Dezerter is a punk rock band that formed in Warsaw in May 1981. The group adopted the then provocative name SS-20 (derived from Soviet missiles with nuclear warheads), which they were forced to change during martial law. Already as Dezerter, the band recorded their first single Ku przyszłości (1983). In 1985, two compilations with Dezerter songs were released: Fala and Jak punk to punk. 1987 brought the release of Dezerter's first full-length album, Underground Out Of Poland, in the USA by Maximum Rock'n'Roll, and the first (censored) album in the country, Kolaboracja. 1989 saw another album - Kolaboracja II, and 1990 - Wszyscy przeciwko wszystkim (released in Poland and France) and a two-month tour of Western Europe (Switzerland, Germany, France, Holland) and Japan.

The following years of activity brought important albums for the Polish independent scene, including. Blasfemia (1992), Ile procent duszy? (1994), Mam kły mam pazury (1996), Ziemia jest płaska (1997). Three studio albums were released in the 21st century: Nielegalny zabójca czasu (2004); Prawo do bycia idiotą (2010), which was exceptionally appreciated not only by listeners but also by the music industry, as reflected in the 2010 Fryderyk Award; and Większy zjada mniejszego (2014).

The band has toured actively not only domestically, but also in many European countries (Czech Republic, Germany, UK, Finland) and in the United States. Over the years, Dezerter's songs have appeared on many compilations in Poland and around the world and have found their way into the soundtracks of several films.