Henny Vrienten

Henny Vrienten (born July 27, 1948 in Hilvarenbeek) is a Dutch composer of TV- and film-scores. He is best known as the singer, songwriter and bassist of the popular 1980s ska pop band Doe Maar.^[1]

History

Early days

Vrienten began his career in the late 1960s as a member of local outfit Les Cruches. In the early 1970s he wrote songs for others and released his first single as Ruby Carmichael. In 1977 Vrienten released his debut solo-album Paul Santos which he recorded US producer Tom Salisbury. Lift Me Up Higher was extracted as a single. Vrienten did not have fond memories of the album.

Doe Maar

Meanwhile Vrienten began to work with singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot in the studio and on stage. While recording the 1975-album Waar ik woon en wie ik ben (Where I live and who I am) he met keyboard-player Ernst Jansz and drummer Johnny Lodewijks. The latter suggested to form a reggae-band. The Rumbones (Rumboon; Dutch alcohol-filled chocolate), led by the vocals of French Toots-soundalike Cris Lester, toured from October 13 to November 12, 1977 and split up immediately afterwards. Vrienten moved on to Sammie America's Gasphetti, recorded demos at his garage and did another tour with de Groot. Jansz offers him to join his band Doe Maar but Vrienten turns it down, questioning the survival prospects of a Dutch-language group playing for fun. In 1980 he changed his mind after ending the relationship with his wife and her two teenage kids. Vrienten joined Doe Maar in time for the recording of their second album; he delivered three songs and co-designed the green/pink-sleeve as the band's trademark colours.

Skunk is belatedly released in March 1981, 32 Jaar (32 Years) being the lead single and a hit. Follow-up Smoorverliefd (Smitten) misses the Top 40, but with the 1982-released Doris Day (a complaint against TV boredom) Doe Maar break through and become key-figures of the New Dutch Wave-explosion. Initially they enjoy their newfound popularity, but six months down the line doubts started to come in.

In March 1983, by which time the fourth album Virus (4US) is released, Doe Maar announce a six-month publicity-ban (i.e., no interviews and radio-/TV-appearances). This completely backfires as Doe Maar-mania grew even bigger.

In between tours of Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles, Henny records his first Dutch-language solo-album, Geen Ballade' which he releases in March 1984, a few weeks before Doe Maar play two farewell shows for live broadcast.

Instead of embarking on a solo-tour, Vrienten decides to stretch himself by writing TV and film-scores and producing for other artists, including Dutch-born Belgian Raymond van het Groenewoud.

Solo career

From 1986 to 1991 Vrienten plays ancient tunes like Teddy Bear's Picknick with Magnificent Seven, whose members include singer/advert composer Fay Lovsky and unofficial fifth Doe Maar-member Joost Belinfante.

A new solo-album is in the pipeline but held back by the release of a Best Of-album; the expected Doe Maar-revival never happened, and in early 1992 'Mijn Hart Slaapt Nooit (My Heart Never Sleeps) saw the light of day. As with Geen Ballade the album received minimal promotion. At the end of the year all Doe Maar-members reunited to support 1960s outfit CCC Inc. (featuring Ernst Jansz and Joost Belinfante) at their 25th anniversary concert. Only few people notice.

In the mid-1990s a new generation of Dutch-language acts emerged; Henny ended up collaborating with rap-group Osdorp Posse.

Doe Maar; the reunion

In 1999, the four-piece rockband Blof (also referred to as the Dutch Counting Crows) spent a whole tour playing a Doe Maar-covers-only set. The band attended the show at the Amsterdam Paradiso and on November 1, 1999 they announced their reunion for one last album and a 25-date tour of the Netherlands and Belgium consisting of eight club shows, a record-breaking 16-night stint at the Ahoy Rotterdam, and a stadium-show at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. Klaar (Done) was released in April 2000; the band were finally acknowledged by the pop critics who previously criticized them off for singing in Dutch. They continue to play ocasional reunion-shows.

Trio album

In 2008 Vrienten recorded an album with contemporaries Frank Boeijen and Henk Hofstede (frontman of The Nits). Aardige jongens (Nice Guys) was promoted with a theatre-tour; they performed the album as well as individual classics.

2010-present

In 2010 Vrienten appeared in Ali B op volle toeren, a programme in which young Dutch rappers exchange songs with established artists. He contributed 32 Jaar Later (32 Years Down The Line), a sequel to the song that gave Doe Maar their first top 40-hit back in 1981.

In 2014 and 2015 he released two solo-albums and went on tour.

In 2016 Vrienten formed the supergroup Vreemde Kostgangers (Strange Borders) with Golden Earring-guitarist George Kooymans and Boudewijn de Groot. In between tours they released an album early 2017; a third tour is scheduled for 2018.

References