CELEBRATION from the city of Białystok was one of these bands which, despite huge potential, didn’t achieve spectacular success. What were the reasons? Hard to say. It was maybe their label at the time, which didn’t promote the band sufficiently. Or maybe the band itself wasn’t determined enough to overcome life`s obstacles? In fact, CELEBRATION was active for only a couple of months. During that time, they performed very few live shows which, not surprisingly, didn’t help promote the band to a noteworthy level. Anyhow, the band managed to immortalize themselves through their amazing music, and that, after 30 years, still remains seriously lethal. This deadly metal, played with finesse and relentless aggression is able to "knock down"many a present metal fan, indeed!So as to shed some light on this unusual band`s history, I asked Jacek "Kacper" Kasperski a bunch of questions.

1. Jacek, before we talk about the history of CELEBRATION, I want to ask you a couple of questions concerning your music roots. During our last conversation, you mentioned you`d started your musical adventure when you were just seven years old. Can you please tell us some more about that important episode which, apparently, aroused your thirst for playing music?

Well, it all began after my first grade. Duringmy summer holidays,I and my other friends: Czarek "Mucha" Muszyński and Sławek "Milon" Cierpich (who later became SZAFOT`s and CELEBRATION`sdrummerin the period around Beyond the Grave demo) hung out together.Mucha took part in my solo project while recording the material. A friend of mine was given a mandolin, a side drum, one piece of cymbals and an old bass drum by his grandfather, so in our second grade we started to experiment with music as well as tried to compose and play our first own tunes. Our band was called MANEWR. Certainly, we were heavily influenced by the bands we were listening to back then. We would record our music to my father`s reel-to-reel tape recorder. We were active for three years. When we had some days off, we would hang out with each other, you know, just to play music together or simply putter. We were best friends in those days. We used to rehearse at our houses (mine, Milon`s or Mucha`s). We always had problems with our neighbours who didn’t like the noise we produced, so that’s why we had to rehearse at different places every time.

2. As a young fella you got interested in heavier music, didn’t you? How did you manage to get music at the time? It was kind of hard in Poland back then, wasn’t it?

Thanks to Mucha`s elder brother who had access to new releases at the time, we were able to get and listen to such classic stuff as DEEP PURPLE Machine Head or KISS Alive II.The first riff I learned to play on my acoustic guitar came from Smoke on the Water (DP`s Machine Head). Man, we were listening to this album all day and night long. We also liked some KISS stuff: Detroit Rock City, Making Love, Love Gun and so on. We used to listen to a lot of radio too. In 1979 I heard AC/DC Highway to Hell for the first time. As far as I am concerned, that’s the best album ever. When I try to compare this album to any death metal or any other stuff in general, well, this album is still number one. The first vinyl release I have ever bought was AC/DC Back in Black (in 1980). At the time, I used to spend all my pocket money on music. I bought and traded tapes. My folks thought it to be a bit weird. In my fourth grade I got acquainted with Robert "Khronoss" Jasieńczuk (who later became DETHRONER`s vocalist) and dubbed plenty of his tapes. Thanks to that guy, I learned about DIO, BLACK SABBATH, and METALLICA. But, honestly, it was DESTRUCTION`s Sentence of Deaththat impressed me most back then. HOLY MOSES, RUNNING WILD, EXCITER, RAVEN, GBH and this awesome RAZOR`s Evil Invaders were the ones people listened to at the time. Yeah, these were our beginnings.

3. As I understand, your incessant and unquenched thirst for more brutal music resulted in SZAFOT, right?

It was Cronos who came up with the name SZAFOT. He was to do the vocals for this band but me, as usual, preferred to do everything myself. I formed SZAFOT in 1986 and that band was obviously heavily influenced by VENOM, BATHORY, and CELTIC FROST. We rehearsed in Czarna Białostocka and the line-up was as follows: I - Git & Voc, Kocik – Bass and Milo - drums. During its short existence, the band played live three timesonly. Still, those gigs were fun.

4. SZAFOT wasn’t active for long, was it? But apparently it was SZAFOT you used to create solid foundations for CELEBRATION, huh? Please tell us some more about this band.

Before CELEBRATION, we had another band called DIOXIDE. We were rehearsing in Grzesiek Lis`s basement and we were heavily influenced by CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER and NAPALM DEATH. CELEBRATION was formed three years later.

5. As any other band from back then, you must have had serious problems with your music equipment. Can you still remember what kind of equipment you used at the time to play your music?

Can’t remember, really. But what I do can remember the equipment was shitty, that’s for sure. Well, we used what was available back then.

