The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Outpost Cafe => Topic started by: westen44 on January 28, 2023, 07:05:44 PM
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I don't know Dutch, but they seem to be going over his accomplishments and, obviously, giving him some kind of award.
https://youtu.be/VChALvRS968
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He was made honorary citizen of the town of Rijksevorsel in Belgium, where he has been living for over 50 years.
In the interview he tells us he can't play anymore, because his hands are all crooked. But he did sing some parts for Vreemde Kostgangers* a half year ago.
He looks frail. And even talking seems to be hard for him.
ALS is a vicious disease...
* that project came to a grinding halt when one of the three musicians (Henny Vrienten) died of cancer in april 2022
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Sigh, the "pretty one" from Golden Earring, fate can be a bitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCoxG6mrFMM
I just hope that the available treatments (there is no cure for ALS) will grant him a life worth living as long as possible. He still has that nice smile of his.
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George Kooymans and Frank Carillo released their second and final album in June 2022. The album is called "Mirage." There is a song named that on the album, too. The album includes a song called "Seasons" which was originally written for Dutch band Earth and Fire in 1968.
"It wasn't a conscious effort to make a CD. We just wanted to write and record because we love doing what we do. After a while, we realized that we had enough material recorded to put out a new collection so here it is."
--George Kooymans & Frank Carillo
https://youtu.be/DPtS1ttU2Yo
https://youtu.be/V01ZPJ5CRgI
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I just found the video by Earth and Fire singing the song George Kooymans wrote for them. He isn't the only one with major physical problems, though. Now that female singer has Parkinson's.
https://youtu.be/SHX5VcfQaWc
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You sure can recognize his voice which has held up nicely. I only realized relatively late that he sang quite a bit with Golden Earring, initially I thought his voice was that of a younger Barry Hay.
Tragic to hear that about Jerney Kaagmann. There was no getting away from Earth & Fire's dreamy, yet infectious mock reggae-pop Weekend in 1979/80, it was number one in several European countries, Germany among them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds-wd-pedf8
Earth & Fire always had that slightly weird mix of rather PROGish arrangements while Jerney's vocal lines were pure pop sometimes even crossing the line to easy listening/Schlager. But suitably catchy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3VHI9HKozw
Almost 25 years later, even the horrors of what German "stadium techno" outfit Scooter did to Weekend could not prevent it becoming a hit yet again, it reached number two this time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM_M-HKI0fw
I've never mentioned Scooter here. You can guess why: There is such a thing as national guilt and shame, let me tell you! :mrgreen: And we're not talking about a couple of boobs in a music vid either. Their Electro-Marschmusik is god-awful, yet they were and are widely popular, and not just in Germany either. We're talking 30 million records and more than 80 gold and platinum awards - bad taste is everywhere.
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George Kooymans did well with vocals up to the end. I sometimes heard fans complain a little that he couldn't hit the high notes like he used to. But that's something to be expected. Almost no one can do that. On the "Tits 'n Ass" album there are a few songs on there where George even sounds a lot like Barry Hay. I thought that approach worked well, although I'm not sure how or why it happened. As for the T&A album itself, I see it very underrated all the time. Maybe the title has something to do with it. I don't know. I'll admit they could have used a better title. But T&A would at least be in my top 5 GE albums.
I'm sorry that for the most part America missed out on Earth & Fire. They were a unique band that I'm sure I would have liked listening to more. BTW, I've been reading some reviews of Earth & Fire albums. It seems that Jerney Kaagman was recommended to the band by Barry Hay who had known her in The Hague rock scene.
As for Scooter, that's truly horrible music. Not even naked women in a video can salvage it.
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The project (that I mentioned earlier) called Vreemde Kostgangers will release their final album in march of this year.
Henny Vrienten insisted they'd finish and release the album after his passing.
Here's the first single off that record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXyzNog-FKc
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They're singing Dutch! Sounds nice and I'd be immediately reminded of Golden Earring if I heard it anywhere.
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I'll be looking for the Vreemde Kostgangers music in the future. It's something I probably wouldn't have known about if I hadn't seen the info here. You never know what you can find until you try. For example, both Barry's and George's first solo albums are now available here after being hard to find for many years.
