It began with VHS tapes. My story with rock
From recordings off the TV to concerts that have stayed with me for years.
I was seven to nine when two VHS tapes of TV recordings appeared at home. My mum’s cousin had recorded them at her request as a gift for my dad.
I didn’t know any of the bands. I just watched and listened.
One of the first images I remember was a guy with prominent teeth. On the next recordings his hair got shorter, his moustache bigger and his outfits tighter. 😄 The other musicians’ hair got shorter over time too—all except the guitarist, who kept his distinctive hairstyle.
Only later did I learn that the singer was Freddie Mercury, the guitarist was Brian May, and the band was Queen. When I got to know their discography, I realised it had been Greatest Flix.
Right after Queen on the first tape came a Deep Purple concert, opening with Highway Star. I remember green laser letters DP, with a dragon and maybe a snake coming out of them. Perhaps the dragon ate the snake, while the whole image started spinning faster and faster. Ian Gillan wore a vest. I have no idea where it was or what year: an indoor arena or enclosed stadium, probably the second half of the ’80s or early ’90s.
The second tape had another Deep Purple concert outdoors, maybe at a festival. Ritchie Blackmore smashed his guitar during it. There was also Black Sabbath with Dio. Ronnie said that when people make those horns, you know what it means: “Long live rock ’n’ roll.” Van Halen was on one of the tapes too, though I can’t remember which. I remember it as colourful and loud, a completely different kind of show from the others.
There were plenty of audio cassettes at home too: AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Slade. I learned the band names later.
I played those two VHS tapes a lot. There was no day when I decided that from now on I’d listen to rock. I just liked it more and more.
Concerts came along in time. I went to see Budka Suflera in Kamień near Rybnik with my mum. Then Deep Purple at Spodek in December 2003—my first big concert, and I went alone. I saw AC/DC twice: in May 2010 at Bemowo and in July 2015 at the National Stadium, with Ela.
To me, AC/DC is the best band still playing, second only to Queen. Those shows, along with my first Deep Purple concert, are among the most important I’ve been to. There was also Kravitz on a floating stage beneath Wawel, Budgie in a club in Wrocław and many others. I have photos from those shows. Some aren’t great quality, but they’re my keepsakes.
These days I mostly listen to rock on the radio, on the way to and from work. At home, with a small child, you have to keep quiet—and rock played quietly makes no sense.
More than thirty years have passed since those VHS tapes. I don’t look for some grand philosophy in it. I just like rock.
And it stayed with me. 🤘
