Heideroosjes

Heideroosjes
Heideroosjes Picture: John Klijnen
Background information
Origin	Horst, Netherlands
Genres	Punk rock
Years active	1989–2012
Labels	Epitaph Records, PIAS, I Scream Records, Sonic Rendezvous
Website	http://www.heideroosjes.com/
Members	Marco Roelofs Frank Kleuskens Fred Houben Igor Hobus

Heideroosjes (pronounced: hi-duh-rose-yes,^[1] HR in short), were a Dutch punk rock band from Horst aan de Maas. The band is known for their energetic shows (of which they've played over 1500) and songs with lyrics mostly in Dutch and English, and a few songs in German and Limburgs (a dialect spoken in the Dutch province of Limburg). The band, formed in 1989, consists of Marco Roelofs (vocals/guitar), Frank Kleuskens (guitar), Fred Houben (Bass) and Igor Hobus (percussion).

The band's name is a Dutch colloquial name for a little wild plant (Catsfoot Antennaria dioica, usually called Rozenkransje in Dutch) which grows in open fields. By dictionary it means "heath roses" and was chosen for its ironic contrast with the many punk band names that reflect dark or violent themes. The name is derived from a cabaret conference of Belgian comedian Urbanus, who mockingly said he wrote a song for "a Limburg punk band called Heideroosjes".

History

1990s

After releasing two albums on their self-founded label Fairytale Records^[2] Heideroosjes got its nationwide breakthrough in 1995 by opening the prestigious Pinkpop festival in The Netherlands. In 1998 the band signed a worldwide record deal with the world's biggest punk label epitaph records, based in Hollywood (CA).

In 1999, the band makes its first TV-appearance in the United States when talkshow host Jerry Springer plays some live-footage of their song "Jerry Rules In The Land Of The Free". In this song, taken from their album SCHIZO, Heideroosjes voice their opinion on (semi-reality) TV shows like The Jerry Springer show.

In the meantime Heideroosjes tours (mainly) Europe with familiar bands like The Offspring, Pennywise, The Misfits, Bad Religion and Less Than Jake.

2000s

In 2004, the Heideroosjes tour bus was involved in a serious accident. Three roadies were wounded, and one roadie was seriously injured. The band cancelled their tour but continued a few weeks later. Later that year, Heideroosjes received their first Dutch Grammy Award for their single "Damclub Hooligan" (from their album SINema). In March 2004 the band appeared for the first time live in the US when they played at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.

In November and December 2005 Heideroosjes did an Ode to the Ramones tour in the Netherlands and Belgium, during this tour they only played covers from their heroes: The Ramones. They dressed like them and called themselves Ramroosjes.

In 2006, Heideroosjes made international news by making a song with the mayor of Maastricht, Gerd Leers. In this song called "Dope man"^[3] they mock the Dutch soft drug policy, which in their eyes is hypocritical. A few weeks later the Dutch minister of Justice, Piet Hein Donner, recorded a rap song with rapper Meester G responding to 'Dope man' by defending his soft drug policy. Later that year Heideroosjes record their eighth album with Los Angeles based producer Cameron Webb who worked with bands like Motörhead, Ignite, Social Distortion and Silverstein. Motörhead singer Lemmy features on the song "My Funeral". Even as Ignite leadsinger Zoli Teglas who sings in the song "Forgotten Continent".

After years of touring the world including Japan, South Africa, and former Yugoslavia, Heideroosjes started a new phase in their career. In 2008 the band did a 1980s shows counting comedy tour called "Manie Manie". In this show the music seemed less important and there's more focus on stories, acting and comedy.

In 2009 Heideroosjes celebrated 20 years touring with no line-up changes; the anniversary was marked by a double-album and an extensive tour through Europe.

After a 'sabbatical year' in 2010 the band returned to touring and announced a new album for 2011. In September of that year Heideroosjes announce the new studio album Cease-Fire will be their last one. "After this album and the tour, we're gonna quit" the band states. Main reason for the split according to the band members: "We still love to play and being on stage. But we are fed up with all the business that comes along with being in a professional band. We had a great time and travelled all over the world. We lived our dreams. And we believe it's better to burn out than to fade away".

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music Videos

• "A Bag Full of Stories"
• "Billy Broke a Bottle (Again)"
• "Break the Public Peace"
• "Damclub Hooligan"
• "Da’s Toch Dope Man!"
• "De Wereld Draait Door"
• "Doe maar net alsof je neus bloedt"
• "Ik Wil Niks!"
• "Iedereen Is Gek (Behalve Jij)"
• "Lekker Belangrijk!"
• "My Funeral"
• "Scapegoat Revolution"
• "Weg van de meeste weerstand"
• "Wurst & Kase"

Videos and DVDs

• DVD: Bag Full of Stories 2004 (live videos and documentary)
• DVD: A Year in the Life of... 2006 (3 live concerts, a Punkmovie from the Heideroosjes in America and a parody on a Dutch talkshow called Jensen!)
• VHS: 12.5 year anniversary concert VHS 2002 (live concert, shot on the 8 of June 2002 @ Paradiso, Amsterdam

Songs covered by Heideroosjes

• "Let me tell you this" (cover from The Bips 1989)
• "De padvindersclub" (cover from Bert Vaan Albers Toen 1986)
• "Don't do it" (cover from The Boegies)
• "Livin' in the city" (cover from FEAR)
• "Ich liebe Ulrike" (cover from Mort Subite 1980)
• "Sit back, zapp, grow fat & die!" (cover from Brezhnev)
• "Enjoy The Silence" (cover from Depeche Mode)
• Ramones-parade ("Teenage Lobotomy" / "I Wanna Be Sedated" / "The KKK Took My Baby Away")
• "Liever dan lief" (cover from Doe Maar)
• "Wannabe" (cover from Spice Girls)
• "Da doo ron ron" (cover from The Crystals)
• "Holland Brandt" (cover from The Clash)
• "Welterusten Meneer de President" (cover from Boudewijn De Groot)
• "Marmor, stein und eisen bricht" (cover from Drafi Deutscher)
• "The Ring of Fire" (cover from Jonny Cash)
• "Candy" sung together with Sharon of Within Temptation (cover from Iggy Pop)
• "The Riddle" (cover from Nik Kershaw)

References

External links

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Heideroosjes at popinstituut.nl
• Fabchannel.com - Watch the entire 2006 Heideroosjes show at Paradiso, Amsterdam