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This project started as a one-off jam at the 65 birthday party of Cesar Zuiderwijk. The new album wil be their third (and last)
Vreemde KostGangers > Vrienten, Kooymans, de Groot.
Henny Vrienten was a pop icon in the 80s as lead singer / bass player of Doe Maar. Plus he write a lot of film scores.
Boudewijn de Groot is/was a folk singer who gained fame in the (early) seventies.
All three of them very famous in The Netherlands.
But nobody ever thought they'd join forces.
I'm not a big fan of Kooymans' singing though.
Rinus Gerritsen is the one I like/admire... ;-)
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Rinus Gerritsen is also my favorite. But George Kooymans never tried to be the lead singer. His contributions vocally, nevertheless, were substantial. That's one reason why even if the band tried to replace him, it couldn't be done. Without George Kooymans there is no Golden Earring.
https://youtu.be/4D13P6aGjig
https://youtu.be/DbHg_N6cAjU
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He has a voice I so much co-identify with Golden Earring, he can do no wrong with me.
Golden Earring are the Dutch Scorpions - minus the cringe factor. A national institution and a good one at that. I respect them for their longevity and for sustaining an original line-up for half a century, the developments their music took over the years and their guts to always try something different and not (re)plow once-found furrows of success again and again. I'm really fond of them.
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Another thing I might add is how important "Twilight Zone" was. According to Rinus (on their site) the band would have broken up if that song hadn't been a success. Obviously, George Kooymans is the one who wrote the song. That song is also what caused me to become a fan. I was in New Orleans when that song came out. I would turn on MTV and "Twilight Zone" would come on. My response was WTF? I had never heard anything quite like that. The bass and guitar were mesmerizing. I also very much liked the vocals on it by both Barry and George. Like everybody else, I had heard of Radar Love. But I hardly even knew Golden Earring existed until Twilight Zone. Through the years, I eventually bought all their albums. Plus, I saw them in person once, something I've mentioned on this forum a few times already. Golden Earring played somewhere I was unfamiliar with way on the outskirts of Rotterdam.
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He has a voice I so much co-identify with Golden Earring, he can do no wrong with me.
Golden Earring are the Dutch Scorpions - minus the cringe factor. A national institution and a good one at that. I respect them for their longevity and for sustaining an original line-up for half a century, the developments their music took over the years and their guts to always try something different and not (re)plow once-found furrows of success again and again. I'm really fond of them.
That's a key point about them having the guts to do something different. Frankly, I get so tired of bands just rehashing their music over and over.
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They never ever attempted to cash in with a rehash of their biggest song, a Radar Love II so to speak. It was one song in their oeuvre and that's it. Most other bands would have tried to create a trademark style from it. Especially ones from Australia with a age-appropriate wardrobe deficiency of the lead guitarist, but I'm not giving any names.
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Golden Earring proved for all time that they weren't going to cash in on anything when they followed "Moontan" with "Switch." They may have regretted it, but all these years later no one is accusing them of not taking chances or trying to sell out.
As for the unnamed band from Australia, I was never a fan. But I'll definitely take Midnight Oil.
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They did make The Naked Truth , Naked (Truth) II, Naked (truth) III though.
All a result of that silly unplugged hype in the nineties.
The first acoustic album (in 1992) saved their asses once again. So they made two more...
:popcorn:
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I’m not a rock guy at all , but that Australian band that shall not be named is a guilty pleasure. I’ve never bought their music , but when I hear them my toe starts tapping.
A Toronto friend had never been a fan , but decided to see them when they came to town , was converted. Said it was easily one of the best live shows he had ever seen.
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They did make The Naked Truth , Naked (Truth) II, Naked (truth) III though.
All a result of that silly unplugged hype in the nineties.
The first acoustic album (in 1992) saved their asses once again. So they made two more...
