The Early Years:

In the late 1970s, Gábor Kukovecz, Endre Paksi, and Tibor Varga came together with a shared passion for music, initially creating it for their own enjoyment and that of others. They named their band "Pokolgép," which translates to "Infernal Machine" but also refers to a homemade bomb in Hungarian. Kukovecz, who had learned guitar from István Vörös of Prognózis fame, initially adopted a less provocative name, "Kommandó," which they used for a brief period before reverting to Pokolgép. The band's journey was challenging, marked by financial struggles and opposition from the government. They performed semi-legal concerts on the outskirts of Budapest, gradually gaining recognition. Throughout their early years, they underwent numerous lineup changes, with many drummers and guitarists passing through before finally settling on László Nagyfi as the second guitarist. In 1985, Paksi departed due to personal disagreements regarding the band's leadership, leading to György Pazdera joining as the bassist. Shortly thereafter, drummer András Gyenizse emigrated to the USA, prompting Pazdera to invite his friend László Tarcza to fill the position.

In 1983, Pokolgép achieved second place in Ki Mit Tud, a talent-searching festival organized by the communist government, which allowed them to record the song "Kegyetlen asszony," released on a split 7" single. The following year, they recorded two tracks, "Cirkusz és rács" and "A bűn," for Hungarian Radio. Their first official release, a single featuring "A Sátán" and "A maszk," came in 1985.

The First Albums:

A significant milestone occurred in 1986 when the government permitted Hungaroton to release the first heavy metal album in Hungary, marking the debut of Pokolgép with their album Totális Metal. This period coincided with the arrival of heavy metal bands in the Eastern bloc, including Iron Maiden and Queen, primarily touring Poland and Hungary. In the late 1980s, Pokolgép performed alongside renowned acts like Metallica and Motörhead. The following year, they released their second album, Pokoli színjáték, which, along with Totális Metal, is considered foundational to Hungarian heavy metal. Notably, Pokoli színjáték was performed live before its official release.

From 1988 to 1989, Pokolgép toured Europe, playing in the two German states, the Netherlands, and Belgium. They released their third album, Éjszakai bevetés, in 1989, and recorded a live concert at Petőfi Hall later that year, which was released as their fifth album, Koncertlemez, in 1990. Prior to this, they had completed their fourth album, Metál az ész, which was produced in a tense atmosphere as both guitarist Nagyfi and vocalist Kalapács contemplated leaving the band.

Member Changes:

Nagyfi later revealed in an interview that he and Kukovecz had differing views on the band's musical direction; he preferred a rawer, more impulsive style, whereas Kukovecz favored solos and melodies. Consequently, Nagyfi and Kalapács left to form Omen, leaving Kukovecz, Tarcza, and Pazdera as the remaining members. They sought a new second guitarist, Péter Kun, who joined briefly before moving on to Edda művek. The new vocalist became József Rudán, who had previously performed in a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Coda.

Controversy:

On December 27, 1987, a tragic incident occurred during the Metál Karácsony festival at Petőfi Csarnok, when a 15-year-old boy, Lajos "Szőrme" Varga, suffered a severe injury due to an exploding pyrotechnic device. The explosion caused catastrophic damage to Szőrme's head, and although he underwent extensive medical treatment and faced life-threatening situations, he ultimately survived. The band Pokolgép has consistently denied any responsibility for the incident. Despite his injuries, Szőrme's mental faculties remain above average, although he struggles with social interactions and work.

Ex-Members:

Vocals: - Rudán Joe (1990-2010) - Kalapács József (1982–1990) - Németh László (1982) - Paksi Endre (1980–1982)

Guitars: - Nagy Dávid (2001–2010) - Láris László (1999) - Jung Norbert (1991–1994) - Kun Péter (1990) - Nagyfi László (1984–1990) - Révi József - Maza István

Bass: - Pazdera György (1983–1994) - Paksi Endre (1980–1983)

Drums: - Czébely Csaba (2006-2010) - Szilágyi Ede (1999–2006) - Tarcza László (1985–1994) - Gyenizse András (1983–1985) - Neográdhy Dezső (1980–1983)

Keyboards: - Varga Tibor (1980–1982)