Interview with SBB... at last!

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Ladies and gentlemen! May I proudly present you my first interview with a prog artist: SBB! Questions were sent to the band via e-mail by courtesy of Easy Livin. Enjoy! 

INTERVIEW WITH SBB BY BARTŁOMIEJ ŚLĄZAK (aka TUZVIHAR):

Q: At the beginning please tell me why you vanished at the dawn of the 80s?
A: 80s for Poland was most important Time...
     We played with Solidarity of Freedom...
     Our song from 70s was absolutely right on this Time...
     So I changed my Life... changed my Style...
     SBB had a break for deference Life...
     Life is going on...

Q: And what was the impulse to come back after over twenty years of silence?
A: Every Time we have some contact together...
    Apostolis was married and live in Greece...
    Jerzy play together with some Musicians...
    I started to play in church on organ with synthetisers...
    Also I played soace music in Planetarium and mountains...
    It was very interesting change for me...
    So I was ready to play again with old Friends but a fresh Ideas...

Q: But you reformed without your original drummer, Jerzy Piotrowski. Do you know what he's doing
     now? I read he'd abandoned music...
A: We play a short Time again with Jerzy in States but than he decided 
     to stay there with Family...
     It was 1993...
     On the end of 90s we started to play with very interesting Musician from Silesia
     Mirek Muzykant...
     He also composed Music...
     With him we played in Warsaw Philharmony on clasical instrumentacions...
     I liked it very much...

Q: I attended your last concert in Stodoła in Warsaw on 13 Nov 2007. Your current drummer, Gabor
     Nemeth, was brilliant. How did it happen that you started to play together? And what happened with
     Paul Vertico who played with you on your previous albums?
A: Playing together with Paul Wertico it was for me Great ART!
     But the distance between States and Poland was bad for us...
     Sometimes we have to change our plans becouse of travel...
     We like both till now and I believe than we still have a chance to play together
     Paul is my FRIEND!
     Gabor we now from the 70s and we have an old friendship...
     We met in new century on festival in Seged Hungary and then we tried to play..
     He is very professional Artist and love Music...
     He has also some roots in Poland becouse his grandmother is... Potocka!

Q: We could also observe a duel on two drum sets between Gabor Nemeth and Anthimos Apostolis.
     Who was the winner in your opinion? And Whose idea was it? Or was it spontaneous?
A: It's Idea from Apostolis...
    He plays on drums very long time...
    He has rhythm in his bood...
    He is from Greece!
    So together with Gabor on drums they make a Great Power!!!

Q: You opened the gig with a song "Pielgrzym" of Czesław Niemen which you recorded on your latest
     album "The Rock". Is there any particular reason that from vast output of Niemen you chose this
    song?
A: You are right...
     Pilgrim is dedicated for Czesław...
     It was too short time when we played Together...
     This Time we play a Memory for Great Artist... Great FRIEND!

Q: I'd like to ask you to tell us about your collaboration with Czesław  Niemen. You played with him on
     his double LP "Marionetki" in 1972 (then issued as separate LPs Niemen vol 1 & 2). Why didn't it last
     longer? In the booklet of a box-set "Niemen od początku II" Niemen wrote that there had been too
     manystrong individualities that couldn't have borne his domination (he called the band with his name
     Niemen). What's your opinion?
A: Niemen was a STAR!
     We were Friends with Him...
     Some people around mostly accused us for manipulations...
     It was very frustrating for every Musicians in the Group...
     Also I had some Young Power to play a New Music what happened after the break..

Q: How big was the influence of Niemen on you? In what way?
A: Czesław gave me a lot from his feeling...
     Gave us possibilities on the professional Stage on the World...
     Our work together it was a mix between rock and Slavic themes...
     It was a very important time for me...

Q: What other bands/artists inspired you? What's important in music for you?
A: I prefer Felling, manual precision, Heart, Freedom, Friendship...
    I started with simple Music in the country Silesia...
    Then I studied Music on piano and violin also acoustic organ...
    So my inspiracion is small song and classical Genius on the road to Woodstock...

Q: Let's go back to the gig. I noticed that Józef had some problems with his equipment. Can you tell me
     something about it? His behaviour looked kind of hilarious, actually.
A: Our country was very pure with technology of Instruments...
     So we had to improvise with some simple genius on East Europe...
     They build for us guitars, amplifiers, speakers and especially PA systems...
     But it sounds GREAT!

