Kayak (band)
Encyclopedia
Kayak are a Dutch
progressive rock
band formed in 1972 in the city Hilversum
by Ton Scherpenzeel
and Pim Koopman
. In 1973, their debut album "See See The Sun" was released, including 3 hit singles. Their main popularity was in the Netherlands
, with their top hit (Ruthless Queen) reaching #6 on the Dutch
charts in March 1979. They disbanded in 1982 after releasing nine albums.
In 1999 the band was asked to perform on the TV show De Vrienden van Amstel Live. After this performance, they decided to reform and have released six studio albums and three live albums since. On January 4, 2008 they released Coming Up For Air
. That same day saw the start of their 35th anniversary-tour. On 7 October 2008, they ended the tour at the Paradiso
in Amsterdam. The concert was released on CD and DVD as The Anniversary Box in December 2008.
In October 2009 the band embarked on a Dutch tour. According to Ton Scherpenzeel (on the band's website), after that tour Kayak would no longer do the album-tour-album-tour cycle. They would probably keep on making new music though, as Scherpenzeel stated. But the sudden and unexpected passing away of Pim Koopman in November 2009 (halfway through the tour) made the future of the band very uncertain.
In May 2010, the band's website announced a tribute concert for Pim Koopman. The concert was held on November 22 at the Paradiso
. It involved not only Kayak, but also some artists with whom Koopman had worked in the past. Some of the names that appeared on stage: Pussycat, Caren Maywood, Alides Hidding, José Hoebee and Michael Robinson. Okkie Huysdens (with whom Koopman formed The President) and Jeroen Engelbert (one of many members of Koopman's band Diesel
) also performed. For the occasion, Kayak used Hans Voerman as an extra keyboard player. The drumstool was occupied by Hans Eijkenaar. After the concert, Kayak announced that Eijkenaar was the new drummer of Kayak. With Eijkenaar on drums, Kayak released their latest album Anywhere But Here
in september 2011.
is the only member that plays on every Kayak album. Apart from keyboards, he also plays accordion, occasional bass guitar (for instance on the entire "Nostradamus" album) and double bass. He also provides backing vocals, and sings lead vocals on the song Love's Aglow on the original "Merlin" album.
Singer/drummer Max Werner
does lead vocals on the first 5 albums. Being bored with his own singing voice, he switched to drums and percussion for the following 4 albums. In 1999 he returned as lead singer for the "Close To The Fire" album. After that album he did a short tour with Kayak, but left the band in 2000. Max has made 4 solo-albums, and he had a hit in Europe in 1981 with the single Rain In May.
Johan Slager
played guitar on every album until the split in 1982. He joined the band for the occasional live performances in the nineties, but he was not involved in the reunion of 1999. He was replaced by Rob Winter, who played on 3 albums before Joost Vergoossen became the next (and current) lead guitarist.
Drummer Pim Koopman
was also a founder member. After "The Last Encore" he decided to leave the band. This was due to health problems/stage fright, but it also helped that he was offered a job as a full-time producer. As a producer he was quite successful with Dutch artists as Maywood, Valensia, Robby Valentine and Petra Berger. He came back as drummer of Kayak in 1999 and did not leave the drum stool until his death on 23 November 2009, aged 56. Apart from drums, Pim played occasional keyboards and guitar, as well as providing lead and backing vocals.
Original bass player Cees van Leeuwen left in 1975 to concentrate on his studies. He became a lawyer, and in 2002 he became the Dutch State Secretary of Culture and Media in the short lived Balkenende 1 cabinet.
In Kayak he was replaced by Bert Veldkamp, who played bass in 1975-1976 and returned for the 1999 reunion. After the 2003 album "Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen", Bert left Kayak because he could not combine his work in a band with his own career.
Peter Scherpenzeel, Ton's younger brother, was Kayak's roadie in the early days. In 1978, he joined as the band's bass player, when Theo de Jong left after just one album. Peter played bass on Kayak's best-selling album "Phantom Of The Night", as well as on the 3 following albums. He now owns a Tiffany lamp studio in Amsterdam.
Long time Kayak fan Edward Reekers
became lead singer in 1978, when Max Werner
changed to drums. The first song he recorded was "Ruthless Queen", which became Kayak's biggest hit. He remained lead singer until 1982. After that he did 2 solo albums, and earned his money as a backing vocalist, doing commercials, and lending his voice to cartoon movies and children's TV-shows. When singer Bert Heerink had other commitments in 2003, Edward replaced him at some "Merlin" concerts. It was the beginning of his comeback, which became reality with the "Nostradamus" album in 2005 on which Edward plays the part of the monk. After that album, Bert Heerink left the band and Edward was Kayak's only lead singer again. That is, male lead singer; in 2003, female singer Cindy Oudshoorn had joined Kayak for the "Merlin" album and tour, and she decided to stay.