:popcorn:
I remember seeing a documentary where they talked about the acoustic concerts. Now I can't find it. I think it must have been removed. It was put together by a fan who did an outstanding job on it. What happened to her, I don't know. She really did emphasize how Rinus Gerritsen was very much the driving force behind the acoustic concerts. Personally, I'd choose an electric concert over an acoustic one every time. But they did help Golden Earring. However, I wouldn't be interested in seeing Golden Earring or any other band playing unplugged. That acoustic stuff that bands did so much for a while can probably be traced back to MTV Unplugged putting on all those shows for a while. I never watched even one. To me that kind of thing is a buzz-kill, obviously.
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They did make The Naked Truth , Naked (Truth) II, Naked (truth) III though.
All a result of that silly unplugged hype in the nineties.
The first acoustic album (in 1992) saved their asses once again. So they made two more...
:popcorn:
Well, that is what you do if you are Classic Rock band from the 70ies and faced with an aging fan base - demographics! You do the old songs acoustically once again so your grown up fans can hear them when inviting their friends for dinner and you can't turn up loud anyway as the kids have already gone to bed.
Funny, Deep Purple never did that, go unplugged I mean. I guess the roaring Hammond is so much part of their sound that they thought it a daunting prospect. I was once at a DP gig where Jon Lord's Hammond broke down mid-set and he had to make do with piano and synths for the rest of the concert. The change in sound was radical and immediate. All of a sudden they sounded a bit like Meatloaf in places! :mrgreen:
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I remember seeing a documentary where they talked about the acoustic concerts. Now I can't find it. I think it must have been removed. It was put together by a fan who did an outstanding job on it. What happened to her, I don't know. She really did emphasize how Rinus Gerritsen was very much the driving force behind the acoustic concerts. Personally, I'd choose an electric concert over an acoustic one every time. But they did help Golden Earring. However, I wouldn't be interested in seeing Golden Earring or any other band playing unplugged. That acoustic stuff that bands did so much for a while can probably be traced back to MTV Unplugged putting on all those shows for a while. I never watched even one. To me that kind of thing is a buzz-kill, obviously.
I really liked Kiss unplugged.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4kTtGbNa-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7v1q-dF6Aw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE57JPTDRdc
Without the make-up, the blood-spitting, the smoke-bombs and fire-breathing, there was more of the band and its compositions to hear.
Roddy wasn't too shabby either ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzGWo9osFsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C-YqmLtVJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2CQ0FvAZuw
Not to forget!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nFAQYxEAP4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1a55Js8CVU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nWY3g4Dkzk
Honorary mention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHQ37ZoAclo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0P_18ZCY30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYwRHoWogRM
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I'm sure there can be exceptions. Overall, I don't much go for unplugged, though. When I started making plans to see Golden Earring, I made sure I saw one of their electric concerts. I've got into arguments with people about electric vs. acoustic, though. I try to avoid that. One of the most vicious flame wars I've ever seen was between pro-electric and pro-acoustic people on a music message board. It wasn't amusing at all. It was quite bitter. I had nothing to say and managed to get out of that place.
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I'm open either way - it's two different settings to get something across. And a decent song will work in many guises. Golden Earring never sounded bad unplugged.
Nor did the Eagles though I always preferred them - of all bands - electrified. :mrgreen: My first acquaintance with them was not via one of their hits, but via this song, but it's hardly the countrified stuff they are known for: Come the change to double time 02:19 it could almost pass as hard rock, lovely, darkish bass by Randy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mu0c2iwC2E
The few times they would do the non-group composition live it had more of a Neil Young vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uZI0e03x84
The next song I then heard by them was Lyin' Eyes; I was kind gobsmacked by what I perceived to be a radical change in style back then ;D though I immediately took to it as another great song in a different vein.
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I’m not a rock guy at all , but that Australian band that shall not be named is a guilty pleasure. I’ve never bought their music , but when I hear them my toe starts tapping.
A Toronto friend had never been a fan , but decided to see them when they came to town , was converted. Said it was easily one of the best live shows he had ever seen.
