Freeway (band)
Encyclopedia
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
rock group from Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
, founded by Wim Bos (baseplayer) and Dick Visser (drums) in 1967. Their rock & roll-like style of music is broadly comparable to the Rolling Stones. The founding musicians were:
- Dick Visser - drums and lead singer
- Wim Bos - bass guitar
- Elly van Zoelen - singer
- Roy van Driessen - rhythm guitar
- Gijs Westerning - lead guitar
By adding a new lead singer George Legierse and replacement of both guitarists Gijs and Roy by Hans van Hamersveld the band was becoming better known outside the region of Utrecht.
History
During their early years the band played abroad, typically for the British Forces in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. They played lots of English songs, like the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, the Beatles and Them
Them (band)
Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
.
Once the singer asked a fellow if the English pronunciation of the songs was right. The chap had no problem with that. Over the years, many changes in the band's lineup has occurred, but Legierse and Van Hamersveld have been at the core of the band.
At the celebrationparty of George becoming 50 years old Hans had arranged a drummer, which George didn't recognise until he spoke some words. As a surprise it was actually the first drumsplayer Dick Visser himself!
In 2006 Susan Langeveld joined the band for a short time. That was a chance to add some different style music. Jimi Hendrix, Joe Walsh and Susan Tedeschi songs were added.
The band collapsed in September 2006, which caused George to be left alone as only member of this band. In September 2007 George did gather the two guitarplayers from the band SHOCKPROOF (coverband), together with Ronnie Defilé (played about 15 years ago in Freeway).His Dad, Joop Defilé, once replaced Hans van Hamersveld, when he broke his hip.
Theo, who had also left for almost a year, returned again and after 5 rehearsels the band had the courage to do a tryout on November 17th. This was also the celebration of the 40 years that the band exists. More than 30 people visited this reunion, among them some former musicians of the band. Pike, one of the 3 brothers of George, was invited to join on stage to sing some lyrics.
During this celebration the momentarely musicians where:
- George Legierse - lead singer
- Jos van den Hoven - guitar, sax, bluesharp
- Willem van doezelaar - guitar
- Theo van Marsbergen - bass guitar (left band for 12 months but returned)
- Ronnie Defilé - drums
On june 18 2010 Band Lifepak (with singer Pike) played together with Freeway in Café De Noot in Hoogland, where international artists regularly do their performances. See http://www.denoot.nl/start.htm and http://www.stadamersfoort.nl/page/Lokaal/Regionaal/Uit/Cultuur/.608787.news
After 44 burning years at this moment on stage (2011):
- George Legierse - lead singer
- Hans van Hamersveld - guitar
- Theo van Marsbergen - bass guitar
- Marcel Gunsing - drums
- Ted Bekker - Harmonica