“I Would Follow You Babe” is a new title, but Polish rock fans are very familiar with the tune “Poszłabym za tobą” by Breakout. The song, performed by the band Lucifer and Joakim Nilsson (Graveyard), is the official anthem of Mystic Festival 2024.
We carry on our tradition of festival anthems. After songs by Matthew K. Heafy (with guest appearance by Testament’s Chuck Billy) and Voivod, it’s time for a completely different vibe. Lucifer feat. Joakim Nilsson (Graveyard) recorded for us the song “I Would Follow You Babe,” an original vision of the classic song by the cult Polish band Breakout. The translation of the lyrics was prepared by Filip Łobodziński, known, among other things, for his translations and performances of Bob Dylan’s songs, but also the translator of… Slayer biography.
Lucifer played an unforgettable show at the Mystic Festival last year. The group’s music is a tribute to the golden era of hard rock and heavy metal, a time when the heaviness of the riffs was balanced by the melodies of the choruses. The group is fronted by the charismatic Johanna Sadonis and partnered by Nicke Andersson, a legend of the Swedish scene, known for Entombed, The Hellacopters and Death Breath, among others.
Joakim Nilsson, frontman of the Swedish band Graveyard, provides guest vocals on the track. Graveyard are masters of psychedelic, gloomy hard rock – as they will prove at the Mystic Festival on June 7, on the Desert Stage.
– It’s been an honor and great fun to take on this Polish classic together with Jocke for Mystic Festival. Nicke totally nailed it, making the song a very groovy Lucifer number. Jocke’s voice fits Lucifer extremely well and totally went into some sort galactic overdrive. He killed it! I just sort of eased back into a lower register, lacing myself around the boys work, purposely taking a backseat here. I think this single turned out fantastic and makes me look extremely forward to this year’s festival season! Can’t wait to be back at Mystic Festival again soon too! – comments Johanna Sadonis.
Picking a song from Breakout’s repertoire has a symbolic meaning for Polish metal fans. It is the band that was led by Tadeusz Nalepa who is considered one of the pioneers of hard rock in Poland, and therefore the forefather of heavy metal. Breakout were the missionaries of the cult of the Almighty Riff, and they did titanic work in this pagan land.
The lyrics of “Poszłabym za tobą” were written by Franciszek Walicki, the godfather of Polish rock’n’roll, cleverly named by him, so as not to irritate the communist authorities, big-beat. The song opened Breakout’s debut album, “Na drugim brzegu tęczy”, released 55 years ago, in the spring of 1969.
“I Would Follow You Babe” by Lucifer feat. Joakim Nilsson (Graveyard) will be released as a 7-inch single (gatefold) in a limited edition of 666 copies – to be purchased only at Mystic Festival 2024.