I saw the unnamed ones in 1976 (I went for Rainbow), 1979 (I went for Judas Priest) and 2009 (I went to see if anything had changed with them - folly the thought!), respectively. Bassists and singers came and went, but it was essentially the same concert over a duration of 33 years! Like the name says, a steady current. :mrgreen:
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I never saw they who shall not be named, but sometime in the 90s I did see the other Aussie band mentioned in this thread, and that was one of the best live shows I ever saw. Midnight Oil live was quite powerful. And that's another band that evolved quite a bit over time, they kept trying different things on their albums. It's a bit of a journey from "Powderworks" to "Earth and Sun and Moon".
Plus, late bassist Bones Hillman was great, really solid and a phenomenal backup singer, and this particular live recording is possibly the most overly-loud Thunderbird II recording ever, I have no idea what the mix engineer was thinking, but it's great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeIJo_qiJDg
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I'm open either way - it's two different settings to get something across. And a decent song will work in many guises. Golden Earring never sounded bad unplugged.
Nor did the Eagles though I always preferred them - of all bands - electrified. :mrgreen: My first acquaintance with them was not via one of their hits, but via this song, but it's hardly the countrified stuff they are known for: Come the change to double time 02:19 it could almost pass as hard rock, lovely, darkish bass by Randy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mu0c2iwC2E
The few times they would do the non-group composition live it had more of a Neil Young vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uZI0e03x84
The next song I then heard by them was Lyin' Eyes; I was kind gobsmacked by what I perceived to be a radical change in style back then ;D though I immediately took to it as another great song in a different vein.
That Eagles Desperado album is one of my favorite albums of all time. I've sung along to it many times to keep my voice in shape through the years. Whether that's still worth the effort now is debatable, although it is still fun. I might add that Lyin' Eyes has always also been one of my favorite Eagles songs, despite it obviously not being on the Desperado album. The Eagles were simply masters at doing this kind of stuff.
https://youtu.be/DVq_gm8JsF8
https://youtu.be/GKwITVQtba0
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I never saw they who shall not be named, but sometime in the 90s I did see the other Aussie band mentioned in this thread, and that was one of the best live shows I ever saw. Midnight Oil live was quite powerful. And that's another band that evolved quite a bit over time, they kept trying different things on their albums. It's a bit of a journey from "Powderworks" to "Earth and Sun and Moon".
Plus, late bassist Bones Hillman was great, really solid and a phenomenal backup singer, and this particular live recording is possibly the most overly-loud Thunderbird II recording ever, I have no idea what the mix engineer was thinking, but it's great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeIJo_qiJDg
But Midnight Oil were/are thinking man's rock with great harmonies! I lov'em too. In contrast, "thinking man" is not a term you would use much with those-who-shall-remain-unnamed on their one-way journey to the netherworld.
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^^^^
Lmao!!
I might add that years ago I was staying at a Cleveland motel. Someone was playing the netherworld song by the band which shall remain unnamed. The song was being played over and over. Because of that and several other things, I finally checked out and found another motel. Midnight Oil, on the other hand, I could listen to them nonstop.
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Cleveland has a reputation to live up to!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teLu94ORS78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrXyzGvpuxA
I've never been to Cleveland though I'd like to go one day (have a soft spot for industrial cities), but I sure do miss Scott Weiland. I thought he was great and extremely versatile. Not a one-trick-pony like Axl at all.
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Cleveland.
The only thing I can think of is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiEglUjqWj0
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That's actually a true incident based on a Judas Priest experience - Halford thought it hilarious when he saw that they put it in the movie.
Rob, the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland is as legendary as the Paradiso in Amsterdam!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OllWaG9HZQ
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Haha, I bet Judas Priest weren't the only ones who got lost backstage.
Actually the entire movie is filled with real-life bloopers.
Which is what makes it so brilliantly hilarious.
Another funny movie about a band, that is painfully close to reality is Still Crazy.
I remember when I visited Brian Robertson in London back in 2000, he insisted this movie (Still Crazy) was modelled after him and a few rockstar friends.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't.
But it is a very nice movie nonetheless. Bill Nighy is brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJTrFYLQKE
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I can see how they could be a form of torture under repetitive circumstances, but... I actually quite like the unnamed band.
In moderate doses!
