Kat (band)
Encyclopedia
Kat is a heavy metal
band formed in 1979 in Katowice
, Poland
. They have been accused, mainly by the Polish media, of promoting Satanism. In Polish
"kat" means executioner
.
bands, mainly Deep Purple
, Led Zeppelin
, and Black Sabbath
. In 1981, during the first edition of the Silesian Rock festival, the band found a singer, Roman Kostrzewski
. The line-up was filled out by guitarist Wojciech Mrowiec and in 1984 Kat released the debut single "Noce szatana / Ostatni tabor" (Polish
for The Nights of Satan / The Last Train). Robert "Lor" Milewski wrote the lyrics of both songs; since then Kostrzewski became the lyricist, incorporating poetry, Polish folklore, and mysticism. The band also toured with Hanoi Rocks
.
In 1985 Kat released their debut album, Metal & Hell. A Polish language version of this full-length was released as a limited album in the same year, with the title was changed to 666. Soon after, Wojciech Mrowiec quit the band. In 1987 Kat performed twice as a support band for Metallica
in Katowice's Spodek
. This show was documented on Kat's live album 38 Minutes of Life. At that time they also supported Running Wild
, Helloween
, and Overkill
.
After releasing the next full-length album, Oddech wymarłych światów, the band broke up. Kat reformed in 1990 and in 1992 played with TSA
and Acid Drinkers
at the Jarocin Festival. Two years later, some songs from this show appeared along new ones on a new album, Bastard (1992).
In 1994 in Wisła a new album entitled Ballady was compiled and recorded. It includes Kat's ballads from previous albums, previously unreleased tracks, and two completely new songs. Józef Skrzek
was a guest keyboard instrument
alist. In that year, Metal Mind Productions
re-released the three first of Kat's albums without the band's permission. Kat sued the company and, after a few years, won the case.
In 1996 and 1997, Kat released the albums Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach and Szydercze zwierciadło. After Jacek Regulski died in a motorcycle accident in 1999, the band split up for three years. They returned in 2002 and toured, again with Luczyk on guitar, and played at Mystic Festival in Hala Ludowa
, Wrocław, 2002. During that period they were occasionally supported live by Polish guitarist Valdi Moder.
In 2004 and 2005 Kat had several important changes in its line-up. Firstly, the band fired the drummer, Ireneusz Loth, and then singer and lyricist Roman Kostrzewski. Mariusz Prętkiewicz replaced the former drummer; Jarosław Gronowski joined as a second guitarist (he had played in Kat during the Szydercze zwierciadło tour, since Luczyk was temporariliy out of the band), and Henry Beck became the new singer. The new lineup released Mind Cannibals in 2005, the band's second English language
album (after the first LP, Metal & Hell).
The lineup changes were very controversial, and band's fan base actually split in two, because Roman Kostrzewski
and Ireneusz Loth also created their own band (under moniker "Kat & Roman Kostrzewski
") and continue to perform since then.
After recording Mind Cannibals, the band went on tour around Europe (playing together with, for example, Six Feet Under
), but did not play in Poland
, adding to the controversy since Kostrzewski and Loth were at the time very active with their new band). Kat haven't played in Poland since 2005.
Since 2005, Kat went on hiatus, although there are rumours about a possible successor to Mind Cannibals in the Polish press.
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...
band formed in 1979 in Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Poland
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...
. They have been accused, mainly by the Polish media, of promoting Satanism. In 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...
"kat" means executioner
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
.
Band history
Kat was founded in 1979 by guitarist Piotr Luczyk and drummer Ireneusz Loth. Shortly after they were joined by bassist Tomasz Jaguś and another guitarist, Ryszard Pisarski. They played instrumental music influenced by hard rockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
bands, mainly 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...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. In 1981, during the first edition of the Silesian Rock festival, the band found a singer, Roman Kostrzewski
Roman Kostrzewski
Roman Kostrzewski is a Polish heavy metal musician. He was a vocalist and lyricist of Kat until 2005. Since then he performs with Kat & Roman Kostrzewski group...
. The line-up was filled out by guitarist Wojciech Mrowiec and in 1984 Kat released the debut single "Noce szatana / Ostatni tabor" (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 The Nights of Satan / The Last Train). Robert "Lor" Milewski wrote the lyrics of both songs; since then Kostrzewski became the lyricist, incorporating poetry, Polish folklore, and mysticism. The band also toured with Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
.
In 1985 Kat released their debut album, Metal & Hell. A Polish language version of this full-length was released as a limited album in the same year, with the title was changed to 666. Soon after, Wojciech Mrowiec quit the band. In 1987 Kat performed twice as a support band for Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
in Katowice's Spodek
Spodek
Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
. This show was documented on Kat's live album 38 Minutes of Life. At that time they also supported Running Wild
Running Wild (band)
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under...
, Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
, and Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
.
After releasing the next full-length album, Oddech wymarłych światów, the band broke up. Kat reformed in 1990 and in 1992 played with TSA
TSA
TSA most often refers to:* Transportation Security Administration, in the United States Department of Homeland Security* Tourette Syndrome Association, advocacy organizationbut may also refer to:- Organizations :...
and 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...
at the Jarocin Festival. Two years later, some songs from this show appeared along new ones on a new album, Bastard (1992).
