SBB (PL)

Concert during SBF 2015
Saturday, 11.07.2015, 6.50 p.m.
stage near the City Hall, Kościuszki St./Mickiewicza St.
free admission

Undisputed pioneers of blues-rock in Poland. One of the greatest Polish bands in the history of Polish music. Legend of rock and progressive music that combines blues with jazz. The legend that still performs, develops, releases new albums.

Silesian Blues Band was formed in 1971 in Siemianowice Śląskie as a trio Silesian Blues Band (Joseph Skrzek, Apostolis “Lakis” Anthimos, George “Keta” Piotrowski). Intensive rehearsals, regular concerts in Silesia and first radio recordings led the band to be noticed outside the region. By the summer of 1973, the group members collaborated with Czesław Niemen (as a Niemen group) then Silesian Blues Band evolved into SBB. This abbreviation was translated as (according to Franciszek Walicki, the former group leader) a slogan: “Search, Storm, and Build”.

In 1974, they released their debut (live) album “SBB”, referring to Jimi Hendrix and The Cream  music in the sound sphere. The album turned out to be a huge success, where the price of an album was even four times higher than the regular one. Next year, a second album ”Nowy Horyzont”(New Horizon) was released, recorded in progressive-rock style, with an intriguing twenty-minute suite of  ”Wolność z nami” (Freedom with us). In 1976, the album “Wolność” (Memory) was released, and in following year “Ze słowem biegnę do ciebie” (With the word I run to you) and “Jerzyk” (Swift). Albums delighted with conceptual thought-form and keyboards solos  performed by Skrzek. In 1979, a second guitarist, Slawomir Piwowar (formerly Paradox, Niemen Aerolit) joined the group.

In 1980, due to a intense work, the group decided to resolve. Musicians spread out, although the last album, „Memento z banalnym tryptykiem” is the best, mature album that the group has come since its debut. Skrzek began his solo career. Anthimos went back to his hometown in Greece, where he worked as a session musician. Piotrowski has colaborated with various Polish artists, including Kombi.

The 90s brought reactivation of the band – long waited by fans. Despite several attempts (including the event “Three Decades of Rock”) no new studio album was released, and the group broke up again. In 1998, SBB returned on stage with Mirosław Muzykant, the young drummer, who had already worked with Joseph Skrzek in his solo projects. This incarnation left behind three albums.

The beginning of the new century is a big comeback of SBB. In 2000, a drummer Paul Wertico (formerly Pat Metheny Group) joined the group. A year later, first study album ,,Nastroje’’ was released. The year 2004 brought the tour (documented album “Odlot”), 22-albums “Anthology 1974-2004” and the announcement of a new concerts and recordings.

In 2005, the band released the LP “New Century”, which was produced by the legendary Mack. A year later, at the special request of the British, they played as support for Deep Purple. They also toured as the main star of the Baja Prog in Mexico, where a group Marillion played as their support this time. There was also a time to reshuffle the squad of the band – Gabor Nemeth (formerly LGT and Skorpio) took over Wertico. This lineup recorded the album “The Rock”, having its premiere in 2007. At the beginning of 2009, the band released a full-length “Iron Curtain”, and in the autumn of 2010, “Blue Trance”.

13th of April 2014, SBB played for the first time since the last concert in 1994, with Jerzy Piotrowski who played on drums. A new energy, with which SBB presents on stage, shows that there is still a lot to come!

They have been cooperating, among others, with a jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stanko, a singer Halina Frackowiak, a guitarist Tadeusz Nalepa ( from Breakout) and an outstanding violinist Jan Błędowski (Krzak, Czeslaw Niemien, Laboratory, Republic, Shakin ‘Dudi).

SBB (PL):
Józef Skrzek – vocal, keyboards, bass, double bass
Apostolis Anthimos – guitar, drums, drum set, bass, keyboards
Jerzy Piotrowski – drums, drum set

Also visit: www.sbb-band.pl