Laurens Bakker
Laurens Bakker [1] 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. By 1979, Jan Bechtum and Ronald van Prooijen had joined the band for their first stable (and the classic) lineup. He remained with the band through their Eternal Dark album, but had to leave for personal reasons, as the gruel of touring, their bad luck with management, and having to support a family took a toll.
Laruens' influences included Carmine Appice, Vinnie Appice, John Bonham, Phil Rudd, and Cozy Powell. He used a Rogers Drums nine piece, double bass set and Paiste cymbals.
Recently (late 2007), Laurens 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 Laurens, Rinus Vreugdenhil, Jan Bechtum, 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.