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I like the Bon Scott era a lot!
The tongue in cheek lyrics and the irresistible pure rock n roll never fail to put a smile on my face.
If I had a rough day at work, or if I’m not in a good mood, all I have to do is put on one of their classic tunes. And it cheers me up. Within three minutes life is good again. It’s that simple.
I think they were brilliant.
And yes, the formula got stale after Back In Black.
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I always found them too rigid and heavy-handed for my liking. There is no elegance or animal grace in what they do (two things Thin Lizzy on a good night would have in loads to make Rob feel good for once ;) ). I don't always mind a band being musically mono-themed - after all I love Status Quo and The Ramones, but both these band offer a certain jauntiness in their music. I don't hear that with the Australians.
But yes, Bon Scott had leering front man charm, bit like Alex Harvey. The guy with the cap is just a singer in comparison.
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Really? Rigid and heavy handed?
I don't think so at all. :mrgreen:
The way Phil Rudd rides the hi-hat, always gives them a certain swing. (Chris Slade nor Simon Wright could make them swing like Rudd did)
And the rhythm parts of Malcolm always leave room to breathe and make way for his younger brother's histrionics.
Statius Quo just sound boring and boorish in comparison. Just look at those soporific aquoustic performances you posted!)
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Several weeks ago, I discovered that Golden Earring's first live album had been released in a remastered and expanded version. So I ordered that. After what seemed forever, it finally arrived today. Most of this is from a Zwolle concert in 1977. However, the Eight Miles High remastered and expanded album will also be available in March. I don't know any details about it. The Zwolle concert is on two CDs, though. Also, a DVD comes with it which features four songs from a performance in Belgium.
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I can't explain it better than that Down Down sounds to me smoother and less angular than Let There Be Rock ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1gYJDQXPOk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_AcmtmegKI
It's how I hear music, Highway Star sounds to me sleek and elegant, Immigrant Song heavy-handed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS7XOWaQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk
It's where our music tastes differ, Rob, I always gravitate towards a certain fluidity in music (which I think you find a little banal) and you appreciate rhythmic accentuation which to me sometimes sounds jagged. That is actually a word I was looking for: AC/DC (there, I said it!) sounds jagged to me, so does much of Led Zeppelin, always has. Your music taste has a stronger black component than mine, it's where your love for Mothers Finest stems from and it showed up in your (very good) playing in Superfloor too.
You once said that Jim Lea's bass playing in How Does It Feel does nothing for you, neither his (Dave Hill mimes his parts below, Jim is at the piano) melodic parts at the beginning, nor his walking bass in the middle parts - yet I adore what he does, it has a melodic flow to me. I guess I'm only a cello player at heart and you're the real bassist! :-*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veD73ueQP40
Those melodic "lead bass" parts Jim has sprinkled so liberally over this song make me cream in my pants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJrRl9PzEMQ
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Yeah, we obviously hear/experience music differently.
Quo to me always feel like plodding simplicity.
While AC/DC propels an irresistible energy forward.
When I listen to Quo maybe my head bobs.
When I listen to AC/DC my whole body wants to move.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErXbMB9R5-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf23KfIW3dc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbTG9YTbdc0
I know there's quite a fanbase here on the Outpost for Slade.
For me they just won't work. I tried several times, but it just doesn't.
Same goes for your beloved Judas Priest. Doesn't work for me either. Never has. Even when I was really into heavy metal as a teenager.
Oh well, to each his own ;)
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Early Priest had a purplish groove coupled with sabbathian riffs - that attracted me from day one. When they first came to Germany as opening act for AC/DC in 1979, one rock scribe quipped: "Purple's metronomic rhythm section resurrected!" He wasn't far off. They were mocked as "Deep Purple in
Rock Leather - minus Jon Lord!".
You really picked the three AC/DC tracks that annoy me the most there! :mrgreen:
I do like TNT (it's pleasantly dumb), Whole Lotta Rosie (it's pleasantly nasty), Highway to Hell (it's joyous), Hell's Bells (it's dark and moody) and Thunderstruck (it's friggin' hilarious) though.