Nergal (musician) explained

Adam Darski
Birth Name:Adam Michał Darski
Birth Date:1977 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Gdynia, Poland
Years Active:1991–present
Current Member Of:Behemoth

Adam Nergal Darski (born Adam Michał Darski, 10 June 1977), often referred to by his stage name Nergal, is a Polish musician, best known as the frontman of the extreme metal band Behemoth.

Career

Nergal was born Adam Michał Darski in Gdynia, raised Catholic, and started playing guitar at age eight.[1] He goes by the stage name Nergal (naming himself after a Babylonian deity), and he is the founder, lyricist, main composer, frontman and manager of the band Behemoth, which he started when he was still a teenager. He also plays lead, rhythm and acoustic guitar. For a brief time, he used the alias Holocausto,[2] inspired by Beherit leader Nuclear Holocausto.[3] In the late 1990s, he was a vocalist and guitarist of the Danzig-influenced band, Wolverine,[4] which was showcasing Nergal's capability of clean singing. He is also known for his contributions with the following bands: Hermh, Nile, Damnation, Vader, Sweet Noise, Mastiphal, December's Fire, Mess Age, Corruption, Hangover, Ex Deo, and Hefeystos.

Inspired by Norway's Black Circle, Nergal formed together with Blasphemous (from the band Veles) and Venom (from Xantotol) the Temple of Infernal Fire. Later other bands joined and far-right politics were introduced, and the group renamed the Temple of Fullmoon. Nergal then distanced himself from the group, mainly because he had no interest in politics. This led to remaining members of the Temple of Fullmoon to accuse Behemoth of betrayal and caused tensions between Nergal and Rob Darken, frontman of the Polish NSBM band Graveland, leading to death threats. Several years later, the tensions are gone and Nergal and Darken are on good terms nowadays; as Nergal said in an interview: "We don't share the same interests but we share a mutual respect."[5]

Nergal has completed six years of history, including one year of Latin at University of Gdańsk, and is qualified to be a museum curator.

In 2009, ESP guitars released the first Nergal's signature guitar. It is a 7-string guitar with a V-style body, which is called the "Hex-7".[6]

In March 2010, Nergal was held on trial in Poland on blasphemy charges for publicly denouncing religion by ripping up a Bible on stage in 2007. Nergal made the argument that he has artistic license to enhance his live performances by doing such an action, and suggested that it was not meant to be offensive. He also believes that freedom of speech should come before religion in Poland. He faced up to two years in prison due to the Bible-tearing,[7] but Darski's charges were dropped on 28 June 2010.[8]

In 2011, he assumed the position of a coach on the Polish TV show The Voice of Poland.[9]

In July 2012, Nergal became the newest spokesman for Demon Energy drinks that would be distributed throughout Poland. Nergal appeared in full Behemoth attire on the front of four different flavors of the Demon Energy brand alongside the brand's slogan of "No Limits, No Laws". Darski reportedly donated the majority of funds for this limited edition placement to one of the world's most renowned bone marrow donor centers.[10]

In October 2012, Nergal returned to the Polish Supreme Court regarding the 2007 incident where he tore up a bible and denounced the Catholic Church. The Supreme Court ruled that Darski could be guilty of thecrime of "offending religious feelings" even though he did not act with the "direct intention" of doing so. The case was returned to a lower court which found him guilty of "intentionally insulting the Holy Bible" but the following appeal dismissed the case due to the statute of limitations.[11] [12]

Nergal started a solo project alongside John Porter called Me and that Man, which focuses on country, blues and folk. The project's debut album titled Songs of Love and Death was released on 24 March 2017. The project's follow-up album, New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1 was released on 27 March 2020, and features guest vocals from Corey Taylor, Niklas Kvarforth, Matt Heafy, Ihsahn, and others.[13] [14]

Personal life

From mid-2009 through early 2011, he was in a highly publicized relationship with Dorota Rabczewska, a Polish pop singer professionally known as Doda.[15] On 17 March 2011, News.pl reported the couple had called off the engagement and broken up.[16]

