APTEKA

Apteka biography

Polish act APTEKA was founded in Gdynia, Poland in 1983 by Jędrzej "Kodyma" KODYMOWSKI (vocals, guitar) and Maciej BLASIAK (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, trumpet). Until 1987 the band had only been active as a live unit, with a flexible line up of musicians participating in their concert performances.

In 1987 Maciej WANAT (drums) joined the outfit, but over the course of the following year the band was reduced to a duo, with only KODYMOWSKI and WANAT remaining.

In 1988 they decided to record their debut album, and in 1990, "Big Noise" was released.

At that point, APTEKA has expanded its line-up as well, with Janusz SOKOŁOWSKI (guitars) and Marcin CIEMPIEL (bass) joining the outfit.

This new line-up soon hit the recording studio, and in 1992 "Narkotyki" was issued. One year later the album "Urojonecałemiasta" was released, initially on cassette, although it received a semi-official CD reissue in 2003 with the title "Psychedelic Underground" and finally, in 2018, it was released on CD and double LP under original title by Frontline Distribution label.

APTEKA was given a promising record deal by the label SPV Poland, but in 1993, before the work's been completed, drummer WANAT dies tragically in a traffic accident, subsequently ending that particular phase of the formation.

One year later, KODYMOWSKI makes the decision to reform APTEKA, joined by Olaf DERIGLASOFF (bass) and Jacek STROMSKI (drums). The albums "Menda" in 1995 and "Spirala" in 1996 followed. Shortly after the release of the latter DERIGLASOFF leaves the band, leading APTEKA to fold once again in 1998, due to not being able to find a new bassist.

As the years go by, KODYMOWSKI decides to give APTEKA another go. In 2007 former members Martin CIEMPIEL (bass) and Arthur HAJDASZ (drums) join him to reform the band. The result of their endeavor is the self-titled album "Apteka" issued the same year. This line-up folds after the release of the album though, and for the record's promotional tour, later that year, KODYMOWSKI brings in two new members - Janek WITASZEK (bass) and Marcin SŁOMIŃSKI (drums).

Currently, the band is on an indefinite hiatus.

============= Edited in December 2024 by Hrychu and NotAProghead ================