6. The second part of the 80s is characterised by Poland`s transformation from a communistic to capitalistic system. Indeed, the communistic system was still strong back then, yet people could feel the wind of changes. The Iron Curtain was not as impenetrable as it`d been previously. In result, more and more music "seeped" into our country – both in the form of records and gigs. The city of Białystok had a strong crew who used to go to the Metalmania Festival on a regular basis. For many, this festival was a real holiday, in the true meaning of this word. What can you tell us about those times?

As for the access to music back then, I would like to say that it was easy to get albums. Later, when those so called "unlicensed" tapes began to appear and circulate, many metal music shops in Bialystok got out of business. In 1984, IRON MAIDEN came to Poland. Sometime later, SAXON and ACCEPT did so too. Alas, I was too young to go see them play live. In my fourth grade, I went see TSA and their Heavy Metal Swiat live show. It was extremely impressive. I can also remember when our Białystok crew went see METALLICA back in 1987. I run away from home to go and see them. It was my first, important live show. I can still think of it as something really important to me.

7. Back then, Bialystok, apart from Szczecin, was the city where people had access to contemporary bands, didn’t they? I would like to know what bands were your influences at the time. When I listen to SZAFOT, I can hear a lot of HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST. Were these bands really important to you?

Szczecin had good access to music as it was and still is a harbour city. Therefore, many seamen used to bring Western music to sell it Poland. As for HELLHAMMER, I listened to this band in 1991 or 1992 for the first time, shortly after I was done with my military service. POSSESSED, CELTIC FROST, BATHORY ruled supreme back then. Yeah, these bands were very important back then, as well as S.O.D. and DEATH too.

8. Similar to Szczecin, there were many metal crews in Bialystok too. Can you please tell us some more about the bands from back then? You know: TERMINATOR, MACABRA, MARKIZ DE SADE, and DETHRONER. As well as DEAD INFECTION, formed in the same year as CELEBRATION. Of course, there were more bands back then, weren’t there?

In the 80s, there were a number of bands in my city: KANYON, SUPERSAM, and even a band called JOHNY WALKER (yeah, whiskey!). I like alcohol (he-he). Some other bands, more metal ones included: MARKIZ DE SADE, LEVIATHAN, FRONT TERROR and TERMINATOR with Kelner, Braniak and Cyjan (drums. This guy started DEAD INFECTION sometime later). Of course, there were also DETHRONER with Cronos (vocals), Badyl (guitars. RIP) and Maciek (who did the drum parts on Dead Bodies.). Another band was DYKTATOR DARĘCIAKA with Pedro (who later played drums on a number of CELEBRATION`s tracks from Performers), but who didn’t actually partake in recording of the demo itself. Also MAKABRA, a band that a friend of mine started in 1988. We played live together (as well as with ENORMITY) at Klub Gwint in 1990. Andabovementioned DEAD INFECTION (started in 1989). I can still remember their live shows from the year of 1990. They played as a three-piece using down-tuned guitars in the CARCASS vein. Later they were joined by Gołąb (bass guitar and vocals). They recorded their second demo in the same studio we had. Gołąb participated in another band too: D.O.C. Some other bands from back then included STIGMATIZER, ZAGŁADA, AUSCHWITZ, and OJCZYZNA.

9. When CELEBRATION formed, the music changed too. It became noticeably more brutal and obviously more death metal oriented, indeed. Why?

I would say we were better musicians when compared with our previous band. Plus the fact we`d been listening to lots of metal stuff. And, of course, we were willing to play and compete with other bands to prove we were able to play some decent music too. Trust me on this: if we`d not had metal at our hearts back then, we`d not have recorded any demo at all. And some fellow musicians were really lazy as far as I can remember. They`d rather have been drinking cheap vino at some meadow than rehearse regularly, he-he!

10. It is really surprising how "Swedish" your music sounds. Pure coincidence or did you follow the rise of the Swedish DM scene with all those awesome bands back then?

Surely, I listened to NIHILIST, ENTOMBED, GRAVE, THERION, but it was after we recorded Beyond the Grave. When you listen to our first demo really carefully, you`ll notice that the only factor which may be associated with so called Swedish scene is the way we use reverb on vocals because our guitars are tuned far higher than it was common in Sweden at the time. We were surely inspired by VENOM, SLAYER, METALLICA, POSSESSED, KREATOR, DEATH, CARCASS, RUNNING WILD, CELTIC FROST, BATHORY or BULLDOZER, as well as the Bialystok`s music scene. At the time, bands were eager to learn about any new stuff there was (including but not limited to metal only).

11. In 1990, several months after CELEBRATION formed, you recorded you debut demo Beyond the Grave. You told me it took very little time to get this stuff recorded but this stuff turned out to be damn fine. Tell us some more about the recording session itself and the days you were busy working on that material. Seems to have been a really creative period for you guys, right?

