The group was founded in 1976 by guitarist and composer Marek Jackowski, formerly of Anawa and Ossian. Originally named Maanam Elektryczny Prysznic its first members included guitarist John Porter and Jackowski's then wife, vocalist and lyrics writer, Kora (Olga Jackowska). In 1979 Porter left the group (to form his own Porter Band), and the Jackowski couple recorded their first single, Hamlet with guest musicians from the band Dżamble. Maanam's stage debut was in Lubań at the "Muzyczny Camping" (Musical Camping) event. New band members included Ryszard Olesiński (guitar), Krzysztof Olesiński (bass guitar) and Ryszard Kupidura (drums).
They won instant success in Poland after their enthusiastically received performance at the Polish Song Festival in Opole on June 1980, followed by the punk single Boskie Buenos" / "Divine Buenos. In August, drummer Paweł Markowski joined the band and Maanam begun to record their debut album. In Autumn 1980 the band appeared in the popular movie Wielka majówka" / "Great Picnic. After releasing several blockbusting singles, in mid-1981, they finally released their self titled debut album. Recorded with guest musicians, such as outstanding saxophonist Zbigniew Namysłowski. The record, as well as two following singles were a great success. In 1981 Maanam performed almost 500 concerts - they filled out Warsaw's concert hall Sala Kongresowa three times in one day.
In January 1981 the band recorded their second album, O! with their new bassist Bogdan Kowalewski and guest trumpet player Tomasz Stańko. Released in the fall, the album repeated the success of the debut with almost one million copies pre-ordered, however due to technical reasons only 30 000 copies were stamped. In 1982 Maanam performed more than 400 times, mostly in concert halls and large clubs.
In 1983 they released a reggae-inspired single Kocham Cię kochanie moje" / "I love you my darling, it became one of their biggest hits and one of the greatest Polish hits of the 80s. That same year Maanam teamed up with Rogot label which planned to promote the band in the western European market. The third album was recorded in Polish and English versions, and released in Germany, Scandinavia and Benelux countries as Night Patrol (November 1983). The Polish edition, Nocny patrol" / "Night Patrol, was released on April 1984, bringing a richer, climatic sound and more greatest hits. The album cover photo was taken by famous photographer Tadeusz Rolke.
In 1984 the band went on tour. Tour locations included Germany and Holland but their popularity as live performers did not transfer into record sales in western markets.On December 1984 their new record, Mental Cut, was released, once again in two language versions. It brought some huge radio hits, such as Kreon, Lucciola or Simple Story. On June 1985 the re-mastered version of Wet Cat was released in Germany, however despite well received concerts it did not achieve commercial success.
In 1986, after releasing the single Jesteśmy ze stali" / "We are Made of Steel, exhausted from the intensive tour schedules they decided to put the band on hold.
Maanam got back into the studio in 1987. Kora and Jackowski were accompanied by session musicians - drummer Krzysztof Dominik, bassist Marcin Ciempiel and keyboardist Kostek Yoriadis. Singles following the new record once again were huge hits, such as Bądź taka nie bądź taka" / "Be like this not like that and Sie ściemnia" / "Sow Darkness recorded with Stanisław Soyka. The video animation of the latter become the first Polish-language music video featured on MTV Europe channel in 1998. The album Sie ściemnia" / "Sow Darkness was released in Spring 1989.
In 1990, after their USA tour, Kora and her partner Kamil Sipowicz (Kora divorced Jackowski in 1986) established their own label Kamiling Co.
1991 brought the comeback of the original Maanam lineup and the album Derwisz i anioł" / "The Wipe and The Angels released in November. In January 1992 bassist Kowalewski had a serious accident and Krzysztof Olesiński rejoined the band.
In 1994 Róża" / "Rose was released, the softest and most lyrical record. Their biggest commercial success, sold more than 350 000 copies. The record was promoted with a tour of the biggest and most prestigious concert halls in Poland. The next album - Łóżko" / "Bed from 1996 - was equally popular and promoted with a huge, free tour sponsored by one of the commercial radio stations. On September 1998 Maanam got back to its rock roots with their album Klucz" / "Key.
In April 2000 Maanam performed two 25th anniversary concerts in Warsaw. Guest musicians included Milo Kurtis, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Robert Brylewski, Kasia Nosowska, Stanisław Soyka, Justyna Steczkowska and Artur Rojek. The recording of these concerts was released as the first DVD disc in Maanam's history.
A slightly different face of the band was shown with Hotel Nirwana, released in Spring 2001. For the first time the sound was enriched with electronic instruments, samples and effects, and Kora, apart from her own lyrics, used Miron Białoszewski's or E.E. Cumming's poetry. The record was warmly welcomed by critics but was not a commercial success.
In September 2003 a serious lineup change took place. Markowski and Olesiński brothers left the band, replaced with new members of the younger generation: Jose Manuel Alban Juarez (drums), Bogdan Wawrzynowicz (bass), Cezary Kaźmierczak (keyboards) and highly valued guitarist Janusz "Yanina" Iwański. They recorded Znaki szczególne" / "General Indications in Spring 2004; although it brought back the classic rock sound, the record was a commercial failure.
The next three years Maanam mostly toured, winning Grand Prix at Opole festival in 2005. That same year the single Karuzela z Madonnami" / "Carousel with Madonnas was released, presenting a new version of Ewa Demarczyk's famous piece. The last premiere of Maanam was Głęboko w sercu" / "Deep within the Heart performed at Opole festival in 2006.The group officially disbanded on December 31, 2008. Jackowski and Iwański founded a new band The Goodboys and Kora successfully continues her solo career.
Author: Maciej Sienkiewicz, 2010.
Discography:
- Maanam, 1981, Wifon,
- O!, 1982, Pronit,
- Nocny Patrol" / "Night Patrol, 1983, Polton,
- Mental Cut, 1984, Polskie Nagrania,
- Sie ściemnia" / "Sow Darkness, 1989, Pronit,
- Derwisz i anioł" / "The Wipe and the Angels, 1991, Kamiling Co./Arston,
- Róża" / "rose, 1994, Kamiling Co./Pomaton EMI,
- Łóżko" / "Bed, 1996, Pomaton EMI,
- Klucz" / "Key, 1998, Pomaton EMI,
- Hotel Nirwana, 2001, Pomaton EMI,
- Znaki szczególne" / "General Indications, 2004, Pomaton EMI.