In 2012, Darski legally changed his middle name to 'Nergal'.[17]

Since 2014, Nergal has been the co-owner of three barbershops in Poland—two in Warsaw and one in his hometown, Gdańsk.[18] [19] [20] In 2015, he opened a nightclub in Sopot named Libation.[21]

Health

On 8 August 2010, Nergal was rushed to the hematology ward of the Gdańsk Medical University Hospital for treatment of a then-undisclosed illness. All Behemoth shows through November 2010, including a Russian and North American tours, were cancelled.[22] On 24 August 2010, Darski was diagnosed with leukemia. The illness was thought to have advanced far enough to make chemotherapy ineffective, but such reports have since been proven false.[23] His then-fiancée Dorota Rabczewska-Stępień offered to donate her marrow, but her marrow didn't match.[24] [25] On 8 November 2010, following his then-girlfriend's appeal to the wider public, which has been met with a great response, Darski underwent treatment to receive a bone marrow transplant.[26]

Nergal was discharged from the Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne (UCK) hospital in Gdańsk on 16 January 2011, three weeks after undergoing bone marrow transplantation. "Adam feels good and is resting comfortably but cannot see any visitors as he can’t risk viral infections", said his ex-fiancée, Doda.[27] However, Nergal was readmitted to the hematology division of Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne (UCK) in Gdańsk after he developed an infection six weeks later. At the time, it was not immediately clear if the infection would affect Nergal's adoption of the bone marrow transplant and how long he would have to remain in hospital.[28] On 30 March 2011, MetalSucks published an interview with Nergal where he said that his health was improving. As of the interview, he had been out of the hospital for several weeks, and, according to Darski, "everything is going according to plan".[29]

Equipment

Guitars
Mark L Rack
Amplifiers
Other

Discography

Behemoth

See main article: Behemoth discography.

