Republika was a Polish rock band which began in 1978 in Toruń, Poland. Originally, the band was founded and fronted by Jann Castor under the name Res Publica. (See the links and notes below). The name took its origin from "Rzecz Pospolita" (Res Publica), but under the communist regime at the time the name was censored and not allowed. The band name was invented by Kris Caputa (Polish) currently residing in Victoria BC, Canada, who for the last thirty years worked in various fields of applied science, including astronomical instrumentation and numerical electrodynamics. One of the most notable member was the brother of Jann Castor, Zbigniew Ruciński, who was a guitar virtuoso - and it was him, who brought Grzegorz Ciechowski into the whole picture. The original art (black & white) was created by Ina Koneczna, an artist from Torun, which was later transformed (but based on her art) into black and white stripes that became the band's logo. Republika became one of the most original European bands thanks to their specific anti-mainstream rock & roll songs and black-and-white performance motif. Their new wave-inspired music and lyrics, both catchy and poetic, forged a path into the Polish rock pantheon. Republika debuted at a new wave band concert in Torun in November 1981.
In June 1982 the band, consisting of Paweł Kuczyński (bass), Zbigniew Krzywański (guitar), Sławomir Ciesielski (drums), and Grzegorz Ciechowski (vocal, piano, flute) began a three-month recording session, which resulted in the classic 1983 album Nowe sytuacje (eng. New Situations). Within a year, Republika recorded Nieustanne tango (eng. Permanent Tango), which was a logical expansion of the anti-regime musical ideas they'd established in their debut. The band also released an English-language album, the Orwellian bell-ringer entitled 1984. Due to artistic quarrels, Republika disbanded in the summer of 1986. Grzegorz Ciechowski kicked off a solo career under as Obywatel G.C. (Citizen G.C); Kuczyński, Krzywański and Ciesielski, along with vocalist Robert Gawliński founded the band, Opera. Using unreleased Republika song sketches, Ciechowski released a solo album, Obywatel G.C., in 1986. His debut was an artistic success rather than a commercial one; however his 1988 sophomore effort, Tak! Tak! was a blockbuster. In 1990, a concert in Opole acted as a catalyst for Republika's reunion. Only Kuczyński refused the proposition, so as a trio, the band issued their comeback album, 1991, which was a compilation of their well-known but rearranged songs. Kuczyński was replaced by Leszek Biolik, with whom Ciechowski, Krzywański, and Ciesielski finished recording the final Obywatel G.C. album titled Obywatel Świata (Citizen of the World) .
In 1993, the first live unplugged album Bez Prądu (Unplugged, lit. Without current) was released. The same year Republika recorded the classic album Siódma Pieczęć (eng. The Seventh Seal), which presented a more acoustic countenance, with keyboards and samplers replaced by Hammond or Rhodes piano. In 1995, they released the rather pop-sounding album, Republika marzeń (eng. Republic of Dreams). The last studio album recorded by the band was Masakra (eng. Massacre), inspired by modern heavy rock and trip-hop. Grzegorz Ciechowski's sudden cardiac death on December 22, 2001 interrupted the production of the next Republika album. Four finished tracks along with 15 live songs comprised a double-CD simply titled Republika.
Discography Studio albums Title Album detailsNowe sytuacje Released: July 4, 1983 Label: Polton Formats: CD, CS, digital download1984 Released: January 30, 1984 Label: Mega Organisation Formats: CD, CS, digital downloadNieustanne tango Released: September 17, 1984 Label: Polton Formats: CD, CS, digital download1991 Released: August 19, 1991 Label: Arston Formats: CD, CSSiódma pieczęć Released: August 16, 1993 Label: Sound-Pol Formats: CD, CS, digital downloadRepublika marzeń Released: September 11, 1995 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, CS, digital downloadMasakra Released: December 14, 1998 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, CS, digital downloadOstatnia płyta Released: March 23, 2002 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, CS
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart positions POL Bez prądu Released: 1993 Label: Polskie Radio Łódź Formats: CD — Republika Released: March 23, 2002 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download 5 Największe przeboje - LIVE Released: 2004 Label: Axel Springer Kontakt Formats: CD — Trójka Live! akaKoncerty w Trójce vol. 13 - Republika Released: November 7, 2007 Label: 3 SKY MEDIA Formats: CD, digital download 38 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsPOL '82-'85 Released: March 15, 1993 Label: Sonic Formats: CD 48 Biała flaga Released: March 12, 1999 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD 34 POL: 50,000+ POL: GoldKomplet Released: November 15, 2003 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD — Gwiazdy polskiej muzyki lat 80. Released: June 26, 2007 Label: TMM Polska, Planeta Marketing Formats: CD — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Video albums Title Video details Sales CertificationsRepublika - Złote DVD Released: November 23, 2002 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: DVD POL: 5,000+ POL: GoldProjekt Republika - Przystanek Woodstock 2011 Released: December 6, 2011 Label: Złoty Melon Formats: DVD
In popular culture The song Psy Pawłowa was used during the closing credits for the 2016 video game SUPERHOT.
References
Notes
External links Official Republika site (in Polish)