Wilki

The band was founded in 1991 in Warsaw by Robert Gawliński. A year later the following musicians worked on the album “Wilki” at the Stodoła Club: Robert Gawliński – vocal, Mikis Cupas – electric guitar, Michał Rollinger – keyboards, Adam Żwirski – bass guitar, Darek Nowak – percussion. The album came to be a bestseller; including all the pirate releases it might have sold as many as one million copies. All songs on the album were written by the band’s leader Robert Gawliński. The songs “Son of the Blue Sky”, “Aborygen”, “Eli lama sabachtani” conquered the domestic music charts, winning huge popularity. The “Przedmieścia” album (1993), whose more rocky and funky sound distinguished it from its predecessor, brought further hits such as “Nie zabiję nocy” or “Moja Baby”. In 1994, the band released a concert and acoustic album “Acousticus Rockus” featuring compositions from the two first records, several new songs as well as a cover of the famous “Sen o Warszawie” from Czesław Niemen’s repertoire. The following year the band suspended operation; Robert Gawliński released his first solo album, “Solo”, whereas Mikis Cupas and Marek Chrzanowski became involved in the Hopsa project. In 1997, Robert Gawliński published the album “Kwiaty jak relikwie”, in 1998 and 1999 further releasing the “X” and “Gra” albums. Robert Gawliński’s solo albums were produced with the participation of, among others, Andrzej Smolik. In 2000, “The Greatest Hits” album was released containing songs from both Wilki’s to-date discography as well as from Robert Gawliński’s solo output. The release of the album brought the musicians back together and as a result the band was reactivated. In 2001, Wilki set off on a tour, at the same time commencing work on a new album. In 2002, radio stations began to air “Baśka” and the song went on to take the main prize of the Opole Festival and became the hit of the summer. The huge popularity of “4”, a new album released on August 31, 2002, was also due to this song. Soon after (2003) the album’s St. Valentine version, featuring interviews with the musicians and “Here I Am” – a song which replaced “Ballada o Tolku Bananie”, was released. “Watra” (2004), promoted with the song “Bohema” won Gold Record status within the first month of sales. Also the second single from this album, “Słońce pokonał cień”, gained popularity. The beginning of 2006 saw changes in the band’s make-up. Drummer Marcin Szyszko and bass guitarist Marcin Ciempel left the band to be replaced by Hubert Gasiul and Leszek Biolik. The same year, the band was awarded Bursztynowy Słowik in the “Hope of the Year” category and several Mikrofony Popkornu. Over the years the band has also won several Fryderyk Awards. On November 10, 2006, Wilki’s new album “Obrazki” was released, promoted with the songs “Na zawsze i na wieczność” and “Love Story”. The LP did not repeat the success of its predecessors. In May 2008, at the premiere competition of the Opole Festival, the band presented their song “Idziemy na mecz” (on the occasion of the Euro 2008 Cup finals). On February 27, 2009, at Warsaw’s Studio Buffo, Wilki recorded an MTV Unplugged concert. Twenty songs in special acoustic arrangements covered the band’s greatest hits, one premiere, and Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”. Guests included Kasia Kowalska, who performed “Cień w Dolinie Mgieł” in a duet with Robert Gawliński, and Reni Jusis who played the piano and sang in “Beniamin”. The concert, recorded with a string quartet and wind duet, had its TV premiere on MTV Polska on April 8. MTV Unplugged Wilki will also be released on CD and CD/DVD.