Dezerter

Dezerter

DEZERTER began as a young punk band named SS-20, formed in 1981 in the Warsaw area. The name referred to the Soviet SS-20 nuclear missile—infamous at the time—which was a particularly provocative choice in communist Poland. After several run-ins with censors, the band was forced to change its name. They ultimately chose DEZERTER, as simply getting their original name onto a concert poster had already been a major struggle. Under this new name, the band developed a hardcore punk sound enriched by post-punk and funk influences. In 1986, they received permission to record tracks for the censor-approved compilation *Jak Punk to Punk*. However, with the help of their sound engineer, they also managed to secretly record the eight tracks that would later appear on *Co Będzie Jutro?* (1986). Nearly forty years later, that record still sounds surprisingly powerful. It represents not only a significant chapter in Polish punk history but also an overt act of resistance against the regime. Moreover, it was the final recording to feature vocalist Scandal. Stories like these make DEZERTER a legendary band.