From 1978 until 1981, Kayak was augmented by two female background singers. Katherine Lapthorn, wife of bassist Peter Scherpenzeel, sang on three studio albums. After the split in 1982 she left the music business. Ton Scherpenzeel's wife Irene Linders not only sang backing vocals, but also developed into the band's main lyricist. When Kayak reunited in 1999, she became the band's manager.
Bert Heerink (ex Vandenberg
) was asked to help the band out on tour in 2000. The plan was that on stage he would do the songs that Edward Reekers
did originally, leaving more room for Max Werner
to do his own Kayak songs and play percussion. But when Max left, he was not replaced, so Bert became lead singer. He did 3 studio albums and one live album, before concentrating on his solo career.
Rob Vunderink joined in 2001, as extra guitarist and vocalist. Rob is an experienced musician, who played in many Dutch bands since the sixties. Most notable was his collaboration with Pim Koopman
in Diesel
. (This band reached the 25th place in the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Sausalito Summernight".)
In 2005, Jan van Olffen joined Kayak as their bassplayer. He previously worked with Sister Sledge
amongst others, and he played in the houseband for many Dutch stage musicals.
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...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band formed in 1972 in the city Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
by Ton Scherpenzeel
Ton Scherpenzeel
Ton Scherpenzeel is a keyboardist and a founding member of the Dutch rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum ....
and Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
. In 1973, their debut album "See See The Sun" was released, including 3 hit singles. Their main popularity was 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...
, with their top hit (Ruthless Queen) reaching #6 on the Dutch
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...
charts in March 1979. They disbanded in 1982 after releasing nine albums.
In 1999 the band was asked to perform on the TV show De Vrienden van Amstel Live. After this performance, they decided to reform and have released six studio albums and three live albums since. On January 4, 2008 they released Coming Up For Air
Coming Up For Air (Kayak album)
Coming Up For Air is a studio album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was released in 2008. The song "Undecided" was a single in The Netherlands, featuring the non-albumtrack "Beat The Clock".- Track listing :...
. That same day saw the start of their 35th anniversary-tour. On 7 October 2008, they ended the tour at the Paradiso
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
in Amsterdam. The concert was released on CD and DVD as The Anniversary Box in December 2008.
In October 2009 the band embarked on a Dutch tour. According to Ton Scherpenzeel (on the band's website), after that tour Kayak would no longer do the album-tour-album-tour cycle. They would probably keep on making new music though, as Scherpenzeel stated. But the sudden and unexpected passing away of Pim Koopman in November 2009 (halfway through the tour) made the future of the band very uncertain.
In May 2010, the band's website announced a tribute concert for Pim Koopman. The concert was held on November 22 at the Paradiso
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
. It involved not only Kayak, but also some artists with whom Koopman had worked in the past. Some of the names that appeared on stage: Pussycat, Caren Maywood, Alides Hidding, José Hoebee and Michael Robinson. Okkie Huysdens (with whom Koopman formed The President) and Jeroen Engelbert (one of many members of Koopman's band Diesel
Diesel (band)
Diesel was a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the few Dutch acts to chart in the U.S. when their song "Sausalito Summernight" entered the U.S. Top 40 in 1981.-Biography:Diesel was created in October 1978 by ex-Kayak drummer Pim Koopman...
) also performed. For the occasion, Kayak used Hans Voerman as an extra keyboard player. The drumstool was occupied by Hans Eijkenaar. After the concert, Kayak announced that Eijkenaar was the new drummer of Kayak. With Eijkenaar on drums, Kayak released their latest album Anywhere But Here
Anywhere But Here (Kayak album)
'Anywhere but here' is the title of the sixteenth studio album of Dutch band Kayak. It is the first album with drummer Hans Eijkenaar. He replaces Pim Koopman, who died in 2009.- Track listing :# "Credible lie"# "November morning"# "Behind the scenes"...
in september 2011.
History
Co-founder Ton ScherpenzeelTon Scherpenzeel
Ton Scherpenzeel is a keyboardist and a founding member of the Dutch rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum ....
is the only member that plays on every Kayak album. Apart from keyboards, he also plays accordion, occasional bass guitar (for instance on the entire "Nostradamus" album) and double bass. He also provides backing vocals, and sings lead vocals on the song Love's Aglow on the original "Merlin" album.
Singer/drummer Max Werner
Max Werner
Max Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....
does lead vocals on the first 5 albums. Being bored with his own singing voice, he switched to drums and percussion for the following 4 albums. In 1999 he returned as lead singer for the "Close To The Fire" album. After that album he did a short tour with Kayak, but left the band in 2000. Max has made 4 solo-albums, and he had a hit in Europe in 1981 with the single Rain In May.
