Toxic Bonkers
TOXIC BONKERS STARTED IN 1993 BY KONRAD SOBIERAJSKI AND MARCIN KLIMASZEWSKI. ONE YEAR LATER WE RECORDED OUR FIRST DEMO (SALE ABOUT 4000 PIECES). OUR DEMO WAS ACCEPTED VERY GOOD AND IT A LOT OF CONCERTS IN WEST EUROPE FOLLOWED, MANY INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS. WE WERE PLAYING WITH THE BEST PUNK/HARDCORE GROUPS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IN 1996 WE RECORDED SPLIT - EP TOXIC BONKERS/UHURU (5000 PIECES). AFTER SUCCESFULL CONCERTS WE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FOR RECORDING A LP. FOR INDEPENDENT MUSIC FACTORY S.O.E. REC. (ROME) - POLISH EDITION WAS BROUGHT OUT BY POP NOISE (LODZ). OUR CD WAS SOLD IN SIMILAR OR BIGGER EDITION AND IT LET US CAME INTO A SYSTEM OF MAIL - ORDER SELL ALL OVER THE WORLD. TITLE OF OUR CD WAS ’IF THE DEAD COULD TALK’ (1997). AFTER RECORDING THE CD WE APPEARED AT MANY OF POLISH AND EXTERNAL MISCELLANIES.
AFTER WE RECORDED THIS CD WE THROWED OUT OUR OLD VOCALIST AND ’GRABARZ’ CAME IN. IN 1998 WE RECORDED OUR SECOND CD ’BLINDNESS’ WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY ’NNNW’ (SELL WAS SIMILAR). WE ACCEPTED ONE MORE BAND MEMBER -’MUMIN’ - IT GAVE US MORE DEVERSITY OF OUR MUSIC AND ALSO TO PUT IN IT A LOT OF NEW ELEMENTS WHICH GAVE US VERY ORIGINAL CHARACTER.
AFTER VERY HARD SICKNESS IN 2000 ’SOBIERAJ’ LEFT US. IT WAS A VERY BIG AND PAINFULL LOSS.
VERY SOON AT HIS PLACE WE TOOK VERY YOUNG GUITARIST - ’SMEYTAN’ (FULL OF AMBITIONS). FOR ABOUT 1,5 YEAR OUR GROUP HAS INTEGRATED AND NOW WE ARE PLAYING WITH FULL POWER. OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE IS TO RECORD THE MATERIAL WHICH IS NOW READY.
interview with Smeytan on 16-8-2002
Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
We’ve started in the beggining of 1993. Klimer and Sobieraj were the founders of Toxic Bonkers. We were dreaming about fast and heavy music. It was our idea from the start.
Decribe your kind of music and why you play this?
In a few words we are playing heavy hc/death with punx influences. We are playing this because we love it - this is our fucking life !!! :)
Did some bands influence you for taking an instrument and start the band?
Yes I think it was Napalm Death (Scum) and Slayer (South Of Heaven) also Doom (Total Doom).
Is your style different than in 1993? Why did you evolve?
You are rigth, our style is still in progres. We’ve got many new ideas (maybe because of new members). Mumin (guitar) and Barth (guitar) after Sobieraj death.
Why don’t I know your first CD “If The Dead Could Talk”?
I don’t know why you don’t know our first CD “If The Dead Could Talk”. It was relased by Italian S.O.E. Records frome Rome, you should try it. Is much more heavy than “Blindness” but the old vocalist Majowy was more punx I think so!!
What kind of music do you listen to in your free time?
We are listening everything from classic to Brutal Truth, Korn, Napalm Death, Dead Can Dance, Slayer, Six Feet Under, Sepultura, Benediction, Iron Maiden, Deicide, Metallica, Fear Factory, Soulfly, Carcass, Bolt Thrower, etc. We are talking the best things we think so!!!
Why are the lyrics of “Blindness”in Polish and English?
We would like to give our fans the best CD we could. Most of Polish fans don’t know English thats why!!
Where did you learn english? Is this taught at school in Poland?
Yes our English is not the best but we are evolving and still learning next CD will be much better :)
Don’t you think it is hard for foreign fans to sing along the polish lyrics at gigs?
This is truth - that’s why we are singing English. We are playing some tours in Europe and we know that this is good direction - this language is an international and everybody can understand the lyrics more or less.
Sobieraj left the band due to illness. What is his illness? Still in contact with him?
Sobieraj is dead R.I.P. It was a very bad form of cancer: terrible death (very big part of Toxic Bonkers left us).
Is the scene in Poland strong together? Or seperate groups that don’t help eachother?
Scene is very different in Poland. Somethimes - is very strong in a mid citys and weaker in a big ones but generally it is growing.
Are you active in the underground scene? Or just playing in Toxic Bonkers?
We were active before but now we are playing. This is our activity (we are active by our lyrics).
Why did you choose Toxic Bonkers as a name? And why don’t have a logo?
Yes we have a logo, our logo is on blindness is very simpel but we had a lot of logos we couldn’t choose the right ones. Toxic Bonkers - it is toxic gass from our ass smell after drinking. :)
How do you manage to play gigs outside Poland?
We have many friends outside Poland and they are helping us in organizing tours across Europe.
Describe a show performance? When does the band loose control?
We are losing control when we see fucking, good fun and pogo dance when our fans singing with us - then the force is playing not we!!!!!!
What do you do after a gig? Sign autographs? Drinking loads of beer? Seeking for groupies?
Mostlyy alot of alcohol !! :) We love to speak with fans after.
How is social life in Poland? How is economics treating you? Suffer?
These days our existence in Poland is going not so well society is suffering aloms.
If you had the money where would you live? Think you will ever get the money?
Have no job (just playing :)) it is disaster to big corruption to many technocrats in the offices- fuck them all !!!!
What are your plans for the future in personal life? And for the band?
We don’t think about it but we would like to live out of problems, this is our promise land. We are waiting for along tour across world :)
Say something to promote your band and why people whould contact you?
Our strongest side are gigs try us you will see the dark side of the force :)
Last rites?
Sobieraj be with us - Toxic Bonkers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!