Q: Your performance was preceded by Believe which is a representative of a young generation of
     polish progressive rock bands. Do you follow today's progressive rock scene in Poland? What do
     you think about it from a point of view of a progressive rock dinosaur? Who would you favour if any?
A: Lets say we are close with both Musicians in all East Europe on  that Thema...
    LGT Hungary, Olimpic Czech Rep. and lot of some groups that still play... 
    Omega Hungary,
    Puhdys DDR...
    I think that is most Important to be now on the Stage...
    Because we are a generation of Freedom!

Q: Do you have a favourite album among your output? Can you tell us which one and why? What do you
     consider your biggest musical achievement?
A: Memento z banalnym tryptykiem...
     It was a first big arrange for SBB in 1971...
     On 1980 we recorded this song like a suite on LP...
     Till now on a charge in Sates in category symphonic rock this title is the BEST!

Q: Your latest album is "The Rock" from this year. Do you plan further releases?
A: Yes...
     This autumn we start to work for a new material together with Apo and Gabor...
     Also we plan to record next Music in Mack studios in Los Angeles...
     Hope it will happen...
     GOOD LUCK!

Thank you.

I had to clean it a "bit" (but tried to leave it the closest to what he wrote)... J. Skrzek's english ('cos I presume he was the one who answered the questions) is terrible!  I wasn't sure what he means at some points...