Johan Slager
Johan Slager
Johan Slager is the original guitar player of the Dutch Progressive Rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman and Max Werner in 1972. He left the band in 1982 after 9 albums, and returned briefly for a couple of performances in the 1990s...
played guitar on every album until the split in 1982. He joined the band for the occasional live performances in the nineties, but he was not involved in the reunion of 1999. He was replaced by Rob Winter, who played on 3 albums before Joost Vergoossen became the next (and current) lead guitarist.
Drummer Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
was also a founder member. After "The Last Encore" he decided to leave the band. This was due to health problems/stage fright, but it also helped that he was offered a job as a full-time producer. As a producer he was quite successful with Dutch artists as Maywood, Valensia, Robby Valentine and Petra Berger. He came back as drummer of Kayak in 1999 and did not leave the drum stool until his death on 23 November 2009, aged 56. Apart from drums, Pim played occasional keyboards and guitar, as well as providing lead and backing vocals.
Original bass player Cees van Leeuwen left in 1975 to concentrate on his studies. He became a lawyer, and in 2002 he became the Dutch State Secretary of Culture and Media in the short lived Balkenende 1 cabinet.
In Kayak he was replaced by Bert Veldkamp, who played bass in 1975-1976 and returned for the 1999 reunion. After the 2003 album "Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen", Bert left Kayak because he could not combine his work in a band with his own career.
Peter Scherpenzeel, Ton's younger brother, was Kayak's roadie in the early days. In 1978, he joined as the band's bass player, when Theo de Jong left after just one album. Peter played bass on Kayak's best-selling album "Phantom Of The Night", as well as on the 3 following albums. He now owns a Tiffany lamp studio in Amsterdam.
Long time Kayak fan Edward Reekers
Edward Reekers
Edward Reekers is a Dutch singer. Most notable is his work as lead singer for Dutch progressive rock band Kayak.Having been a fan of the band for years, Reekers joined Kayak in 1978. He replaced Max Werner, who became the band's drummer. With Reekers as the new lead singer, Kayak immediately...
became lead singer in 1978, when Max Werner
Max Werner
Max Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....
changed to drums. The first song he recorded was "Ruthless Queen", which became Kayak's biggest hit. He remained lead singer until 1982. After that he did 2 solo albums, and earned his money as a backing vocalist, doing commercials, and lending his voice to cartoon movies and children's TV-shows. When singer Bert Heerink had other commitments in 2003, Edward replaced him at some "Merlin" concerts. It was the beginning of his comeback, which became reality with the "Nostradamus" album in 2005 on which Edward plays the part of the monk. After that album, Bert Heerink left the band and Edward was Kayak's only lead singer again. That is, male lead singer; in 2003, female singer Cindy Oudshoorn had joined Kayak for the "Merlin" album and tour, and she decided to stay.
From 1978 until 1981, Kayak was augmented by two female background singers. Katherine Lapthorn, wife of bassist Peter Scherpenzeel, sang on three studio albums. After the split in 1982 she left the music business. Ton Scherpenzeel's wife Irene Linders not only sang backing vocals, but also developed into the band's main lyricist. When Kayak reunited in 1999, she became the band's manager.
Bert Heerink (ex Vandenberg
Vandenberg (band)
Vandenberg was a Dutch hard rock band named after guitarist Ad "Adje" van den Berg -Career:In 1981, Van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Griff "Studly" McGrath, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser...
) was asked to help the band out on tour in 2000. The plan was that on stage he would do the songs that Edward Reekers
Edward Reekers
Edward Reekers is a Dutch singer. Most notable is his work as lead singer for Dutch progressive rock band Kayak.Having been a fan of the band for years, Reekers joined Kayak in 1978. He replaced Max Werner, who became the band's drummer. With Reekers as the new lead singer, Kayak immediately...
did originally, leaving more room for Max Werner
Max Werner
Max Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....
to do his own Kayak songs and play percussion. But when Max left, he was not replaced, so Bert became lead singer. He did 3 studio albums and one live album, before concentrating on his solo career.
Rob Vunderink joined in 2001, as extra guitarist and vocalist. Rob is an experienced musician, who played in many Dutch bands since the sixties. Most notable was his collaboration with Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
in Diesel
Diesel (band)
Diesel was a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the few Dutch acts to chart in the U.S. when their song "Sausalito Summernight" entered the U.S. Top 40 in 1981.-Biography:Diesel was created in October 1978 by ex-Kayak drummer Pim Koopman...
. (This band reached the 25th place in the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Sausalito Summernight".)
In 2005, Jan van Olffen joined Kayak as their bassplayer. He previously worked with Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
amongst others, and he played in the houseband for many Dutch stage musicals.
