Fatal Flowers
Encyclopedia
Fatal Flowers were an Amsterdam
blues rock band, active between 1984 and 1990. They were seen as one of the best Dutch bands of the 1980s. The use of blues and rock riffs set them apart from the punk
and new wave
bands of the time.
in 1984. They signed a contract with the WEA
record company. Under the guidance of top producer Craig Leon
an eponymous EP
was made. The first full album was produced by Vic Maile
and contained the title song "Younger Days." In 1987, the Flowers received an Edison Award for "Younger Days" and they were an opening act on Pinkpop
.
The third album, Johnny D. Is Back!, was produced by Mick Ronson
. With this album the Flowers took a large step forward and the album was acclaimed by the readers of Oor magazine. as the best Dutch album of 1988. Guitarist Dirk Heuff left the band and was replaced by 17 year old Robin Berlijn, who made a big impression. Fatal Flowers received the Zilveren Harp
.
In 1990, the Fatal Flowers left WEA and went to Mercury
. They made a new album, Pleasure Ground, which was again produced by Mick Ronson. The album contained no hit single, but was very successful. Janssen left the band in the summer of 1990, disillusioned about their new label's neglect in properly promoting the band abroad, and one of the most promising Dutch bands of the era fell apart.
On 3 July 2002 the Flowers reunited at The Blue Tea House
in Vondelpark as a promotion for the compilation album
Younger Days - The Definitive Fatal Flowers. There appeared to be no upcoming reunion plans.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
blues rock band, active between 1984 and 1990. They were seen as one of the best Dutch bands of the 1980s. The use of blues and rock riffs set them apart from the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
bands of the time.
History
Fatal Flowers were founded by Richard JanssenRichard Janssen
Richard Janssen is a Dutch musician who was leader of the rock bands Fatal Flowers and Shine. Janssen also works as a stage designer.- Biography :...
in 1984. They signed a contract with the WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
record company. Under the guidance of top producer Craig Leon
Craig Leon
Craig Leon is an American born record producer, composer and arranger currently living in England. Leon was instrumental in launching the careers of many recording artists including The Ramones and Blondie...
an eponymous EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
was made. The first full album was produced by Vic Maile
Vic Maile
Vic Maile was a British record producer. After starting his career as sound engineer with Pye mobile studios for The Animals on their song, "We Gotta Get out of This Place", Maile worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The...
and contained the title song "Younger Days." In 1987, the Flowers received an Edison Award for "Younger Days" and they were an opening act on Pinkpop
Pinkpop
Pinkpop Festival, or Pinkpop for short, is an annual festival held at Landgraaf, Netherlands. It is held annually on the Pentecost weekend...
.
The third album, Johnny D. Is Back!, was produced by Mick Ronson
Mick Ronson
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
. With this album the Flowers took a large step forward and the album was acclaimed by the readers of Oor magazine. as the best Dutch album of 1988. Guitarist Dirk Heuff left the band and was replaced by 17 year old Robin Berlijn, who made a big impression. Fatal Flowers received the Zilveren Harp
Zilveren Harp
The Zilveren Harp is a Dutch award given annually to promising musical talent. The award is very prestigious and winners are chosen by a different jury each year...
.
In 1990, the Fatal Flowers left WEA and went to Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. They made a new album, Pleasure Ground, which was again produced by Mick Ronson. The album contained no hit single, but was very successful. Janssen left the band in the summer of 1990, disillusioned about their new label's neglect in properly promoting the band abroad, and one of the most promising Dutch bands of the era fell apart.
On 3 July 2002 the Flowers reunited at The Blue Tea House
Blauwe Theehuis
The Blauwe Theehuis is a 1930s Modernist pavilion in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It is a ring-shaped building, somewhat reminiscent of a flying saucer. Originally a tea house, it is now in use as a café and restaurant, surrounded by outside seating...
in Vondelpark as a promotion for the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Younger Days - The Definitive Fatal Flowers. There appeared to be no upcoming reunion plans.
Albums
- 1985 - Fatal Flowers (mini-album)
- 1986 - Younger Days
- 1988 - Johnny D. Is Back!
- 1990 - Pleasure Ground
- 1993 - Fatal Flowers (mini-album Fatal Flowers and album Younger Days released on one CD)
- 2002 - Younger Days - The Definitive Fatal Flowers (compilation album)
Singles
- 1985 - "Billy" / "Who Loves The Sun"
- 1986 - "Younger Days" / "White Mustang"
- 1987 - "Well Baby Pt. 2" / "Deep Inside"
- 1988 - "Movin' Target" / "Johnny D. Is Back!"
- 1988 - "Rock & Roll Star" / "No Expectations" / "Younger Days"
- 1988 - "Second Chance" / "Second Chance"
- 1990 - "Better Times" / "Heroes"
- 1990 - "Both Ends Burning" / "Burning"
- 1990 - "How Many Years" / "Speed Of Life"