Hailing from Poland, SBB was first known as the Silesian Blues Band, and later adopted the more political "Szukaj, Burz, Buduj" (Polish for "Search, Breakup, Build"). Formed in 1971 in Siemianowice, Upper Silesia by bassist Józef Skrzek with Antymos Apostolis (confusingly aka Apostolis Anthimos) on guitar and Jerzy Piotrowski on drums, the band was adopted by popular singer and organist Czeslaw Niemen as his backing band. Niemen recorded three albums in English for the CBS label, beginning with Strange Is This World in 1970.

Though late in the game for progressive rock (especially of the Italian variety), Locanda Delle Fate ("The Fairy Inn"), hailed from Asti in the Piedmont region. The band featured two keyboard players, Michele Conta and Oscar Mazzoglio, as well as two guitarists, Ezio Vevey and Alberto Gaviglio. The rhythm section was rounded out by Giorgio Gardino on drums and Luciano Boero on bass. Their lone album, Forse le Lucciole non si amano più, was released in 1977 on the Polydor label.