The group dates back to September 1986. The very act of setting up the band took place an hour before Iron Maiden concert in Poznan, when Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki (vocal, bass guitar) met Robert "Litza" Friedrich (backing vocal, guitar) and they decided to sell the entrance tickets. The money they got was in no time spent on cheap Polish wine known locally as "kwas" (English "acid") The line up was then enlarged by Dariusz "Popcorn" Popowicz (guitar) and Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta (drums.) Soon they created a few song such as Barmy Army or Del Rocca which are performed live even these days. Unfortunately, after two months of blissful existence, the band suffered the loss of Titus - the leader, who had been called up to the army. Titus stayed there two years while the rest of the band performed with other bands. Popcorn joined Wolf Spider and Litza became a member of legendary Turbo and later Creation of Death. When Titus was finally released from the army, ACID DRINKERS was reactivated.
They first appeared on stage on 26th August 1989 in Wroclaw at a fairly big metal festival called "Metal Madness". They played three songs during which they remained completely still on stage, which was a pretty shocking idea as for a metal band at that time. The audience was absolutely taken aback. The same year they played only one more gig together with Turbo, Wolf Spider and Gomor.
In the meantime ACID DRINKERS recorded their first demo including Nagasaki Baby, Del Rocca and I Mean Acid. The demo noticed by Tomasz Dziubinski (Metal Mind Productions) was presented at Midem Fair in Cannes. A month later ACID DRINKERS signed a deal with Music for Nations. In 1990 ACID DRINKERS performed at Metalmania Festival in Katowice, which has been the largest metal festival in Eastern Europe for many years. The show was so excellent that not only fans but also critics and journalists regarded it as a triumph. In a blink of an eye the band gained popularity across the whole country. It was even called "Guns'n'Roses at Metallica's speed".
In October 1998 Litza left ACID DRINKERS, soon replaced by Przemyslaw "Perla" Wejmann. The same year the band was awarded "the Best Rock Band of the Year" by Polish Public Television. ACID DRINKERS also received "Fryderyk", the Polish equivalent of Grammy Award in category of "hard’n’heavy" in 1998, 2000, 2004. In 2003 Perla left the band. The place emptied by him was soon taken over by Tomasz ‘Lipa’ Lipnicki, the leader of another famous Polish band – Illusion. When Lipa left the band in march 2004, next guy joined the band. His name is Aleksander “Olass” Mendyk, guitar player from great hardcore band called None.
Acid Drinkers has always been one of the best and the most live-impressive Polish heavy metal bands. It has been estimated that so far they have played over 700 concerts in Poland and abroad. From 1996 to 2003 Acids headlined 7 tours and their audience reached a million of people. They headlined all the important Polish rock and metal festivals. The band supported many international stars, such as Deep Purple (in Katowice 03.06.1996 and 24.06.1998 and 27.06.2004 Legia Stadium-Warsaw), Ian Gillan ("Toolbox In" tour in Poland and Czech Republic December 1991), Megadeth, Bruce Dickinson, Sepultura, Paradise Lost and Slayer. The band has been recognized as the best Polish band of the 90s’ by Polish journalists, readers of Polish rock and metal magazines and, of course, BY FANS.
Line-Up
Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki - lead vocals, bass guitar
Wojciech "Jankiel" Moryto - guitar, bkg vocals
Darek "Popcorn" Popowicz - lead guitar
Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta - drums
Backyard Bandit
Acid Drinkers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or I'm in example sucker
I had reason, reason to try
To win something
Gotta fight
Last pener, last pener around
I was nut, zero not a hero
Bandit like no one around
Backyard bandit, 100% fool
Pissin' in a throatth of truth
Running under cover
Sitting in a jaw of hate
Do you wanna be another
The lyrics to Acid Drinkers' "Backyard Bandit" speak of a sense of dissatisfaction and a desire to break free from the monotony of life by becoming a "bandit like no one around" and breaking every rule. The singer feels like a "nut" and "zero not a hero" but sees this as an opportunity to become someone different, someone who doesn't follow the crowd. The phrase "last pener around" could reference a slang term for a small amount of money or could be a made-up phrase to convey a sense of desperation.
The line "pissing in the throat of truth" is a provocative image that speaks to the singer's rebellious attitude towards authority and societal norms. The phrase "sitting in the jaw of hate" could refer to being caught in a negative situation, or could be a reference to the band's name.
Overall, the song seems to be about rejecting conformity and embracing one's own sense of individuality, even if that means being a "fool" or a "bandit."
Line by Line Meaning
I thought, that I wasn't right
I had doubts about myself
Or I'm in example sucker
I may have been a fool
I had reason, reason to try
I had a good reason to try
To win something
I wanted to achieve something
Gotta fight
I must keep going and fight for my goals
Last pener, last pener around
I was the last to give up
I was nut, zero not a hero
I wasn't great at anything
Bandit like no one around
I was like a criminal
Breakin' every fuckin' rule
I broke every rule
Backyard bandit, 100% fool
I was a complete idiot
Pissin' in a throatth of truth
I lied and deceived
Running under cover
I was hiding my true self
Sitting in a jaw of hate
I was surrounded by negativity
Do you wanna be another
Do you want to be like me?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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