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
Bad Reputation
Acid Drinkers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got a bad reputation
That's the word out on the town
It gives a certain fascination
But it can only bring you down
You better turn yourself around
Turn it upside down
Turn yourself around
You had bad breaks well that's tough luck
You play too hard too much rough stuff
You're too sly so cold
That bad reputation has made you old
Turn yourself around
Turn yourself around
Turn it upside down
Turn yourself around
The lyrics of Acid Drinkers' version of "Bad Reputation" talk about a person who has a notorious reputation around town. The reputation may be fascinating to some but is only leading the person down. The lyrics suggest that the person needs to turn themselves around, and not let their reputation define them. The person has had bad breaks which resulted in their rough behavior, leading to them being perceived by others as cold and sly. The song suggests that their reputation has made them old, and to change things around, the person should turn themselves around and change their ways.
The lyrics are straightforward, talking about the dangers of building a bad reputation and how it can ruin your life. The song's message seems to be that one should not be defined by their reputation, and it is essential to change for the betterment of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
You got a bad reputation
Your reputation is not good
That's the word out on the town
Everyone in the town knows about it
It gives a certain fascination
People find it interesting
But it can only bring you down
But it can have negative consequences for you
You better turn yourself around
You need to change your ways
Turn yourself around
Do a complete 180
Turn it upside down
Do something completely different
You had bad breaks well that's tough luck
Your life has been difficult, but it's not an excuse for bad behavior
You play too hard too much rough stuff
You are too reckless and violent
You're too sly so cold
You are too cunning and heartless
That bad reputation has made you old
Your reputation has aged you prematurely
Turn yourself around
Once again, change your ways
Turn yourself around
Do another 180, you have to be consistent
Turn it upside down
Keep trying new things until you find a better path
Turn yourself around
One more time, never give up
Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.