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
Swallow the Needle
Acid Drinkers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait for injection
Everyone is curious what you gonna do...
Come down !!!
Call the reflection
About shining light - is it false of truth ???
They can give me nothing
Show me more respect, now
Don't provoke my primal rage
Sit down !!!
Listen to the question
Every cop is looking for the rest of your crew
Come down !!!
Stop that silly action
On every TV set there's a view of you...
They can give me nothing
I turn away my easy face
Show me more respect, now
Don't provoke my primal rage
On your knees !!!
Try to freeze
Silence !!!
Smell the violence
One hit !!!
That's the rules of street
Sleep well...
Put your head down
Everybody's watching what you dream about
Wake up !!!
Talk about connections
Every local cop wants to know what you've got ???
I left my better side
Look for me in crimson lane
To stay brute is my human right
Soon they will find me insane
On your knees !!!
Try to freeze
Silence !!!
Smell the violence
One hit !!!
That's the rules of street
The lyrics of Acid Drinkers' "Swallow the Needle" speak about a situation that is likely that of an interrogation or a trial. In the first verse, the person being talked about is asked to "lay down" and "wait for injection," which indicates that they are being forced to remain still while something is being done to them. The next line speaks of others being curious about what's happening, which can be interpreted as the others who are present in the situation being interested in seeing how the person being interrogated will react. The following lines ask the person to "come down" and to reflect on whether the "shining light" they have seen is true or false. This is a reference to truth and whether or not it can be trusted.
The second verse is about the cops and how they are looking for the person's "crew," which suggests that this is a criminal or gang-related investigation. The lines "On your knees / Try to freeze / Silence / Smell the violence / One hit / That's the rules of street" indicate that this is a violent and dangerous situation. The next lines talk about how the person is being watched and investigated by the cops, and how they are trying to find out what the person has. The final verse speaks of the person's "better side" being left behind and how they are likely going insane, which suggests that the situation has driven them to the brink of madness.
Overall, "Swallow the Needle" speaks of a dangerous and violent situation, likely that of a criminal investigation. The lyrics suggest a sense of helplessness and confusion, with the person being interrogated struggling to maintain control over their emotions and sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay down!!!
Lie down and prepare for an injection.
Wait for injection
Be patient and wait for the injection to be administered.
Everyone is curious what you gonna do...
Everyone is interested in your reaction to the injection.
Come down!!!
Calm down and relax.
Call the reflection
Reflect on the situation and consider the truth behind it.
About shining light - is it false of truth???
Consider whether what you are seeing is real or fake.
They can give me nothing
I am not interested in what they can offer me.
I turn away my easy face
I reject their offers without hesitation.
Show me more respect, now
They need to show me more respect and consideration.
Don't provoke my primal rage
They should not provoke my aggressive and instinctual reactions.
Sit down!!!
Take a seat and prepare to answer some questions.
Listen to the question
Pay attention and listen carefully to the question being asked.
Every cop is looking for the rest of your crew
The police are trying to find the other members of your group.
Stop that silly action
Cease any foolish or harmful actions.
On every TV set there's a view of you...
Your actions are being broadcasted on television.
On your knees!!!
Get down on your knees.
Try to freeze
Stay still and don't move.
Silence!!!
Be quiet and don't speak.
Smell the violence
Be aware of the violent situation around you.
One hit!!!
A single hit is all it takes to cause harm in a street fight.
That's the rules of street
This is the harsh reality of street violence.
Sleep well...
Get some rest and try to sleep peacefully.
Put your head down
Lay your head on the pillow and sleep.
Everybody's watching what you dream about
Others are curious about what goes on in your mind while you are sleeping.
Wake up!!!
Wake up and start talking.
Talk about connections
Discuss the relationships and connections you have with others.
Every local cop wants to know what you've got???
The police are interested in your possessions and assets.
I left my better side
I abandoned my more moral and ethical side.
Look for me in crimson lane
Find me in the street covered in blood.
To stay brute is my human right
It is my right as a human to remain savage and violent.
Soon they will find me insane
They will soon discover that I have lost touch with reality.
Contributed by Claire C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pjotrekt
Bardzo dobrze zrealizowany teledysk! Ale dynamicznie, świetnie.
Krzysztof Korzeniewski
Jesteście najwspanialsi,słucham waszego zespołu od nastolatka :)
Maciek Skulimowski
Ślimak , wymiatasz na garach.:-D
Tomasz RĘKIEWICZ
świetne<33 uwielbiam ich!
Jakub Brylak
Mam 38 lat,Słucham Drinkerów od początku ich powstania,powiem tylko jedno........nie mam komentarza,cos wspaniłego.I zdechne z Poplin Twist na ustach.Pozdro
Gaudenty
In You only feel the blues
4nty
in morbid dance!
rafaufaufau
Hail Olass! Najlepsza płyta Acidów powstała właśnie pod jego gitarowym panowaniem!
henry rollins
.......ten utwór ma potężną moc !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....i na pewno wytrzyma próbę czasu!!!!!!........z resztą tak jak cała płyta p.t. VERSES...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marv Wet Bandit
Odkurzylem plyte po dobrych dwóch latach nie słuchania .... Tak samo wchodzi jak lata temu . #niezniszczalni