Doe Maar

Doe Maar (1978-1984 and 1999-2000, 2008-present) is a famous Dutch(-language) pop band with influences reaching from pop, ska, punk and reggae. The band is without doubt one of the most successful bands in the history of Dutch pop music: all four studio albums reached the number one position in the Netherlands, and five compilation albums also reached the top of the charts. During the beginning of their career early 80ies they caused a craze unequaled for a Dutch band in the Netherlands -including screaming and fainting teenage girls, and brief domination of Dutch teenage fashion with the fluorescent green and pink trade mark colours of their "4us" album. Because of it, but perhaps also for their craftmanship as songwriters, they were sometimes referred to as 'the Dutch Beatles', though their musical style differs quite a lot obviously. The definitive line up consists of Henny Vrienten (lead vocals and bass), Ernst Jansz (keyboards and lead vocals), Jan Hendriks (guitar and backing vocals) and Jan Pijnenburg (drums and backing vocals). Other musicians that played in earlier line ups were Carel Copier (drums) René van Collum (drums), Piet Dekker (bass & vocals), and Joost Belinfante (bass). Officially, the group split up April 14, 1984. It is often taken, that the changes the extreme level of success caused on the lives of the group members motivated most of their decision to quit. Since then, Henny Vrienten and Ernst Jansz have pursued successful solo careers, mostly in the context of music composition for television and cinema. All of them remained friends and continued to play together on private occasions. After more than fifteen years of absence -in which their work had easily entered the classic heritage of dutch pop- Doe Maar decided to come back for one final album, "Klaar" ("Finished") in 2000. Reflected in the title was the desire to for once relive the joy of old times; the accompanying tour was subsequently marketed as a one-time, final reunion. The 16 shows booked in Ahoy (Rotterdam) hall were all sold out, mostly to people now just as well sixteen years beyond the teenage craze. In 2007 a pop musical about the band's music that involved close collaboration with its members toured the Netherlands and won several important theater awards. In November 2007 it is decided to play one more reunion gig on July 12 2008 at de Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. After the show sells out within an hour, another concert is added for July, and later two more (that are sold out within minutes). On the 20th of june 2008 Henny Vrienten mentions to the press that one could say that "This is not a reunion. Doe Maar exists again!" Also, the recording of a new album is announced, but release date has been unknown up until now.