Mark Brzezicki
Encyclopedia
Mark Brzezicki is a rock
drummer
, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country
, and was a member of the groups The Cult
, Ultravox
, and Procol Harum
. He has also played with Pete Townshend
, Roger Daltrey
, Midge Ure
, Fish
, The Pretenders
and many others. He was also the drummer on Shine, the second and final English language album by Frida
of ABBA
. He uses both the traditional
and matched grip
s.
Brzezicki is the son of a Polish war
veteran
and an English
mother. With Tony Butler (of Big Country) he was known as 'Rhythm for Hire'. Brzezicki left Big Country in July 1989, but rejoined in 1993. Together with Butler, now on lead vocals, and guitarist
Bruce Watson
, Big Country started gigging again in 2007, as part of their 25th anniversary tour.
In 2004, Brzezicki helped found a new band, Casbah Club
, with Bruce Foxton
and Simon Townshend
.
His surname is pronounced "bruh-zickee" in English and b in Polish. Smash Hits
had a running gag in the 1980s wherein they referred to him as "Mark Unpronounceablename of Big Country". On Pete Townshend's All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
and White City: A Novel
albums, there are joking references to the spelling of his last name.
His brother Steve
is a session
bassist
with whom he frequently collaborates.
On 10 October 2009 Mark Brzezicki re-joined The Cult onstage at the Royal Albert Hall, London UK. He joined original members Ian Astbury
, Billy Duffy
and Jamie Stewart
, whom he had recorded the bands Love album with, to perform "The Phoenix" and "She Sells Sanctuary" as a second and final encore to a live performance of their 1985 album Love.
Brzezicki is currently drumming in the reformed Thunderclap Newman
line up, best known for their 60's hit, "Something in the Air".
He is also drumming in From The Jam alongside original The Jam
member Bruce Foxton
.
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...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country
Big Country
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...
, and was a member of the groups The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
, and Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
. He has also played with Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
, Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
and many others. He was also the drummer on Shine, the second and final English language album by Frida
Frida
Frida is a 2002 biographical film which depicts the professional and private life of the surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. It stars Salma Hayek in her Academy Award nominated portrayal as Kahlo and Alfred Molina as her husband, Diego Rivera....
of ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
. He uses both the traditional
Traditional grip
Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks while playing percussion instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip...
and matched grip
Matched grip
Matched grip is a method of holding drum sticks and mallets to play percussion instruments. In the matched grip each hand holds its stick in the same way, whereas in the traditional grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Almost all commonly used matched grips are overhand grips...
s.
Brzezicki is the son of a Polish war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
mother. With Tony Butler (of Big Country) he was known as 'Rhythm for Hire'. Brzezicki left Big Country in July 1989, but rejoined in 1993. Together with Butler, now on lead vocals, and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Bruce Watson
Bruce Watson (guitarist)
Bruce Watson is a Canadian-born Scottish guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the Scottish-based rock band Big Country....
, Big Country started gigging again in 2007, as part of their 25th anniversary tour.
In 2004, Brzezicki helped found a new band, Casbah Club
Casbah Club
Casbah Club is a mod rock band formed in 2004, consisting of guitarist/vocalist Simon Townshend , bassist Bruce Foxton , drummer Mark Brzezicki , and rhythm guitarist Bruce Watson...
, with Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
and Simon Townshend
Simon Townshend
Simon Townshend is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the younger brother of The Who's Pete Townshend, and is most associated with The Who and the various side projects of its original members, despite many other musical ventures in his career....
.
His surname is pronounced "bruh-zickee" in English and b in Polish. Smash Hits
Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
had a running gag in the 1980s wherein they referred to him as "Mark Unpronounceablename of Big Country". On Pete Townshend's All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes is the third official solo album by English rock musician and songwriter Pete Townshend. It was produced by Chris Thomas and recorded by Bill Price at Eel Pie, A.I.R. and Wessex studios in London...
and White City: A Novel
White City: A Novel
White City: A Novel is a solo concept album by Pete Townshend of The Who, released in 1985 on Atco.The title refers to a story that accompanies the album, and which takes place in a low-income housing estate in the West London area of White City, near where Townshend grew up...
albums, there are joking references to the spelling of his last name.
His brother Steve
Steve Brzezicki
Steve Brzezicki is a British session bass guitarist and younger brother of drummer Mark Brzezicki who he often forms a rhythm section with . Among others, he and Mark worked together on the Ultravox album U-Vox , Midge Ure's solo albums Answers to Nothing and Pure , and Nik Kershaw's album Radio...
is a session
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
with whom he frequently collaborates.
On 10 October 2009 Mark Brzezicki re-joined The Cult onstage at the Royal Albert Hall, London UK. He joined original members Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
, Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
and Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart (The Cult)
Jamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums and rhythm guitar on tour in 1987.After leaving The Cult, Stewart worked as a record producer in Canada...
, whom he had recorded the bands Love album with, to perform "The Phoenix" and "She Sells Sanctuary" as a second and final encore to a live performance of their 1985 album Love.
Brzezicki is currently drumming in the reformed Thunderclap Newman
Thunderclap Newman
Thunderclap Newman were a British one-hit wonder band that Pete Townshend of The Who and Kit Lambert had formed circa December 1968 - January 1969 in a bid to showcase the talents of John "Speedy" Keen, Andy "Thunderclap" Newman and Jimmy McCulloch....
line up, best known for their 60's hit, "Something in the Air".
He is also drumming in From The Jam alongside original The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
member Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
.
External links
- Official Myspace page
- [ Bio and credits at allmusic.com]
- Short bio page from Drummerworld
- Brzezicki at Discogs
- Official Big Country website
- Beyond the Pale (a semi-official Procol Harum website)