Me and that Man

Guest appearances

Filmography

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MetalManiacs interview with Nergal . Bowman . AnneMarie . behemoth.pl . 26 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928043953/http://www.behemoth.pl/interviews/metalmaniacs.html . 28 September 2007 .
  2. Web site: Przed "Nergalem" był "Holocausto". Walaszczyk. Maciej. naszdziennik.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120530000502/http://www.naszdziennik.pl/index.php?dat=20110908&typ=po&id=po19.txt. 30 May 2012. dead.
  3. Web site: Cztery oblicza Nergala (Wymagana rejestracja/Registration Required for Full Access). Trzmiel. Antoni. Tycner, Adam. rp.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112245/http://www.rp.pl/artykul/61991,737496-Nergal--zawodowiec-cynik-satanista-celebryta.html?p=4. dead.
  4. Web site: Wywiad: Wolverine. Błachewicz. Krzysztof . rockmetal.pl. pl. 26 December 2011.
  5. Web site: The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | The Shade And The Light: Nergal Of Behemoth Interviewed. The Quietus. 10 February 2014 .
  6. Web site: Behemoth: Nergal ESP Signature Guitar Unveiled . BlabberMouth.Net . 26 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090404020129/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=117320 . 4 April 2009.
  7. Web site: Behemoth Frontman Nergal Facing Prison Time Over Bible Tearing Incident in Poland . metalunderground.com . 26 December 2011.
  8. Web site: Behemoth Frontman off the Hook in 2007 Bible-tearing-Case . blabbermouth.net . 26 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100813201313/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142239 . 13 August 2010.
  9. Web site: The Voice of Poland: trenerzy . tvp.pl . pl . 26 December 2011.
  10. Web site: Nergal, new face of Demon energy drink. Truemetalhead.com. True Metalhead. 2 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002082949/http://www.truemetalhead.com/2012/07/nergal-new-face-of-demon-energy-drink.html. 2 October 2012. dead.
  11. Web site: Court rules against BEHEMOTH Frontman in Bible-tearing-Case . 29 October 2012 . blabbermouth.net . 29 October 2012 . 1 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121101193520/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=181537 . dead .
  12. Web site: Poland. newhumanist.org.uk. 23 May 2013 .
  13. Web site: Songs of Love and Death. 3 May 2017. Amazon.
  14. Web site: (NSFW) BEHEMOTH's Nergal Unveils First Folk Single from ME AND THE MAN, "My Church is Black". 13 January 2017 .
  15. Web site: Behemoth Frontman stepping out with Polish Pop Star. 30 March 2011. metalsucks.net. 26 December 2011.
  16. Web site: BEHEMOTH Frontman Dumps Polish Pop-Star Girlfriend? . blabbermouth.net . 26 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110321181549/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155419 . 21 March 2011 .
  17. Web site: Interview: "Nergal is my legal name too" – Nergal from Behemoth discusses Bloodstock, surviving leukaemia, and *becoming* his stage name. ThrashHits.com. 27 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403035541/http://www.thrashhits.com/2012/06/interview-nergal-is-my-legal-name-too-nergal-from-behemoth-discusses-bloodstock-surviving-leukaemia-and-becoming-his-stage-name/. 3 April 2015. dead.
  18. Web site: Nergal otwiera salon kosmetyczny dla brodaczy tak zwany barber shop. 28 August 2014. Dziennik Bałtycki.
  19. Web site: Barberian Academy Warszawa - nowy biznes Adama "Nergala" Darskiego. 26 September 2014.
  20. Web site: Behemoth's Nergal is Opening a Bar and a Second Barbershop in Poland. 21 April 2015. MetalSucks.
  21. Web site: Nergal otworzył Libację, swój klub w Sopocie. 2 May 2015. trojmiasto.pl.
  22. Web site: Behemoth Frontman Rushed To Hospital; All Previously Announced Shows Cancelled. blabbermouth.net. 26 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100827160207/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=144199. 27 August 2010.
  23. Web site: Behemoth Bassist Offers Update on Nergal's Leukemia. 9 September 2010. metalinjection.net. 26 December 2011.
  24. Web site: Nergal's Illness Confirmed to be Leukemia; Nergal Awaiting Marrow Transplant. metalunderground.com. 26 December 2011.
  25. Web site: Behemoth Frontman 'In Great Spirits' Following First Round of Chemo. blabbermouth.net. 26 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100830052544/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=145168. 30 August 2010.
  26. Web site: Behemoth: Leukemia-Stricken Frontman Finds Bone Marrow Match. ultimate-guitar.com. 26 December 2011.
  27. Web site: Behemoth Frontman Leaves Polish Hospital. blabbermouth.net. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111210012606/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=152503. 10 December 2011. dead.
  28. Web site: Behemoth Frontman Nergal Back in the Hospital Due To Infection. metalunderground.com. 26 December 2011.
