Jan Bechtum
Encyclopedia
Jan Bechtum is a Dutch
guitarist and composer.
Bechtum was the first lead guitarist of Picture
. He was influenced by Deep Purple
, (mainly Ritchie Blackmore
), Yes
and Genesis
.
In 1979 after having played in a few local bands, he got involved with Picture
and was responsible for writing most of the songs for their first 3 albums. He left the band for personal reasons in 1983, right after their tour in Israel
.
In 1992 and 1993, he performed in the gospel rock band Changed
where he played with drummer Mark Maas. When that band stopped in 1993, Jan and Mark decided to try something and reformed Picture
. With bass player Johannes Adema and vocalist Michel Zandbergen, the band recorded a demo and did a few good shows in the Netherlands
. However, Jan decided to quit playing live performances in 1997 because of the growing violence in the Dutch nightlife.
Bechtum's favourite guitar is a Fender Stratocaster
. While with Picture
, he plugged straight into a Marshall with no effects.
Recently (late 2007), Jan and the original members of Picture
, with Ronald van Prooijen
, teamed up for a reunion rehearsal. It went so well that they decided to continue rehearsing for some concert dates, and considered recording a new album in early 2008 with Shmoulik Avigal from the Diamond Dreamer
lineup as their singer.
As of mid 2008, a permanent lineup was established with Jan, Rinus Vreugdenhil
, Laurens Bakker
, Rob vanEnkhuizen, and Pete Lovell. They are currently playing throughout Europe
to very enthusiastic crowds. A limited edition live album was recorded at various venues and was released by the band. Plans are to go into the studio in early 2009 to record a new CD with new songs, two of which appeared on the limited edition CD.
The album Old Dogs, New Tricks was released on October 1, 2009 on the MarsMountains label. It contains 12 songs of all new material, released 30 years from when the band first formed.
On December 18, 2009, Jan announced his departure from Picture. He is being replaced by Peter Bourbon.
In October 2010, Jan revealed he formed a new band, Diamond Dreamer (named after the classic 1982 album), with 2 former Picture members Rob van Enkhuizen (g) and Jacques van Oevelen (dr), and also singer Martin van der Meyde and bassist Sander "Odie" Op Den Kelder.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
guitarist and composer.
Bechtum was the first lead guitarist of Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
. He was influenced by Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, (mainly Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
), Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
.
In 1979 after having played in a few local bands, he got involved with Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
and was responsible for writing most of the songs for their first 3 albums. He left the band for personal reasons in 1983, right after their tour in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
In 1992 and 1993, he performed in the gospel rock band Changed
Change (band)
Change was an Italian-American post-disco group formed in Bologna, Italy in 1979 by businessman and executive producer Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi...
where he played with drummer Mark Maas. When that band stopped in 1993, Jan and Mark decided to try something and reformed Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
. With bass player Johannes Adema and vocalist Michel Zandbergen, the band recorded a demo and did a few good shows in the Netherlands
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...
. However, Jan decided to quit playing live performances in 1997 because of the growing violence in the Dutch nightlife.
Bechtum's favourite guitar is a Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
. While with Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
, he plugged straight into a Marshall with no effects.
Recently (late 2007), Jan and the original members of Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
, with Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen was the original singer of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Ronald started out in the band Fragma. He originally sang and played a little guitar but decided to stick to singing. He'd been hanging around with Laurens Bakker and Rinus Vreugdenhil as they went through various...
, teamed up for a reunion rehearsal. It went so well that they decided to continue rehearsing for some concert dates, and considered recording a new album in early 2008 with Shmoulik Avigal from the Diamond Dreamer
Diamond Dreamer
Diamond Dreamer is the third album by the metal group Picture, which was released in July 1982.In order to improve on the audio quality of their first two albums, Picture recorded Diamond Dreamer with the help of Saxon producer Pete Hinton....
lineup as their singer.
As of mid 2008, a permanent lineup was established with Jan, Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil is the bass player and longest standing member of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Rinus started out in the band Lemming as the bass player and sound mixer. He chose bass because he liked the low sound. In 1977, he met up with Laurens Bakker and with various musicians, started...
, Laurens Bakker
Laurens Bakker
Laurens Bakker is the original drummer for the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Laurens, known as "Bakkie," started playing drums in various bands including Fase 5 and then John Ridge and Coccoon. In 1977, he met up with Rinus Vreugdenhil and with various musicians, started Picture...
, Rob vanEnkhuizen, and Pete Lovell. They are currently playing throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to very enthusiastic crowds. A limited edition live album was recorded at various venues and was released by the band. Plans are to go into the studio in early 2009 to record a new CD with new songs, two of which appeared on the limited edition CD.
The album Old Dogs, New Tricks was released on October 1, 2009 on the MarsMountains label. It contains 12 songs of all new material, released 30 years from when the band first formed.
On December 18, 2009, Jan announced his departure from Picture. He is being replaced by Peter Bourbon.
In October 2010, Jan revealed he formed a new band, Diamond Dreamer (named after the classic 1982 album), with 2 former Picture members Rob van Enkhuizen (g) and Jacques van Oevelen (dr), and also singer Martin van der Meyde and bassist Sander "Odie" Op Den Kelder.