Ryszard Henryk Riedel (7 September 1956 – 30 July 1994) was the original lead singer of blues-rock band

Dżem Dżem is a blues rock band formed in Tychy, Poland. Ryszard Riedel, one of the most famous vocalists from Poland, worked with the band. Their songs include: "Czerwony jak cegła" (''Red as a Brick''), "Whisky", " Wehikuł czasu" (''Time Machi ...

(

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

for 'Jam'). He is often regarded as one of the most popular and well known Silesian vocalist, along with an occasional collaborator

Czesław Niemen Czesław Niemen (; February 16, 1939 – January 17, 2004), born Czesław Juliusz Wydrzycki, and often credited as just Niemen, was one of the most important and original Polish singer-songwriters and rock balladeers of the 20th century, singing ...

. Riedel's legacy is remembered by an annual festival, bearing his name, held in his home town of Chorzów, which was moved from Tychy in 2009. He has become one of the most powerful vocalist of

Polish music The Music of Poland covers diverse aspects of music and musical traditions which have originated, and are practiced in Poland. Artists from Poland include world-famous classical composers like Frédéric Chopin, Karol Szymanowski, Witold Lutos� ...

just after Czesław Niemen.

Biography

Ryszard Henryk Riedel was born on 7 September 1956 in Chorzów. He was the second child of Krystyna and Jan Riedel—his sister Małgorzata is one year older. He finished his education after the 7th grade of primary school. He was a self-taught vocalist and he had never attended a singing course. His wide musical influences included bands like Free ( Paul Rodgers was Riedel's favourite vocalist), and later, Bad Company, Cream, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Doors. At the beginning of his career he was asked to join Kombi, but he turned down the offer. In December 1973, at the age of 17, he joined Dżem. During the band's initial years he was instrumental in keeping it together. His lyrics contained many autobiographical pieces, because he used his life as the inspiration for many, if not all, of his songs. Throughout his career he collaborated with many Polish artists: Rysiek Skibiński, Leszek Winder, Józef Skrzek, and bands Nocna Zmiana Bluesa, to name a few. In the later years of his singing career he became a heavy drug user (mainly heroin), which led to numerous arguments within the band, and subsequently resulted in Ryszard living his life as an outsider: he skipped rehearsals many times, and even managed not to show up for his concerts. This lifestyle was the inspiration for the 1993 song "Autsajder" (Outsider), in which he states that he will never change: "Ja już nigdy się nie zmienię" Despite his deteriorating health condition, the band continued to collaborate with him until he was forced to attend another failed

drug detoxification Drug detoxification (informally, detox) is variously the intervention in a case of physical dependence to a drug; the process and experience of a withdrawal syndrome; and any of various treatments for acute drug overdose. A detoxification program ...

(detox) campaign in 1994. His last Concert with the band "Dżem" was on 16 March 1994 in

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

Death

Riedel's direct cause of death was cardiac insufficiency due to a long time opiate drug abuse – especially a type of crude-prepared heroin known as "

kompot Kompot or compote is a non-alcoholic sweet beverage that may be served hot or cold, depending on tradition and season. It is obtained by cooking fruit such as strawberries, apricots, peaches, apples, raspberries, rhubarb, plums, or sour cherries ...

Legacy

Rysiek (diminutive of Ryszard) Riedel is celebrated as one of the best all-time singers in Polish musical history. ''

The Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its cove ...

'' magazine has described him as "the last hippie of our time".

Musical events

* "List Do R" (29 July 1995, a year after his death) – in memoriam show held in Katowice's concert hall

Spodek Spodek (meaning "saucer" in Polish language, Polish) is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened on 9 May 1971. Aside from the main dome, the complex includes a gym, an ice rink, a hotel and three large car parks. It was the large ...

, with many performances of prominent Polish vocalists, including

. The name is a paraphrase of Ryszard Riedel's song – "List Do M" – "A letter to M". * ''Festiwal Muzyczny im. Ryśka Riedla „Ku Przestrodze"'' (1999–2014) – annual festival held in

Tychy Tychy (Polish pronunciation: ; german: Tichau; szl, Tychy) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, approximately south of Katowice. Situated on the southern edge of the Upper Silesian industrial district, the city boders Katowice to the north, ...

(until 2008) and later Chorzów. Polish bands, including "Cree" (lead vocals by Sebastian Riedel, Rysiek's son) and band

performed to honor Rysiek's legacy and to promote drug-free lifestyle. In 2015, before 16th edition took place, promoters decided to remove Riedel's name from festival name, as a result of a protest of Riedel's daughter and son against using his name.

Movies

* ''Dżem'' (1994) – TV documentary about band from the beginning to the death of Ryszard Riedel * ''Sen o Victorii'' (1994) – TV documentary about life of Ryszard Riedel produced by TVP

Łódź Łódź, also rendered in English as Lodz, is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located approximately south-west of Warsaw. The city's coat of arms is an example of cant ...

, named after Dżem's song * ''Sie macie ludzie'' (2004) – TV documentary about life of Ryszard Riedel, named after typical greeting of Riedel on his shows, informal version of "jak się macie, ludzie" (how do you do, folks) * '' Destined for Blues'' (''Skazany na bluesa''; 2005) – a biographical film

Discography

* 1983 Krzak'i; Krzak * 1985 Dżem; Dżem (later editions named as "Dzień, w którym pękło niebo"- the Day the Sky Broke) * 1985 Cegła (The Brick); Dżem * 1985 Blues forever; LP of Leszek Winder * 1986 Absolutely Live; Dżem * 1987 Zemsta nietoperzy (The Revenge of the Bats); Dżem * 1988 Lunatycy – czyli tzw. przeboje całkiem Live (The Lunatics or so-called quite light hits); Dżem * 1988 Ryszard Skibiński – Ostatni koncert (Ryszard Skibiński- the last concert); LP of Ryszard Skibiński * 1988 Live; LP with Józef Skrzek * 1989 Urodziny (Birthday ); Dżem * 1989 Najemnik (Soldier of Fortune); Dżem * 1990 Dżem Session 1; Dżem * 1991 Detox; Dżem * 1992 The Singles; Dżem * 1992 Dzień, w którym pękło niebo (The Day the Sky Broke);Dżem * 1992 Wehikuł czasu – Spodek '92 (The Time Machine – Spodek amous Polish concert hall'92 ); Dżem * 1993 14 urodziny (14'th Birthday); Dżem * 1993 Autsajder (The Outsider); Dżem * 1994 Akustycznie (Acoustically); Dżem * 2004 Złoty Paw (Golden Peacock); Dżem * 2005 Paczka+2 (Pack+2); Krzak * 2006 Live; CD with the band "Kasa Chorych" (Healthcare Fund) * 2006 Skibiński Winder Super Session * 2006 Pamięci Skiby Jarocin 1983 (in memory of Skiba, Jarocin 1983 (Polish former big music festival); Krzak * 2010 30 urodziny (30'th Birthday); Dżem

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riedel, Ryszard 1956 births 1994 deaths People from Chorzów Polish blues singers Polish rock singers Polish lyricists 20th-century Polish male singers