  29. Web site: Metalsucks Exclusive: Behemoth Frontman Nergal's First Interview Since Being Diagnosed with Leukemia. 30 March 2011. metalsucks.net. 26 December 2011.
  30. Web site: Mayones Signum Gothic Custom / Behemoth . mayones.pl . pl . 26 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070331133659/http://www.mayones.pl/katalog.html?nazwa=Signum%20Gothic%20Custom%20%2F%20Behemoth&menu=2 . 31 March 2007 .
  31. Witold Trelecki. "May-Player News". "Metal Hammer". 3/2005, p. 28. Dariusz Świtała. Metal Mind Productions Sp. z o.o.. ISSN 1231-9759 (polish).
  32. Web site: Dean Guitars: Nergal. deanguitars.com. 26 December 2011.
  33. Jon Wiederhorn, Tune-ups profiles – Behemoth Ankle's Away, Guitar World, October 2007, ISSN 1045-6295, s. 42
  34. Web site: Adam "Nergal" Darski (Behemoth). Salnikow. Bogusław. magazyngitarzysta.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. 20 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120120001542/http://www.magazyngitarzysta.pl/ludzie/wywiady/1726-adam-nergal-darski-behemoth.html. dead.
  35. Web site: ESP Guitars: Nergal. espguitars.com. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110120094823/http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_nergal.html. 20 January 2011. dead.
  36. Web site: Nergal z nową miłością w MC !. musicollective.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. 20 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120320214540/http://www.musicollective.pl/o-musicollective/150-nergal-z-nowa-miloscia-w-mc. dead.
  37. Web site: Mark L: Nergal (search for Nergal). marklcustom.com. pl. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100327131120/http://marklcustom.com/artists.html. 27 March 2010. dead.
  38. Web site: Laboga Amplification Artists. laboga.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111130001854/http://www.laboga.pl/artists3.php. 30 November 2011.
  39. Web site: Radio Rebellion Tour With Behemoth. krankamps.com. 26 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111106014307/http://www.krankamps.com/news/radio-rebellion-tour-with-behemoth-898. 6 November 2011.
  40. Web site: Nergal's profile at the official website . behemoth.pl . 8 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062001/http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#nergal . 15 May 2012 . dead.
  41. Web site: Sommatone Amplification Artists. sommatone.com. 26 December 2011.
  42. Hangöver, Terrorbeer, Deathstrike Records, Catalog Number DR 016
  43. Revelations, Vader, Katowice, 2002, Metal Mind Productions, MMP CD 0154 DG.
  44. Web site: Mieszanka stylistyczna. https://archive.today/20120710101830/http://muzyka.interia.pl/wywiady/wywiad/news/mieszanka-stylistyczna,845947,3650,3. dead. 10 July 2012. Dutkowski. Lesław. muzyka.interia.pl. pl. 26 December 2011.
  45. Web site: Behemoth Biography. Sharpe-Young. Garry. musicmight.com. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110820220656/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/poland/gdansk/behemoth. 20 August 2011. dead.
  46. Web site: SWEET NOISE 'REVOLTA' - wywiad z Glacą. Łucyan. Przemek. hardzone.pl. pl. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072243/http://hardzone.pl/articles.php?article_id=121. 26 April 2012. dead.
  47. Web site: Nergal gościnnie u Frontside. nuta.pl. pl. 11 November 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007073409/http://www.nuta.pl/news.html?nid=26704. 7 October 2011.
  48. Web site: The Amenta Biography. theamenta.com. 26 December 2011.
  49. Web site: Ex Deo Give Their First New Taste of Roman-Themed Death Metal. Falzon. Denise . exclaim.ca. 26 December 2011.
  50. Web site: Na pohybel... wszystkim!. Zegler. Zbigniew. muzyka.wp.pl. pl. 26 December 2011.
  51. Web site: Czesław śpiewa nudnawe baśnie dla dorosłych. Dutkowski. Lesław. muzyka.wp.pl. pl. 26 December 2011.
  52. Web site: ROOT: New Album Title, Special Guests Announced. blabbermouth.net. 26 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110820095852/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=160135. 20 August 2011. dead.
  53. Web site: Behemoth's Nergal, Ex-Members of Morbid Angel, Manowar Join Forces in Voodoo Gods. blabbermouth.net. 26 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090227182328/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76554. 27 February 2009.
  54. Web site: Solowy album Skawińskiego w przyszłym roku. magazyngitarzysta.pl. pl. 4 January 2012. 11 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111125547/http://www.magazyngitarzysta.pl/muzyka/newsy/8887-solowy-album-skawinskiego-w-przyszlym-roku.html. dead.
  55. Web site: Maleńczuk nagrał country z Nergalem. cgm.pl. pl. 4 June 2012. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030232/http://www.cgm.pl/aktualnosci,22861,malenczuk_nagral_country_z_nergalem,news.html. dead.
  56. Web site: Rome releases 16th album 'The Lone Furrow' . Music:LX – Luxembourg Export Office . 6 January 2021 . 30 June 2021 .
  57. Web site: Nergal Biografia. Dutkowski. Lesław . muzyka.onet.pl. pl. 26 December 2011.

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