Thank you for your nice words, Leszek. But I am not the one to evaluate this stuff, am I? As said, before CELEBRATION, there existed two other bands: SZAFOT and DIOXIDE. CELEBRATION was formed around two years after the latter two had ceased to exist.During this break, I kept playing guitar and recording various ideas on tapes. You know, it was obvious for me that starting DIOXIDE, I would have to return to metal`s root anyhow. In the late 80s, it was popular to play fast. So I decided to start CELEBRATION. We were rehearsing the Beyondstuff all June (1990) and my cooperation with Milon (drums, ex SZAFOT) and Siwy was undoubtedly smooth and awesome. We understood each other perfectly, so the work went ok uninterrupted. I was writing the lyrics at school (during my classes!), and music at home together with our bassist (who had some official musicaleducation). The rest was practised while rehearsing. We eventually decided to use a studio (Radio Białystok), but there were some obstacles. Our drummer wasn’t able to start recording before the August so it was all pretty much delayed. Our first time in studio was an eerie experience, I must say. The studio itself was huge, enough to accommodate a whole orchestra and audience. The area was perfectmuffled so that recording`s conditionswere perfect. One could play as loudly as possible, but your ears wouldn’t ache in the least as they do when you practise in a rehearsal room. We were 100% ready, so it took us just 1.5 hours to get the material recorded (including two breaks). We hadn’t however recorded the vocals which we did two days after that session was over. Compiling these two sessions took us circa 2.5 hours. So, to compile the material was more time consuming than the actual recording itself, imagine! I think the producer was to blame as this dude had been recording some nice and pretty music a` la J. Laskowski (hails!) before we worked with him on that day.

12. Beyond the Grave became popular in Poland and some other Western countries too. It was due to tape trading, a very effective tool used to spread out brutal music. Let’s don’t forget there was no internet back then. How do you remember those times? Where did you get most letters from? What was the most exotic country you ever got an order asking for your demo from?

Can’t remember it all now, really. Ok, let me think. Having recorded Beyond, I sent out two copiesonly. One to Thrash`em All and another to some b/w fanzine (can’t remember its name right now), but it was the first fanzine ever I`d answered an interview for. Mariusz Kmiolek got in touch after he`d gotten our demo. He wrote he`d like to cooperate with us. He advertised CELEBRATION in his Thrash`em All and this is how it all started. Plenty of mail. From all over Poland. At least a couple of letters a week. Sometimes, we got like 10-12 a day! The promotion really worked, I mean due to the fact Mariusz had advertised our band in his magazine. Now, it is totally different, you know. You just visit a music store and can choose any band you like. Back then, there was no internet so tape trading was the only way for the music to flow from bands to fans. As for advertising itself, I reckon, Mariusz sent out our demo to different people to promote our music. We got some mail from other countries too. Man, can’t remember too much from those times right now. Been too long since.

13. Shortly after your debut, you released another material Dead Bodies Massacre, in cooperation with ALF RECORDS (which transformed into CARNAGE RECORDS sometime later). Allegedly, this stuff was ready in January, but it wasn’t until a couple of months later when it was finally out. What caused such a delay?

Well. The stuff got recorded in 1991. I can remember as I had some days off from school. So during our winter break we used the same studio (Radio Białystok). We paid just some pennies, it was super cheap. Of course, we had some problems with the equipment. The drum kit we used (belonged to Maciek Dachowicz. DETHRONER, SLAWECORD, ENORMITY) was so-so, but he pounded it in the same way bands which brutal death metal do nowadays. He used some trigger and a number of other studio effects, too. I have no idea about this ALF you mentioned. Yes, Mariusz released this stuff, but I am not too sure about any delay. He`d been waiting for VADER`s Morbid Reich to be ready. He planned to release those both materials together and promote them in the Thrash`em All`s forthcoming, colour A4 issue. At the time, this magazine was an important one to the metal scene in Poland. Sadly, he`s stopped doing this magazine. Maybe there’s too many pseudo-bands these days? Anyhow, I do respect CARNAGE RECORDS.

14. Despite this stuff`s destructive strength, CELEBRATION didn’t achieve success. Nor did a couple of other bands from back then, such as EGZEKUTHOR, MERCILESS DEATH, or ARMAGEDON. What was the reason?

Lack of time, I guess. While doing military service, my friends kept playing without me. They recorded third demo Performerswith no vocals at all. I was supposed to do the vocals when done with my military service but I chose to re-organize the band`s line-up. As for success itself. Well. We all perceive it differently, don’t we? I am proud we (me and my friends) were able to produce and record some good sounding material.

