Driak comes from Czech republic

Driak comes from Czech republic, they have an accordion in their punkrock but it doesn´t sound folkpunk...really interesting band. Try to listen to them and get their records of course. April-2026

I see on Discogs that you have done records since 2010, is it so far your history goes, and where, why and when did you start to play?
-In 2010, we released our first amateur album, "Drobný za milion," but the band’s roots go back to 2003, when it was founded by our guitarist, Tůča. Originally, we started playing just for fun, with no ambitions for live performances. That’s why our very first concert didn’t happen until 2005.

Please tell me a little about every member, age, instrument, bands on the side of Driak and bands before?

Lukáš "Tůča" Tuček (Guitar) – 41 years old, founding member, the band’s lyricist, and a lover of history and sports (he’s an active football goalkeeper).
Lukáš "Šnek" Novotný (Bass) – 38 years old, joined in 2007. Previously played in the band SDZ. He loves history and war themes; sports aren’t really his thing.
Michal "Průža" (Accordion/Vocals) – 36 years old, joined in 2008. A musician through and through, active football player and fan. Previously played in VHS (Volné hudební sdružení, Benjaming Band). He also plays in Arogants (Oi! punk band).
Lukáš "Ježíšek" Cerman (Drums) – 33 years old, joined in 2014. A passionate fan of the Bohemians Praha football club. Previously played with Láďa and Šnek in SDZ (Skoč Do Zdi).
Ladislav "Olánek" Tuček (Guitar) – 34 years old, joined in 2025. The latest addition, Lukáš’s brother. He’s a tattoo artist and basically a "national artist" type—he enjoys everything except sports (edit: apparently, he says he likes sports too now! :D).

You have an accordion in your music but you don’t sound folkpunk, howcome did you take accordion in to the group (really good move)?
-Yes, since I played the piano for 10 years, the accordion felt very natural to me. It’s a great instrument for capturing the emotions and atmosphere of the songs. We try not to be influenced by any trends and just compose music the way we feel it. These days, it's quite hard to maintain your own unique face among so many bands in a similar style. I joined the band with the accordion to freshen up the sound, and back then it actually became our trademark.

So many good punk bands come from Czech Republic, how come there’s so many good bands there?
-Maybe it’s because rebellion has been in our blood since the communist era, and also because the best punk ideas are usually born over a few beers. We have a strong tradition of not being afraid to say what we think and doing things our own way.

Any favorites from the country now? Both old and new?
-There are really a lot of great bands here. Our personal favorites include Punk Floid, The Fialky, Tragedis, NežFaleš, Vision Days, SPS, Staré Pušky, Proti Směru, and many more... We’re a small country, but for our size, we have plenty of bands that still keep fans happy and attract new ones. :)

And Swedish favorites?
-I’m speaking for myself here... the other guys don’t listen to Swedish bands much (except for Perkele)—at least not until it's my turn to drive us to a gig! :D Personally, I like Perkele, Guttersnipe, On The Job, City Saints, The Baboon Show, Agent Bulldog... and I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few. :)

Your lyrics are in the Czech language, any thought of English (I don’t hope so)?
-Yes, we thought about English lyrics, but in the end, we agreed that we don’t really have those kinds of ambitions. But hey, never say never... :D

What is most important, is it the music or the lyrics? Which do you do first?
-I’d say the lyrics. If the lyrics are good, the music follows based on the theme. Mostly we create the lyrics first and then the music, but not always. It’s about a 60:40 ratio.

Who writes the lyrics?
-The lyrics are written by our guitarist, Tůča—he has a god-given talent for it. From time to time, I add some lyrics as well, or we create them together.

Tell me about the following lyrics:

Oka za oko (An Eye for an Eye): This song is about the moment a victim becomes the hunter. It’s about a person who lives for years for nothing but that single second when the roles are reversed—the moment he finally sees his rival down in the same mud where he himself once had to kneel. The song also reflects our own view: don't mess with me, because the tables will turn quickly!
Vteřina (A Second): In the punk rock scene, the slogan "No Future" is repeated over and over, but for us, it's just an empty pose and an excuse for incompetence. This song was written as a reaction to people who took that philosophy literally—ending up as "low-lifes" and "junkies," dependent on the state and the system they complain about. We don't enjoy watching people who just parasitize and then spit on those who worked hard to get somewhere. We believe in the future and we are building it. Our "mission accomplished" isn't an accident; it's the result of blood and sweat. We reject nihilism and choose a path that leaves something tangible behind—for us and our kids. It's a clear "NO" to a lifestyle without vision.
Návrat ke kořenům (Return to Roots): We needed to lighten the mood of the album so the listener could take a break from heavy topics. The lyrics are a reflection on the connection between humans and nature. Today is such a rushed time; people don't even know how to stop. It's a time when you invite a girl on a date virtually instead of in person... there are more comparisons like that in the song.

