Mister X (band)

Mister X are a Belarusian street punk band formed in Grodno, West Belarus, in 2003 by Igor Bantser and Boris of Oi! Bombers.[1] They openly identify as SHARP[2] and belong to the small, but healthy and growing anti-racist skinhead scene in Belarus.[3][4] They are well-known on the underground punk scene in Poland, where they have numerous times been referred to as "the most well-known Belarusian punk rock band"[5][6][7] and "the flagship of Belarusian street punk",[8] though they frequently tour other parts of Eastern Europe as well (Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania, among other countries)[9] and have played in Western Europe too.[10][11] Although most of their work is in Russian, they are also known for singing in Polish, Belarusian, and occasionally English – almost all of their digitally released albums are annotated in Russian, Polish, and English.[12] Their frontman and founder Igor Bantser is of Polish descent.[13][8] Mister X prides itself in being the first Oi! band in Belarus; their inspirations are: The Analogs (whose songs they have covered in the past),[14] The Business, Oxymoron, The Oppressed, Cock Sparrer, Last Resort, and many more.[1]

Mister X performing live in Minsk, in March of 2020.
This article is about the band. For other uses, see Mister X.
Mister X (band)
The band's logo
Background information
OriginGrodno, Belarus
Genres
Years active2003–present
Labels
Associated actsMessed Up
The Goonzz!
Oi! Bombers
Websitemx-band.by
Members

As a group they claim to be apolitical and the lyrics of their songs are generally quite subcultural in nature – about having fun, being honest and living life accordingly to your ideals – but all members are committed to anti-fascism and some of them take part in various sports or anarchist initiatives during their free time.[8][15] They also have a zero tolerance attitude towards racism and recognise the diverse roots of their musical genre.[15] Although Mister X's self-proclaimed apolitical stance initially led to them being somewhat ostracised on the then highly politicised Belarusian punk scene, it has not stopped them from garnering an international following of fans in the years following the band's creation,[16] despite difficulties with the country's regime and travelling.[17] One of their gigs in Ryazan was broken up by the Russian law enforcement under false accusation of drug use, which later lead to several cases of police brutality and torture on numerous members of the audience.[18][19][20]

At the beginning of 2018, the band released in Germany a split-album with the Russian hardcore band What We Feel. This meant that Mister X became the first Belarusian band signed at a German label.[21] Members of the band, including frontman Igor Bantser, have been involved in the 2020 Belarusian protests against dictator Alexander Lukashenko; Bantser, a long-time activist, was beaten and imprisoned multiple times during this period.[22][23]

Band members
Alex Kot, guitarist and longtime member.

Igor Bantser, one of the founding members of the band, its main vocalist, and generally the group's spokesperson has been with Mister X since their formation. Him and Alex "SlepOi!" Kot, the band's guitarist who also performs the backing vocals, form the core of the group as Mister X's two most long-term members. It is usually these two men that appear in most interviews with the band, often together. Before leaving both bands to be then replaced by Artur, Katya from Messed Up was for a while the drummer of Mister X.[24]

Current members

Former members
  • Artur "Archie" Lemantovich – drums
  • Vadim – bass guitar
  • Ekaterina "Katya" Khvostikova – drums
  • "Sok" – guitar
  • "Siniy" – drums
  • "Burik" – bass guitar
  • "Pashtet" – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • "MalOi!" – drums

Discography
  • Punx & Skins Unite & Win (Demo EP) (2005)[25]
  • A.C.A.B. (2007)[26]
  • Unreleased (2010)[27]
  • Anti... Anti... Anti... (2011)[28]
  • Не отступай никогда (Never give up / Nie poddawaj się nigdy) (2011)[29]
  • ...какими мы стали (Who did we become / Jakimi się staliśmy) (2013)[30]
  • До самого конца (Till the end / Do samego końca) (2016)[12]
  • What We Feel / Mister X - All Against All - Split (2018)[31]

References
  1. Mister X. "Mister X - Facebook Info". Facebook. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  2. Katarzyna Ponikowska (October 12, 2013). "Muzyka kontra reżim". Dziennik Polski. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  3. Yevgeniy Sotona (November 7, 2015). "Belarusian Skinhead Scene Report!". Silesia Trojan Skins. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  4. Arciom Siniewicz (May 11, 2015). "Jak hartował się grodzieński punk-rock! WYWIAD". Belsat. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  5. "The Headhunters & Mister X - koncert". Enjoy Bydgoszcz. May 1, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  6. "3 maja koncert!". Stowarzyszenie Awantura. April 25, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  7. Yakiz (April 30, 2011). "Milicja Live part 16: The Headhunters, Mister X, Zakład Produkcyjny - koncert". studentnews.pl. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  8. Wiktor Rykaczewski (2012). "Mister X – wywiad". Dead Press. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  9. Mister X (July 14, 2014). "Back from Russian 2014 tour". Facebook. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  10. Mister X (March 9, 2016). "European Spring Tour 2016". Facebook. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  11. "RMister X (Streetpunk, Belarus), Wasted Youth (HC/Streetpunk, Schwäbisch Gmünd)". Cable Street Beat. March 6, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  12. Mister X. "До самого конца at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  13. Katarzyna Ponikowska (October 4, 2013). "Punkowcy z Białorusi zagrają w KocieKarola". Gazeta Krakowska. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  14. ANONIM.2230 (October 5, 2007). "5.10 Koncert: Los Fastidios, Dr. Green, Zimbabwe, Mister X, Bang Bang". Co jest grane. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  15. "Sport i uprzedzenia są ze sobą sprzeczne - wywiad z wokalistą grupy Mister X". 161 Crew. August 8, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  16. "Музыка: Группы: Mister X". russian-rockmusic.narod.ru/. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  17. "MISTER X: Скинхед – не фашист!". Музыкальная Газета. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  18. Виктор Граков (October 7, 2013). "В Рязани полицейские в масках сорвали рок-концерт". Комсомольская правда. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  19. "Рязанский кошмар". Частный Корреспондент. October 8, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  20. "Избиение зрителей на рок-концерте в Рязани: Варварская силовая акция ментов". Свободная Россия. October 7, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  21. "Audiolith GmbH". Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  22. Alex Kot (August 13, 2020). "Alex on Instagram: Igor was beaten twice by the police..." Instagram. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  23. "У Горадні на суткі за ўдзел у акцыях асудзілі чатырох анархістаў". Радыё Свабода. August 24, 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  24. Misantroop (August 25, 2016). "Běloruská SHARP úderka Mister X se vrací do České republiky". Kids and Heroes. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  25. Mister X. "Punx & Skins Unite & Win at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  26. Mister X. "A.C.A.B. at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  27. Mister X. "Unreleased at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  28. Mister X. "Anti... at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  29. Mister X. "Не отступай никогда at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  30. Mister X. "какими мы стали at Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  31. Mister X. "All Against All (split w. What We Feel)". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
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