15. Despite a huge demand for live shows, CELEBRATION played only a few gigs. When compared to VADER, IMPERATOR or PANDEMONIUM, CELEBRATION was strangely inactive in this field. Still, playing live is a very good tool to promote a band. What was the reason?

I was busy because of militaryservice and studying. In 1989-1993 we played two gigs, promoting our Beyond, including a live show for our third demo (I participated while being on a furlough, I did the vocals and bass parts) as a four piece (me, Lis, Buła, Dead).This live show was performed in the memory of Jakson who`d died in Belgium (because of carbon monoxide poisoning) and we collected money to help his family get his body back to Poland. Jakson, and a couple of other people, used to come over to our rehearsals (SZAFOT) and was a good friend of ours back then. One day I will write about all these bands mentioned before. And I would like to send regards to the Polish and other bands you mentioned in your question. I wish them luck with playing their music which should be honest, not because of money but to support their own views/ideas. I hope we still could play some live shows together in the future.

16. Dead Bodies Massacre is, musically speaking, different. The production is better, the demo`s composed in a more mature way. And it all took place just a few months after Beyond the Grave was out. Can you please tell us some more how the creation process looked like?

Exactly five months after Beyond, in January 1991 we recorded Dead Bodies Massacre. Pretty quickly, I would say, but you need take into account that we used to rehearse twice a week back then. We worked on our music at home, and wrote our lyrics at school. I think our music per sewas heavily influenced by our frequent playing. We were skilful enough to put more complex parts into our tracks; which worked out ok, I think. Of course, it is a matter of opinion, eh? Some prefer our first demo though.

17. The ALF`s edition is a shortened, six-track version. More surprisingly, this material was recorded in a number of different variations. Any explanations?

We recorded nine tracks for Dead Bodies. But Mariusz Kmiolek was able to release no more than 30 minutes of music.So, in order to be able to release these 6 tracks, we had to muffle the tracks` final parts. Also, the first version of Dead Bodieswas, music-wise,bestmixed. However, the vocalswere totally fucked up by our producer who recorded `em on some sloppy eight track recorder from the 60s! In result, I had to record the vocals again and thus we had another mix with new vocals. Our sound engineer mixed up our new vocal version with these from the older one, plus he improvised a little bit too, here and there. So we had to re-record some parts and paid extra for doing so obviously! Summing up, we ended up with three different versions with three different vocals and three different mixes. We did the actual recording pretty swiftly (took us a mere four hours) including adding of second guitar and solo parts. But the vocals, well, it was a sheer horror to work with this piece of shit acoustician. He recorded some parts and deleted some others, as he`d not rewound the tape properly prior to recording! Anyhow, despite all this bullshit, it turned out ok.

18. Getting ready for this interview, I spent some time browsing old underground zines, trying to find any interviews with CELEBRATION. Alas, I didn’t find anything except for some notes on the band and a few reviews. Didn’t the underground press show any interest in CELEBRATION whatsoever?

The underground press showed a lot of interest, indeed. The problem was there was no person to deal with all that mail. Before I was away, I made Lis responsible for dealing with that issue. I think we answered like three interviews for three different fanzines (1990-1992). The last interview (2007) dealt with the old times when I and Lis played together. There were some reviews and greetings from other bands, as you did mention before.

19. In 1991 you were working on your next material calledPerformers My Soul, but thatvery year CELEBRATION split up. I suspect one of the reasons was your military service, so you weren’t able to record that material together with other band members. However,you were the co-creator of this material. This stuff had remained unfinished for many years to finally get completed sometime later, but you didn’t take part in that at all. Does it mean other band`s members didn’t have enough power to run CELEBRATION without you as the band`s main driving force?

As said, the material was done by the line-ups from our first and second demo, plus Pedro (the drummer,ex DYKTATOR and HIDEOUS CHAOS) who was supposed to join CELEBRATION,as well as the ex-SZAFOT bassist. You actually answered the question for me, except for one thing. When I was done with my military service, I set up a new line-up. It was me (guitars), Baran (guitars) Mnich (drums), and Murzyn (drums). We did eight tracks (actually rehearsal versions). Well, it eventually didn’t work out. Jarek committed suicide and it is actually too sad to talk about it in a just couple of short sentences right now. One day I will surely write about all this in a full biography, I guess. I will try to record some of those tracks using the drummer`s lyrics plus some more stuff dedicated to that guy.

20. Jacek, thank you very much for your time. Anything to add? Anything you want to tell Old School Metal Maniacs? The floor is all yours!

Thank you Leszek for your interest in CELEBRATION. I too would like to thank other people I worked with back then, with all my bands. Also, thank you to Mariusz Kmiolek who was the first person to show interest in our band as well as Edward Żędzian, thanks to whom people still remember about CELEBRATION.

Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki