Dezerter is a punk rock band that was formed in Warsaw in May 1981. The group adopted the provocative name SS-20 (derived from Soviet missiles with nuclear warheads) at the time, which they were forced to change during the martial lawperiod. The band Dezerter had already recorded the single “Ku przyszłości” (1983). In 1985, two compilations of Dezertersongs were released: “Fala” and “Jak punk to punk“. 1987 brought the release in the USA by Maximum Rock’n’Roll ofDezerter’s first long–playing record, “Underground Out Of Poland,” and the first (censored) record in the country, “Kolaboracja.” 1989 was the year of another album, “Kolaboracja II,” and 1990 was the year of “Wszyscy przeciwkowszystkim” (released in Poland and France) and a two–month tour of Western Europe (Switzerland, Germany, France, theNetherlands) and Japan.
The next years of activity brought important albums for the Polish independent scene, including Blasphemy (1992), Ileprocent duszy? (1994), Mam kły mam pazury (1996), and Ziemia jest płaska (1997). Three studio albums have beenreleased in the 21st century: “Nielegalny zabójca czasu” (2004); “Prawo do bycia idiotą” (2010), which was appreciatednot only by listeners, but also by the music industry, as evidenced by the 2010 Fryderyk award; and “Większy zjadamniejszego” (2014). In 2016, after 33 years, the single “Ku przyszłości” was reissued.
The band actively performs not only in Poland, but also in many European countries (Czech Republic, Germany, UnitedKingdom, Finland) and in the United States.
Dezerter’s songs have appeared on many compilations and have been featured in the soundtracks of several films(including “Wałęsa. A Way to Freedom“). Andrzej Wajda’s “Man of Hope” and W. Smarzowski’s “Bad House” (Englishtitle).
A deserter is:
Robert Matera – guitar, vocals
Krzysiek Grabowski – drums, lyrics
Jacek Chrzanowski – bass
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