Bakshish (band)
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Bakshish | |
|---|---|
 Bakshish performing at the Ostróda Reggae Festival (2025) | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Bakszysz |
| Origin | Kluczbork, Poland |
| Genres | Reggae, dub |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Website | www |
Bakshish (also known as Bakszysz) is a Polish reggae band formed in Kluczbork in 1982.[1] The group has been described by Polish Radio as among Poland's early reggae/dub acts.[2]
Bakshish was founded in 1982 in Kluczbork by vocalist Jarosław "Jarex" Kowalczyk; until 1994 the band performed under the name Bakszysz before adopting the spelling Bakshish.[1] In its early period, the band's sound was described as situated between punk rock, ska and new wave with emerging reggae elements.[1]
In the first half of the 1980s the group performed at major Polish festivals. It reached the final of Polish Radio Program III's contest Kto najlepszy w tym Rocku? and won an award at the 1983 Jarocin rock festival (contest section); in 1984 it returned to Jarocin as one of the festival's featured acts.[1] The band's track “Czarna droga” appeared on the Polish compilation album Fala (Polton, 1985).[3]
The band documented the 1980s period with a demo recorded at Polish Radio's Opole studio (1989) and a cassette release Open Your Heart, followed by concerts abroad (including Germany in 1991).[1] The debut studio album One Love was released in 1993.[4] In 1994 the band released Eye, produced by Felix Wolter (leader of the German band The Vision).[1]
In 1996 the group significantly reduced its activity due to Kowalczyk's serious illness; during this period he also initiated a techno-dub project Tabu Duby.[1] After returning to regular concert activity, the band recorded the album B 3 in 2000 (promoted by the single “Jak łzy”).[1][4]
In 2009, Polish media reported the release of the archival double album Back-Szysz – Jeden czas, documenting the band's early years and live recordings from the 1980s and early 1990s.[5]
Polish Radio noted that the band continued releasing new material in later decades, including the album 4 I-ver and subsequent releases/performances; the band's 40th anniversary was marked by the album Ego, premiered at the 2022 Ostróda Reggae Festival.[6][2]