Edited by Tuzvihar - April 21 2008 at 17:02

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Tuzvihar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 18 2005 Location: C. Schinesghe Status: Offline Points: 13536	Topic: Interview with SBB... at last! Posted: April 21 2008 at 12:48
	Ladies and gentlemen! May I proudly present you my first interview with a prog artist: SBB! Questions were sent to the band via e-mail by courtesy of Easy Livin. Enjoy! INTERVIEW WITH SBB BY BARTŁOMIEJ ŚLĄZAK (aka TUZVIHAR): Q: At the beginning please tell me why you vanished at the dawn of the 80s? A: 80s for Poland was most important Time... We played with Solidarity of Freedom... Our song from 70s was absolutely right on this Time... So I changed my Life... changed my Style... SBB had a break for deference Life... Life is going on... Q: And what was the impulse to come back after over twenty years of silence? A: Every Time we have some contact together... Apostolis was married and live in Greece... Jerzy play together with some Musicians... I started to play in church on organ with synthetisers... Also I played soace music in Planetarium and mountains... It was very interesting change for me... So I was ready to play again with old Friends but a fresh Ideas... Q: But you reformed without your original drummer, Jerzy Piotrowski. Do you know what he's doing now? I read he'd abandoned music... A: We play a short Time again with Jerzy in States but than he decided to stay there with Family... It was 1993... On the end of 90s we started to play with very interesting Musician from Silesia Mirek Muzykant... He also composed Music... With him we played in Warsaw Philharmony on clasical instrumentacions... I liked it very much... Q: I attended your last concert in Stodoła in Warsaw on 13 Nov 2007. Your current drummer, Gabor Nemeth, was brilliant. How did it happen that you started to play together? And what happened with Paul Vertico who played with you on your previous albums? A: Playing together with Paul Wertico it was for me Great ART! But the distance between States and Poland was bad for us... Sometimes we have to change our plans becouse of travel... We like both till now and I believe than we still have a chance to play together Paul is my FRIEND! Gabor we now from the 70s and we have an old friendship... We met in new century on festival in Seged Hungary and then we tried to play.. He is very professional Artist and love Music... He has also some roots in Poland becouse his grandmother is... Potocka! Q: We could also observe a duel on two drum sets between Gabor Nemeth and Anthimos Apostolis. Who was the winner in your opinion? And Whose idea was it? Or was it spontaneous? A: It's Idea from Apostolis... He plays on drums very long time... He has rhythm in his bood... He is from Greece! So together with Gabor on drums they make a Great Power!!! Q: You opened the gig with a song "Pielgrzym" of Czesław Niemen which you recorded on your latest album "The Rock". Is there any particular reason that from vast output of Niemen you chose this song? A: You are right... Pilgrim is dedicated for Czesław... It was too short time when we played Together... This Time we play a Memory for Great Artist... Great FRIEND! Q: I'd like to ask you to tell us about your collaboration with Czesław Niemen. You played with him on his double LP "Marionetki" in 1972 (then issued as separate LPs Niemen vol 1 & 2). Why didn't it last longer? In the booklet of a box-set "Niemen od początku II" Niemen wrote that there had been too manystrong individualities that couldn't have borne his domination (he called the band with his name Niemen). What's your opinion? A: Niemen was a STAR! We were Friends with Him... Some people around mostly accused us for manipulations... It was very frustrating for every Musicians in the Group... Also I had some Young Power to play a New Music what happened after the break.. Q: How big was the influence of Niemen on you? In what way? A: Czesław gave me a lot from his feeling... Gave us possibilities on the professional Stage on the World... Our work together it was a mix between rock and Slavic themes... It was a very important time for me... Q: What other bands/artists inspired you? What's important in music for you? A: I prefer Felling, manual precision, Heart, Freedom, Friendship... I started with simple Music in the country Silesia... Then I studied Music on piano and violin also acoustic organ... So my inspiracion is small song and classical Genius on the road to Woodstock... Q: Let's go back to the gig. I noticed that Józef had some problems with his equipment. Can you tell me something about it? His behaviour looked kind of hilarious, actually. A: Our country was very pure with technology of Instruments... So we had to improvise with some simple genius on East Europe... They build for us guitars, amplifiers, speakers and especially PA systems... But it sounds GREAT! Q: Your performance was preceded by Believe which is a representative of a young generation of polish progressive rock bands. Do you follow today's progressive rock scene in Poland? What do you think about it from a point of view of a progressive rock dinosaur? Who would you favour if any? A: Lets say we are close with both Musicians in all East Europe on that Thema... LGT Hungary, Olimpic Czech Rep. and lot of some groups that still play... Omega Hungary, Puhdys DDR... I think that is most Important to be now on the Stage... Because we are a generation of Freedom! Q: Do you have a favourite album among your output? Can you tell us which one and why? What do you consider your biggest musical achievement? A: Memento z banalnym tryptykiem... It was a first big arrange for SBB in 1971... On 1980 we recorded this song like a suite on LP... Till now on a charge in Sates in category symphonic rock this title is the BEST! Q: Your latest album is "The Rock" from this year. Do you plan further releases? A: Yes... This autumn we start to work for a new material together with Apo and Gabor... Also we plan to record next Music in Mack studios in Los Angeles... Hope it will happen... GOOD LUCK! Thank you. I had to clean it a "bit" (but tried to leave it the closest to what he wrote)... J. Skrzek's english ('cos I presume he was the one who answered the questions) is terrible! I wasn't sure what he means at some points... Edited by Tuzvihar - April 21 2008 at 17:02
	"Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent." Charles Bukowski

avestin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625	Posted: April 21 2008 at 12:55
	Great Interview, Tuz; Good to read about this fabulous band!
	Hanging Sounds PA Index of prog music vendors

Tuzvihar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 18 2005 Location: C. Schinesghe Status: Offline Points: 13536	Posted: April 21 2008 at 17:04
	Thanks Assaf! BTW, in the last question "this year" means 2007. I conceived this questions in 2007.
	"Music is much like f**king, but some composers can't climax and others climax too often, leaving themselves and the listener jaded and spent." Charles Bukowski

moodyxadi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 01 2005 Location: Brazil Status: Offline Points: 417	Posted: April 22 2008 at 22:25
	Well, really confused sometimes but help us to understand why the classic line-up is no more. But I'd like more comments in their discography from SBB til Memento.. Anyway ,good job and thanks for bringing to us the amazing SBB!
	Bach, Ma, Bros, Déia, Dante.

memowakeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Mexico City Status: Offline Points: 13032	Posted: April 23 2008 at 14:49
	Very nice interview Tuz, congratulation and thanks for it!
	Follow me on twitter @memowakeman

Rivertree Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions Joined: March 22 2006 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 17627	Posted: April 24 2008 at 13:36
	Interesting band - thanks for the interview - Tuz I only know their album Karlstad live But I think it's respresentative - or are there any other opinions here?