The Outsiders (Dutch band)

The Outsiders
Origin Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres Garage rock, Psychedelic rock
Years active 1964–1969
Labels Muziek Express Op-Art, Relax, Polydor, Pseudonym
Past members Wally Tax
Ronnie Splinter
Appie Rammers
Tom Krabbendam
Leendert Busch
Frank Beek

The Outsiders were a Dutch band from Amsterdam. Their period of greatest popularity in the Netherlands was from 1965–67, but they released records until 1969. In recent years their legacy has extended beyond the Netherlands, and the group is today recognized as a distinctive exemplars of the garage rock genre.

Career overview

Wally Tax during a TV performance of The Outsiders in 1968

Featuring Wally Tax (vocals), Ronnie Splinter (guitar), Appie Rammers (bass guitar), Tom Krabbendam (guitar), Leendert "Buzz" Busch (drums), and Frank Beek (bass guitar 1968-1969), the band exemplified the "Nederbeat Sound", a raw, Dutch take on rock 'n' roll created in the wake of the 1960s British Invasion. Unlike the many European bands influenced by The Beatles, The Outsiders took their cues from harder-edged British groups like The Pretty Things (who frequently toured the Netherlands) and The Rolling Stones. In November 1965, in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Outsiders opened for Stones' second Dutch concert. Other critics have cited influences for the Outsiders as wide-ranging as Buddy Holly, Jacques Brel, and Love (band), as well as Eastern European folk influence from Tax's Russian Romani ethnic roots. The Outsiders developed a reputation for a wild and raucous stage act, and were eventually banned from various venues.

The Outsiders released three full-length records, Outsiders and the singles collection Songbook in 1967, and C.Q. in 1968. The latter sold poorly upon release but is now considered a masterpiece of psychedelic garage rock. The band also released thirteen singles, including 1967's "Summer Is Here," which reached the Top Ten on the Dutch charts.[1] Their eponymous debut album, which featured one side of studio recordings and another taken from their live show, also sold well during this period. Unusually for this era, the band never recorded any covers. While several Dutch pop groups of the era — namely Tee Set ("Ma Belle Amie"), Shocking Blue ("Venus"), and the George Baker Selection ("Little Green Bag") — all had hits in the United States on the Colossus label, resulting in what some music pundits jokingly called the "Dutch Invasion," the Outsiders were unable to join in on this success as their records were never released in the U.S.

The final year, reunion

After the summer of '67, many of the Nederbeat bands fell from commercial favor, including The Outsiders. Later, Outsiders singles had lower chart peaks, and personnel changes, friction, poor promotion and management problems followed. Experiments and changes in musical style, though critically well-regarded today, only served to alienate the band's fanbase. The group began attempting publicity stunts in the hopes of building interest. These included dressing in medieval costumes, and staging a haircut for lead singer Wally Tax on Dutch television.

By autumn of 1969, Ronnie Splinter quit music for a while. The band disbanded, with Tax and Busch forming Tax Free, in the early 1970s, in U.S., where they recorded one album.[2][3]

A reunion tour of the four original Outsiders took place in October 1997. Wally Tax died in 2005.

Legacy

The Outsiders are the subject of an official biography, Outsiders voor Insiders (1997), written in Dutch by Jerome Blanes; the English version Outsiders by Insiders was published in December 2009. Two collections of photographs, The Outsiders Picture Book, Volume 1 and The Outsiders Picture Book, Volume 2 and two scrapbooks with articles have also been published.

Reportedly, Kurt Cobain was a fan of the Outsiders and made an unsuccessful attempt to meet Wally Tax.[1]

When the Clash first formed they called themselves the Outsiders. A friend then showed them a record by the Outsiders, and they changed their name to the Clash.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Compilations

References

  1. 1 2 "The Outsiders' Touch: Articles, The Wally Tax Interview". Pop Floor. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  2. ↑ "The Outsiders by Richard Mason". Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  3. ↑ "The Outsiders Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-03-28.

External links

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