Akrylykz

{{Short description|Ska band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Akrylykz | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England | years_active = 1978–1981 | label = Red Rhino, Polydor | genre = Ska | website = | current_members = | past_members = Roland Gift Steve Pears Stevie Robottom Wojciech Swiderski Fred Reynolds Nik Townend }}

'''Akrylykz''' (originally Akrylyk(z) Vyktymz) were a British ska band, formed by members of Hull School of Art in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, that featured Roland Gift (later of Fine Young Cannibals) originally as a tenor saxophonist, but his role later expanded to frontman and lead singer.<ref name="Bored"/> Other members of the group were Steve Pears (vocals, tenor saxophone), Stevie "B" Robottom (vocals, alto saxophone, keyboards), Wojciech "Piotr" Swiderski (aka Pete Swiderskip) (drums), Michael "Fred" Reynolds (bass), and Nik "Akrylyk" Townend (guitar).<ref name="Bored">{{cite web|url=http://www.boredteenagers.co.uk/akrylykz.htm |title=The Akrylykz |publisher=Boredteenagers.co.uk |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref>

==History== The band was formed in Hull in December 1978 originally as the Akrylyk Vyktymz and played one of its first gigs at the Wellington Club, Hull in June 1979.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 June 1979 |title=Alternative Entertainments |pages=21 |work=Hull Daily Mail}}</ref> The following year, the band's name was shortened to Akrylykz and they played one of its first public gigs at Hull Technical College supporting The Mekons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 1980 |title=Dysk May Help To Make The Acylykz Byg |pages=11 |work=Hull Daily Mail}}</ref> The band enjoyed limited success until the early 1980s releasing a double A-side single, "Spyderman" / "Smart Boy", on the York based Red Rhino Records,<ref name="Indie, Tony K obit" > {{cite news |journal=The Independent |title=(Obituary) Tony Kostrzewa: Founder of Red Rhino Records |date=9 May 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tony-kostrzewa-founder-of-red-rhino-records-824290.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tony-kostrzewa-founder-of-red-rhino-records-824290.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live }}{{cbignore}}</ref> before being signed to Polydor. The band released a second single "JD" for Polydor, but were subsequently dropped by the label as the ska revival boom faded.

In 1980, Akrylykz (without drummer Swiderski, who had suffered a hand injury) recorded a number of sessions with Desmond Dekker for his album, ''Black and Dekker'', on Stiff Records, which reprised many of his hits.

In their time, the band toured extensively in their own right as well as supporting The Beat, The Specials, Madness, and other 2 Tone bands. They also opened for The Clash on at least one occasion.<ref>[http://beehive.thisishull.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=7646&PageID=40973] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428133919/http://beehive.thisishull.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=7646&PageID=40973|date=28 April 2007}}</ref> Horace Panter mentioned Akrylykz (misspelled Akrylyx) on page 89 of his autobiography ''Ska'd For Life''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Horace Panter|author-link=Horace Panter|title=Ska'd for Life|publisher=Pan Books|page=89|date=2008|isbn=978-0330440738}}</ref>

===Aftermath after disbandment=== Townend went on to form his own record label, Vital Records, featuring the Hull University-based reggae band Bushfire, headed up by Mark Douglas (bass, vocals and songwriting), in which Townend played guitar and wrote some songs, before leaving Hull and moving to London. The label released material by a number of local bands including Nyam Nyam, led by the former ''Mojo'' editor and Iggy Pop biographer, Paul Trynka.

The compilation album ''100% British Ska'' (1998)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-100-British-Ska/release/3745125 |title=Various – 100% British Ska (CD) at Discogs |year=1997 |publisher=discogs |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref> featured the Akrylykz tracks "Spyderman" (Gift/Townend) and "Smart Boy" (Steve B./Townend).

==Discography== *"Spyderman" / "Smart Boy" – Red Rhino, Red 2, 1979 (Released on 17 January 1980)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thep5.blogspot.com/2009/01/akrylykz-spyderman.html |title=The Post Punk Progressive Pop Party: Akrylykz – Spyderman |publisher=Thep5.blogspot.com |date=17 January 2009 |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref> *"JD" / "Ska'd for Life" – Polydor, 2059 253, 1980<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Akrylykz-JD-Skad-For-Life/release/924311 |title=Akrylykz – J.D. / Ska'd For Life (Vinyl) at Discogs |date=June 1980 |publisher=discogs |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref> *''Black and Dekker'' (with Desmond Dekker) – Stiff, SEEZ 26, 1980<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Desmond-Dekker-Black-And-Dekker/release/1255315 |title=Desmond Dekker – Black And Dekker (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs |publisher=discogs |date=28 January 2011 |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://toneandwave.blogspot.com/2008/02/akrylykz-7.html Toneandwave.blogspot.com – debut single notes] *[https://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2009/01/exclusive-interview-with-nik-akrylyk.html Marco On The Bass blog interview with Nik Akrylyk]

Category:English ska musical groups Category:Musical groups from Kingston upon Hull Category:Second-wave ska groups Category:Musical groups established in 1978 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1981 Category:1978 establishments in the United Kingdom