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
What's Happenin' in the Heart of a Pacifist
Acid Drinkers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd need to be deaf - to be safe
I would need to be wounded in all my senses
But then i wouldn't be human
Wouldn't be able to tell
About what is going on in my heart!!!
I'd have to be stupid not to see the enemy
I'd have to be an idiot to ignore him
But then i wouldn't be human
Wouldn't be able to tell
About what is going on in my heart!!!
So what's happening in my heart of a pacifist?!
The song "What's Happenin' in the Heart of a Pacifist" by Acid Drinkers is a reflection on the contradictions and inner turmoil of someone who identifies as a pacifist in a world that constantly promotes violence and conflict. The lyrics describe the conflicting emotions of someone who wants to live in peace but recognizes the existence of enemies and threats that cannot be ignored. The artist suggests that in order to truly be safe from harm, one would have to sacrifice their humanity and become blind, deaf, and numb to the world around them. Furthermore, the song highlights the paradox of living in a society that glorifies violence and aggression while simultaneously labeling those who reject those values as "out of their life."
One interpretation of the song is that it is a criticism of the idea that pacifism is a simple or easy philosophy to live by. While the sentiment of wanting to live in peace is admirable, it requires a great deal of sacrifice and self-awareness to navigate a world that is often hostile and unforgiving. The chorus, which asks "So what's happening in my heart of a pacifist?!" suggests that even those who believe in nonviolence struggle with internal conflict and contradictions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd have to be blind - to be safe
I would need to be completely oblivious to everything around me to avoid danger
I'd need to be deaf - to be safe
I would need to be completely unresponsive to everything around me to avoid danger
I would need to be wounded in all my senses
I would have to lose all my senses to be safe
But then i wouldn't be human
However, if I lost all my senses, I would no longer be classified as a human
Wouldn't be able to tell
I would not be able to comprehend or communicate anything if I lost all my senses
About what is going on in my heart!!!
Thus, I would not be able to express my emotions or thoughts
I'd have to be stupid not to see the enemy
It would take a lack of intelligence to not acknowledge the existence of an adversary
I'd have to be an idiot to ignore him
It would be foolish to overlook the adversary if they pose a threat
I'd have to be out of my life
It would require me to abandon my responsibilities and ignore the world around me to ignore the adversary
But then i wouldn't be human
If I completely isolate myself, I would not be living the life of a normal human and would be akin to an animal in a zoo
Wouldn't be able to tell
I would be unable to express or communicate any thoughts, emotions or experiences
About what is going on in my heart!!!
Thus, I would be unable to express the turmoil inside me regarding the adversary
So what's happening in my heart of a pacifist?!
Therefore, I am torn between my pacifist beliefs and the need to confront the adversaries and protect myself and my loved ones
Contributed by Hunter S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.