Studio albums
- See See The SunSee See the SunSee see the sun is the first album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released in 1973 and reissued with two bonus tracks in 1995....
(1973) - Kayak IIKayak II (album)Kayak II is the second album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released in 1974 and reissued with a bonus track in 1995....
(1974) - Royal Bed BouncerRoyal Bed BouncerRoyal Bed Bouncer is the third album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, released in 1975. Their progressive approach from the first two albums was mixed with a more basic pop/rock sound. Nine of the ten songs were written by Ton Scherpenzeel, with Pim Koopman only contributing the instrumental...
(1975) - The Last EncoreThe Last EncoreThe Last Encore is the fourth album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released in 1976 and issued on CD in 1995, with a re-release in 2002....
(1976) - Starlight DancerStarlight DancerStarlight Dancer is a 1977 album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was produced by Jack Lancaster and Kayak. It was released on the Janus label .-Track Listing :Side 1...
(1977) - Phantom of the NightPhantom of the NightPhantom of the Night is the 6th studio album by Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. "Ruthless Queen" was released as a single, becoming the bands biggest hit, nearing the top of the charts in The Netherlands....
(1979) - Periscope LifePeriscope LifePeriscope Life is the seventh album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, originally released on LP in 1980. The first CD issue had 2 bonus tracks. In 1998, the album was part of the Double CD 3 Originals...
(1980) - MerlinMerlin (Kayak album)Merlin is the eighth studio album by Dutch band Kayak. The first half of the original LP is a concept-story about Merlin the magician. The second half of the LP is a collection of individual songs....
(1981) - EyewitnessEyewitness (Kayak album)Eyewitness is an album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. The original LP was released in 1981. The album was recorded 'live' in a recording studio, with some overdubs added later. To create a 'live' atmosphere, Kayak fans were invited later to cheer and clap to the already recorded songs...
(1981) ("Live" studio album) - Close To The Fire (2000)
- Night VisionNight Vision (Kayak album)Night Vision is a studio album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, released in 2001. It was the first studio album with singer Bert Heerink. Heerink had joined Kayak in 1999, to help original singer Max Werner on songs from the past that were originally sung by Kayak's second lead singer, Edward...
(2001) - Merlin - Bard Of The UnseenMerlin - Bard of the UnseenMerlin - Bard Of The Unseen is a studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. This concept-album is a new version of side 1 of their 1981 album Merlin, with nine new songs added....
(2003) - Nostradamus - The Fate Of ManNostradamus - The Fate Of ManNostradamus - The Fate Of Man is a studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. This concept-album tells the story of French doctor and seer Nostradamus, but from the viewpoint of a Flemish monk, Yves de Lessines. The theory behind this is that Nostradamus was not the writer of his...
(2005) (Double CD) - Excerpts From NostradamusExcerpts From NostradamusExcerpts From Nostradamus - The Fate Of Man is a studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It is a shorter version of their double album Nostradamus - The Fate Of Man. The single CD contains 11 songs, plus "The Story Behind Nostradamus" in Dutch and English...
(2005) (Single CD) - Coming Up For AirComing Up For Air (Kayak album)Coming Up For Air is a studio album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was released in 2008. The song "Undecided" was a single in The Netherlands, featuring the non-albumtrack "Beat The Clock".- Track listing :...
(2008) - Letters From Utopia (2009)
- Anywhere But HereAnywhere But Here (Kayak album)'Anywhere but here' is the title of the sixteenth studio album of Dutch band Kayak. It is the first album with drummer Hans Eijkenaar. He replaces Pim Koopman, who died in 2009.- Track listing :# "Credible lie"# "November morning"# "Behind the scenes"...
(2011)
Live albums
- Chance For A LivetimeChance for a Live Time (Kayak album)Chance For A Live Time is a live album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, released in 2001. It was the first real live album of the band. In 1981 they had released a live album called Eyewitness. But that album was recorded in a recording studio, without audience.This album was the first with...
(2001) (Double CD) - KayakousticKayakousticKayakoustic is a live album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. The album was recorded during their acoustic tour of 2006/2007. The recordings were made on 23 November 2006 at theatre "Het Kielzog" in Hoogezand-Sappemeer and on 31 January 2007 at theatre "De Dialoog" in Ermelo .The first 14...
(2007) - The Anniversary Concert (2008) (Double CD + 'Highlights' DVD)
- The Anniversary Box (2008) (4 CD + DVD)
External links
- Official site
- Pim Koopman's site
- Peter Scherpenzeel's site
- Interview with Ton Scherpenzeel on Kayak's 35th anniversary (September 2007)
- http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=13&jaar=1979&maand=3&pos=6 Official Dutch Top-40 of march 31, 1979