In 1994 in Wisła a new album entitled Ballady was compiled and recorded. It includes Kat's ballads from previous albums, previously unreleased tracks, and two completely new songs. Józef Skrzek
Józef Skrzek
Józef Skrzek – is a Polish multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, an important figure in Polish rock.-Life:In his early carrier, Skrzek was associated with the groups Ślężanie, Ametysty and Breakout...
was a guest keyboard instrument
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...
alist. In that year, Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions is a Polish record label founded in 1987. Currently it is one of the lead independent labels in Poland with over 1000 of licences and over 10 million of data mediums sold. The label focuses mainly on rock and heavy metal genres...
re-released the three first of Kat's albums without the band's permission. Kat sued the company and, after a few years, won the case.
In 1996 and 1997, Kat released the albums Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach and Szydercze zwierciadło. After Jacek Regulski died in a motorcycle accident in 1999, the band split up for three years. They returned in 2002 and toured, again with Luczyk on guitar, and played at Mystic Festival in Hala Ludowa
Hala Ludowa
The Centennial Hall ) is a historic building in Wrocław, Poland. It was constructed according to the plans of architect Max Berg in 1911–1913, when the city was part of the German Empire. As an early landmark of reinforced concrete architecture, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in...
, Wrocław, 2002. During that period they were occasionally supported live by Polish guitarist Valdi Moder.
In 2004 and 2005 Kat had several important changes in its line-up. Firstly, the band fired the drummer, Ireneusz Loth, and then singer and lyricist Roman Kostrzewski. Mariusz Prętkiewicz replaced the former drummer; Jarosław Gronowski joined as a second guitarist (he had played in Kat during the Szydercze zwierciadło tour, since Luczyk was temporariliy out of the band), and Henry Beck became the new singer. The new lineup released Mind Cannibals in 2005, the band's second English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
album (after the first LP, Metal & Hell).
The lineup changes were very controversial, and band's fan base actually split in two, because Roman Kostrzewski
Roman Kostrzewski
Roman Kostrzewski is a Polish heavy metal musician. He was a vocalist and lyricist of Kat until 2005. Since then he performs with Kat & Roman Kostrzewski group...
and Ireneusz Loth also created their own band (under moniker "Kat & Roman Kostrzewski
Kat & Roman Kostrzewski
Kat & Roman Kostrzewski is a Polish thrash metal band formed by Roman Kostrzewski and Ireneusz Loth after they had left their original band KAT in 2004. Since 2004 the group has toured extensively through Poland, while composing material for their first album "Biało-Czarna" , which is expected to...
") and continue to perform since then.
After recording Mind Cannibals, the band went on tour around Europe (playing together with, for example, Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under (band)
Six Feet Under is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1993. The band was originally a side project by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes with guitarist Allen West of Obituary...
), but did not play in Poland
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...
, adding to the controversy since Kostrzewski and Loth were at the time very active with their new band). Kat haven't played in Poland since 2005.
Since 2005, Kat went on hiatus, although there are rumours about a possible successor to Mind Cannibals in the Polish press.
Albums
- Metal and HellMetal And HellMetal and Hell is the debut album by Polish heavy metal band Kat.-Track listing:All lyrics written by Roman Kostrzewski. All music written by Kat.#"Metal and Hell" - 2:43#"Killer" - 3:15#"Time of Revenge" - 4:54#"Devil's House Part I" - 4:47...
(1985) - 666 (1987) - Polish language version of Metal And Hell
- 38 Minutes of Life (1987) - live album
- Oddech wymarłych światów (The Breath of Extinct Worlds, 1988)
- Bastard (1992)
- Ballady (Ballads, 1994)
- Jarocin - Live (1994) - live album
- Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach (Roses of Love Thrive Most Eagerly on Graves, 1996)
- Szydercze zwierciadło (Slanderous Mirror, 1997)
- Somewhere in Poland (2004) - live album
- Mind Cannibals (2005)
Singles
- "Ostatni tabor / Noce szatana" (The Last Train / The Nights of Satan, 1984)
- "Metal And Hell" (1986) - fan club release
- "Time of Revenge / Czas Zemsty" (1986)
- "Róże miłości najchętniej przyjmują się na grobach" (Roses of Love Thrive Most Eagerly on Graves, 1996)
Other
- Czarne zastępy: W hołdzie KAT (Black Hordes: A Tribute to KAT, 1988) - a tributeTribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
to KAT album
Current members
- Henry Beck - vocals (2005–Present)
- Piotr Luczyk - guitar (1979–1997, 2002–Present)
- Krzysztof Oset - bass guitar, vocals (1989–Present)
- Jarek Gronowski - guitar (2004–Present)
- Mariusz Prętkiewicz - drums (2004–Present)
Former members
- Roman KostrzewskiRoman KostrzewskiRoman Kostrzewski is a Polish heavy metal musician. He was a vocalist and lyricist of Kat until 2005. Since then he performs with Kat & Roman Kostrzewski group...
- vocals, guitar (1981–2004) - Ireneusz Loth - drums (1979–2004)
- Tomasz Jaguś - bass guitar (1981–1988)
- Krzysztof Stasiak - bass (1988–1989)
- Wojciech Mrowiec - guitar (1981–1986)
- Jacek Regulski - guitar (1988–1999)
- Ryszard Pisarski - guitar (1981)
External links
- Kat – official website
- Kat & Roman Kostrzewski – official website of reactivated band with Roman Kostrzewski
- Kat at the 1986 Jarocin Festival