Lech Janerka & Hugh Cornwell in Lodz

Lech Janerka is a Polish singer, songwriter and bassist, born in Wrocław in 1953. He founded the post-punk band Klaus Mitffoch and later established a solo catalogue of alternative rock marked by concise, wordplay-heavy lyrics. The album Historia podwodna and songs including “Jezu, jak się cieszę,” “Konstytucje,” “Rower” and “Strzeż się tych miejsc” are central to his work. Klaus Mitffoch performed at the Jarocin Festival in the early 1980s, where Janerka fronted the group and played bass. After beginning his solo career, he took material from both phases onto Polish stages with an electric band whose concert lineup has included his wife, cellist Bożena Janerka.

Hugh Cornwell is a British rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, born in Tufnell Park in 1949. He was a founding member and the original lead singer and guitarist of The Stranglers, appearing on records including Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes and Black and White. His voice and guitar are closely associated with songs such as “Peaches,” “No More Heroes,” “Golden Brown” and “Always the Sun,” while his solo catalogue includes Monster and Moments of Madness. The Stranglers recorded part of Live (X Cert) at the Roundhouse in 1977 during Hugh Cornwell’s tenure as frontman, then performed their Battersea Park concert the following year. After leaving the group in 1990, he continued touring under his own name in clubs and theatres. A 2010 North American tour used a three-piece format and paired Hooverdam with a complete performance of Rattus Norvegicus.