Robert Brylewski | |
---|---|
Born |
Robert Maksymilian Brylewski 25 May 1961 Warsaw, Poland |
Occupation | Musician, singer-songwriter |
Partner(s) | Vivian Quarcoo |
Children | Sara Brylewska Ewa Brylewska |
Musical career | |
Also known as | Afa, Robi Goldroker |
Genres | Punk, rock, reggae, dub, new wave, hardcore punk |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards |
Years active | 1978-present |
Labels | Polton, Pronit, Arston, Phonex, Gold Rock, W Moich Oczach, Lemon Records |
Associated acts | Kryzys, Brygada Kryzys, Izrael, Armia |
Robert Maksymilian Brylewski, also known as. Afa and Robin Goldroker (born 25 May 1961), is a Polish musician and singer-songwriter, co-funder of bands Kryzys, Brygada Kryzys, Izrael and Armia.
In May 2012, Brylewski's autobiography, titled "Kryzys w Babilonie" ("Crisis in Babylon"), was published by the Wydawnictwo Literackie publishing house. The book has 584 pages and is based on a conversation between Brylewski and Polish Playboy journalist Rafał Księżyk. In the book, Brylewski answers numerous questions about his childhood, youth, music, and private life.
Brylewski's father Waldemar was born in Czeladź, Zagłębie Dąbrowskie, while his mother Hanna is from Warsaw. The two met in the 1950s, while dancing for the famous Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble. Robert is their only child, and the future musician, even though born in Warsaw, spent most of his childhood in a castle at Koszęcin, where all members of the ensemble lived. Brylewski returned to Warsaw with his mother in the early 1970s; his parents divorced when he was 13, and Robert admitted in the book that as a teenager, he had a lot of freedom, as his mother toured Poland, dancing and singing, and his father remained at Koszęcin. Brylewski attended Warsaw's renowned 11th High School, but did not graduate, because, as he claims, while still there, he decided not to pursue any career or go to college, but to become a musician.
As a teenager, Brylewski played association football, was a member of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, and later on, became interested in rock music. In the early 1970s, his father spent some time in the United States, from where he brought several records. At that time, rock shows were frequently organized at Warsaw's Congress Hall, and Brylewski attended them, as well as Warsaw's Jazz Jamboree Festival. To avoid military service, which was obligatory in Communist Poland, he faked mental illness.