Biography
Kispál és a Borz, whose name roughly translates to Little Paul and Badger, rank among Hungary’s most successful alternative rock acts. In 1987 the founding lineup of Kispál András on guitars, Lovasi András on vocals, Rezso Ózdi on bass, and Bräutigam Gábor on drums assembled in Pécs to pursue their musical goals under that banner. Ózdi exited the following year, yet the remaining members adapted and carried forward as a trio. They issued a four-track demo in 1988 and a comparable follow-up in 1989. Securing a recording contract in 1990, the band unveiled its debut album, Naphoz Holddal (Sunbathe by the Moon), which was succeeded in 1992 by Föld Kaland Ilyesmi.... Extensive road work and acclaimed concerts propelled the 1993 release Ágy Asztal TV to further elevate their profile. Sika appeared in 1994 and Kasza, Iéc and Üi arrived in 1995, although personnel shifts around that period slowed their progress.
Kis Attila took over the drum chair at this stage, and within the next few years the group added keyboardist Dióssy Ákos along with guitarists Leskovics Gábor and Vittay Ferenc, the latter previously part of the road crew. Bräutigam Gábor departed in 1996 and was succeeded by Tóth Zoltán. With the revised roster in place, Kispál és a Borz achieved a hit single titled “Kicsit Szomorkás” and, in 1997, began a series of increasingly experimental albums. Ferenc resumed his crew role in 2000, and in 2002 the band welcomed its first non-Hungarian member when American drummer Michael Zwecker replaced Zoltán. The harder-edged sound yielded the 2003 album Turisták Bárhol and the 2004 collection Én, Szeretlek, Téged (I, Love, You), the latter proving a commercial success and marking the group’s final set of original material. The original core trio resurfaced for live dates and recordings in 2006, then issued the Top Ten greatest-hits package 20 Év in 2008 while launching a nationwide 20th-anniversary tour that drew on multiple past members.
Kis Attila took over the drum chair at this stage, and within the next few years the group added keyboardist Dióssy Ákos along with guitarists Leskovics Gábor and Vittay Ferenc, the latter previously part of the road crew. Bräutigam Gábor departed in 1996 and was succeeded by Tóth Zoltán. With the revised roster in place, Kispál és a Borz achieved a hit single titled “Kicsit Szomorkás” and, in 1997, began a series of increasingly experimental albums. Ferenc resumed his crew role in 2000, and in 2002 the band welcomed its first non-Hungarian member when American drummer Michael Zwecker replaced Zoltán. The harder-edged sound yielded the 2003 album Turisták Bárhol and the 2004 collection Én, Szeretlek, Téged (I, Love, You), the latter proving a commercial success and marking the group’s final set of original material. The original core trio resurfaced for live dates and recordings in 2006, then issued the Top Ten greatest-hits package 20 Év in 2008 while launching a nationwide 20th-anniversary tour that drew on multiple past members.