Kispál és a Borz
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 in Pécs, Hungary |
| Founder | András Lovasi, András Kispál, Rezső Ózdi, Gábor Bräutigam |
| Defunct | 9 August 2010 (temporarily) |
| Fate | Reassembled in 2022 |
| Headquarters | Pécs , Hungary |
Area served | Hungary |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
Kispál és a Borz is a Hungarian alternative rock ensemble established in 1987 in Pécs by András Lovasi, András Kispál, Rezső Ózdi, and Gábor Bräutigam. The group ceased activity on 9 August 2010 following a headline performance at the Sziget Festival, but reassembled in 2022. They are recognized as one of the most impactful alternative bands in Hungary.
History
The band Kispál és a Borz came into existence in 1987 through the collaboration of Gábor Bräutigam, Rezső Ózdi, András Kispál, and András Lovasi. The name was inspired by "Borz" (meaning "Badger"), but was altered to incorporate Kispál's surname due to his previous unsuccessful projects named after animals.
In 1988, Rezső Ózdi departed from the group. Their initial demo, titled Tökéletes helyettes, was launched in 1989 and supported by nationwide tours. Their first full-length album, Naphoz Holddal, appeared in 1991, followed by Föld kaland ilyesmi…, which received significant acclaim both critically and commercially. Upon signing with Rózsa Records, they released Ágy, asztal, TV in 1993, further elevating their profile. The 1994 record Sika, kasza, léc garnered them the eMeRTon Prize for Best Rock Album.
In 1995, drummer Gábor Bräutigam exited the band and was succeeded by Zoltán "Csülök" Tóth. Around this period, the band started exploring acoustic sets, including a well-received unplugged concert in 1996. That same year marked the release of Ül. Their music featured prominently in the 1997 film Dollybirds, which broadened their commercial appeal alongside the album Bálnák, ki a partra.
The year 1998 saw the release of Holdfényexpressz; during this time keyboardist Ákos Dióssy and guitarist Ferenc Vittai officially joined, introducing elements of baroque pop that were evident on their 2000 album Velőrózsák. Michael Zwecker took over drumming duties from Tóth for their last studio albums: Turisták bárhol (2003) and Én, szeretlek, téged (2004). Following additional lineup shifts, creative output and critical reception waned. The band ultimately dissolved after their Sziget Festival appearance in 2010.
Between 2014 and 2016, they briefly reunited for performances at Lovasi's Fishing On Orfű festival; however, Lovasi suggested further reunions were improbable. On 28 February 2022, Kispál és a Borz announced their comeback through the YouTube channel Partizán and revealed intentions to release a new album within that year.
Members
- András Kispál – lead guitar, songwriter (1987–2010, 2022–present)
- András Lovasi – lead vocals, lyricist, bass guitar, songwriter (1987–2010, 2022–present)
- D. Ákos Dióssy – keyboards, percussion instruments, backing vocals (1998–2010, 2022–present), guest appearances (1995–1998)
- Ferenc Bajkai – drums (2022–present)
Former members
- Rezső Ózdi – bass guitar (1987–1988)
- Gábor Bräutigam – drums (1987–1995)
- Zoltán Tóth – drums (1995–2002)
- Áron Bóra – drums (2006–2007)
- Ferenc Vittay – guitar, backing vocals (1998–2000), guest musician (1995–1998)
- Michael Zwecker – drums (2002–2006)
- Ábel Mihalik – drums (2007–2010)
Timeline
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bar:Lovasi text:"András Lovasi" bar:Kispál text:"András Kispál" bar:Vittai text:"Ferenc Vittay" bar:Ózdi text:"Rezső Ózdi" bar:Bräutigam text:"Gábor Bräutigam" bar:Tóth text:"Zoltán Tóth" bar:Zwecker text:"Michael Zwecker" bar:Bóra text:"Áron Bóra" bar:Mihalik text:"Ábel Mihalik" bar:Dióssy text:"Ákos D. Dióssy"
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Studio albums
- Naphoz Holddal (1991)
- Föld kaland ilyesmi… (1992)
- Ágy, asztal, tévé (1993)
- Sika, kasza, léc (1994)
- Ül (1996)
- Bálnák, ki a partra (1997)
- Happy Borzday (1997)
- Holdfényexpressz (1998)
- Velőrózsák (2000)
- Turisták bárhol (2003)
- Én, szeretlek, téged (2004)
- Beszorult mondat (2023)
Compilation albums
- A lefgelső polcról, a fiók mélyéről (1998–2009)
Extended plays
- Fák virágok fény (1995)
- Kicsit (1997)
- Tesis a világ (1998)
- Az nem lehet soha (2000)
- Hang és fény (2000)
- Nagyon szerelmes lányok (2002)