Politics and music, does it go hand in hand? Which is your most political song?
-We try to avoid politics because it pisses us off personally, and we want to bring people together, not divide them. But of course, even we say "enough" sometimes and express ourselves through a song. Politics and attitude—they do go hand in hand. I'm not sure if it's our most political song, but I'd point to "SORRY JAKO," which is about the biggest modern-day "mobster" in Czech politics.

When we talk about politics, how is it to live in Czech Republic right now when we think about politics, racism, economy and so on?
-A lot of people complain, but anyone who travels a bit finds out that we have it very good here. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction is constantly growing in society, but that's kind of in our blood, I guess! :D Regarding racism, my subjective view is that our post-communist era is fading away and the youth are taking the reins. The movement of people around the world is huge (thankfully), and the differences are simple—you're either a good person or a bad person.

Your thoughts about the word punk, is it only a word or is it only a music style or a lifestyle?
-An attitude, a community, a musical style, and a way of life. :)

When you play live I can believe that there is a sweaty experience?
-Yes! We play from the heart, and the greatest reward for us is the feedback from the people. If we didn't play for the fans and didn't have a strong following, it wouldn't be fun. I think people can feel that energy and passion from us, so they give it back exactly the same way. We’re soaked after a show, and the people are soaked from the madness under the stage. :D

Which type of people come to your concerts? Any type you miss?
-Mostly punks and skins, but in recent years, people from outside the scene have been coming too, which makes us happy.

Ten favorite records all time?
-I’ll just list some bands. If I go with international ones: Cock Sparrer, The Business, 4 SKINS, Rancid, The Bruisers, The Exploited, Rose Tattoo, Laurel Aitken, Agnostic Front, and many others.

You release your music physically, would it have been so that it have been feeling so that you didn't haven't released anything if it's only digital?
-I don't think "nothing would remain" if it were only digital, but a physical record is still the most a fan can get from a band. It's a relic. :D

What does Klid Pred Bouri mean in English?
-The calm before the storm.

Are you satisfied with your new album? Anything you could have done better?
-Musically, the album is a real peak for us; we worked incredibly hard on it. Now, with some time passing, like any good chef, I would obviously change a few things, but I think everyone who creates music feels that way. Overall, we are very satisfied.

Do you care about reviews? If you get a really bad one, do you change anything in your music? Which is the most annoying/odd review you ever have got?
-Self-reflection is important, and maybe a review can give you a little kick. We don't strictly follow advice from negative reviews, but if it’s a valid point that we also feel after some time, then I see it as a benefit. You can never stand still! We got a really harsh review of our first album saying we’re a "village band" that should stay where it is. Well, look at us now—we’ve made some progress if they know about us even in Sweden! :D

The most exciting/odd thing which have happened during a gig with you?
-I’m not entirely sure how to take this, but ambulances show up at our shows quite often! :D And the weirdest things usually happen after excessive alcohol consumption, but that would probably be enough material for a whole book. :D

Many bands do their own beer, if you do a Driak-beer, which style would it have been and what will it be called, or you have maybe already done that?
-Yeah, I’ve noticed that trend. We won't be brewing beer, because our band’s "holy water" is Jägermeister. So we’d go with something like "Driák Elixir" instead.

Which is your favorite song to play live? And which is the song is most popular in the audience?
-It’s impossible to pick just one because it’s different at every gig. But our fans definitely love "Starý Rybář" (The Old Fisherman) the most.

Which is the record that you always must have in the tourbus?
-We have pretty different tastes within the band, so we can never really agree on a single album. On the way to a gig, we don’t really mind what’s playing, and on the way back, we’re capable of singing Christmas carols together! :D

Future plans for the band?
-We want to keep creating and moving forward. We have plenty of ideas for new material and we’re already finishing up some new songs. Most of all, we just want to play live and hang out with friends.

For yourself?
-To keep trying to connect people through music—it’s a powerful tool!

Wisdom word?
-Life is too short to listen to bad music.

Something to add?
-Thanks a lot for your interest in doing this interview and for the great questions! Keep it up, I'm a fan!
On behalf of Driák, frontman Průža.