...

    - (Pig
    Pig
    A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...

    s Knuckle, tripes, and other delicacies
    , 1995)
  • Z gitarą wśród zwierząt
    Z gitara wsród zwierzat
    Z gitarą wśród zwierząt - is a studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1996....

    - (Among the animals with a guitar, 1996)
  • Pierwsza komunia, drugie śniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita
    Pierwsza komunia, drugie sniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita
    Pierwsza komunia, drugie śniadanie, trzecia Rzeczpospolita - is a studio album of the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 1997....

    - (First Communion
    First Communion
    The First Communion, or First Holy Communion, is a Catholic Church ceremony. It is the colloquial name for a person's first reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church...

    , second breakfast, third Rzeczpospolita
    Rzeczpospolita
    Rzeczpospolita is a traditional name of the Polish State, usually referred to as Rzeczpospolita Polska . It comes from the words: "rzecz" and "pospolita" , literally, a "common thing". It comes from latin word "respublica", meaning simply "republic"...

    , 1997, second breakfast is a Polish
    Polish language
    Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

     idiom
    Idiom
    Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...

     for lunch)
  • Wszyscy święci - (All saints, 1998)
  • Świat według Kiepskich
    Świat według Kiepskich (Big Cyc album)
    Świat według Kiepskich - is a studio album by the punk rock band Big Cyc, released in 2000. The album is titled after the popular Polish sitcom with the same name about a dim-witted Kiepski family, and includes the title track from the sitcom...

    - (The world according to Kiepscy, 2000, named after a Polish sitcom Świat według Kiepskich)
  • Zmień z nami płeć - (Change your sex with us, 2002)
  • Moherowe Berety - (Mohair Berets, 2006)
  • Szambo i Perfumeria - (Cesspool & Perfumery, 2008)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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