Turbo (Polish band)
Polish heavy metal band formed in 1980 in Poznań.
Turbo is a Polish heavy metal band formed in 1980 in Poznań by Henryk Tomczak, who had previously been in pioneering Polish hard rock groups Stress and Heam. The band is regarded as one of the most important acts in Polish heavy metal, best known for its classic album Kawaleria Szatana (Satan's Cavalry) and hits such as "Dorosłe Dzieci", "Jaki był ten dzień", "Żołnierz fortuny" and "Wszystko będzie ok".
Quick Facts
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- Poznań, Poland
- Genre
- Heavy metal, thrash metal
- Years Active
- 1980–present
- Label
- Tonpress, Metal Mind, Under One Flag, Polskie Nagrania "Muza", Polton, Metalmaster, Kopart, Pronit, Noise, Agencja Artystyczna MTJ, Klub płytowy "Razem", Phonex
- Current Members
- Wojciech Hoffmann / Bogusz Rutkiewicz / Mario "Bobiś" Bobkowski / Krzysztof "Tercjusz" Kurczewski / Tomasz Struszczyk
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Turbo was founded in 1980 by Henryk Tomczak, a bassist from earlier hard rock groups. The first line-up included guitarists Wojciech Hoffmann and Wojciech Anioła on drums, with Wojciech Sowula on vocals. After releasing a single, the singer was replaced by Piotr Krystek, and further changes brought in 16-year-old bassist Piotr Przybylski and second guitarist Andrzej Łysów. By 1981, Grzegorz Kupczyk became the vocalist, a role he held for decades. The band's early style blended hard rock with NWOBHM, and their debut album Dorosłe dzieci (1983) made the title track a hit. Despite lineup instability, Turbo recorded Smak ciszy (1985) as a compromise with their label, then released the landmark Kawaleria Szatana (1986), considered one of Poland's best heavy metal albums. Subsequent albums Ostatni wojownik (1987) and the live Alive! (1988) followed, with the band's sound hardening under thrash and early Metallica influences.
Reader's Guide
Turbo's significance lies in its role as a foundational Polish heavy metal band, bridging hard rock and NWOBHM with later thrash elements. Their 1986 album Kawaleria Szatana is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Polish heavy metal, showcasing heavy riffing and dark themes. The band's career was marked by frequent lineup changes, including the departure and return of vocalist Grzegorz Kupczyk, and periods of hiatus. After a 1992 commercial failure, Turbo reformed in 1996 and continued releasing albums, including the experimental Awatar (2001) and the return-to-form Tożsamość (2004). Their legacy includes influencing later Polish metal acts and maintaining a dedicated fanbase. The band's discography was remastered in 2009, and they remain active with a stable lineup as of the article's coverage.
Did You Know?
- Turbo was founded by Henryk Tomczak, who had previously played in pioneering Polish hard rock groups Stress and Heam.
- The band's most famous album, Kawaleria Szatana, is considered an opus of Polish heavy metal.
- Grzegorz Kupczyk, Turbo's longtime vocalist, has been compared to Bruce Dickinson.
- In 1988, Turbo released a live album titled Alive!, recorded at gigs on 12 December 1986 and 3 March 1987.
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