Closterkeller

Gothic Rock

It was 1988, punk rock and new wave reigned the scene, a group of enthusiastic, talented young people sensitive to beauty decided to try themselves out in writing music. Anja Orthodox - vocal, Przemek Guryn - keyboards, Jacek Skirucha - guitar, Tomek Grochowalski (Wolfgang) - bass and Grzegorz Tomczyk - drums. They were eager and keen, but totally inexperienced. The first period of their career was rehearsals, rehearsals and rehearsals… Their music was raw, but at the same time melancholic and sad. The band thought for a long time about the name, and one day Zbyszek Bieniak came across an empty bottle wine named Klosterkeller. That was it. The legend goes that Anja changed K for C because she wanted to be higher on all sorts of alphabetical lists. First concerts took place in small clubs (they played their first official gig in February 1988 at young bands contest in Warsaw). Gradually, they were making themselves visible on the music scene. First line-up change took place - Andrzej Szymanczak (Szczota) became a new drumer, but he was soon replaced by Piotr Bienkowski (Peterek). Year 1989 was Closterkeller time. They won all most significant music contests in Poland - Mokotowska Jesien, Rock Pokoju in Hala Gwardii (Warsaw), Rock Pod Chelmcem, Odjazdy, and the most important one - Jarocin. They became a fully professional band. Despite the success, there was a small crisis in the band caused by the situation on the music scene, especially the envy of disappointed rivals. P...