Livin' Blues was one of the best Dutch blues bands. Many people think
the band's name came from the American magazine called Living Blues, but that
wasn't established until 1970. Former members of the band claim it was based on
the name of an American theatre group called Living Theatre.
They evolved in 1967 from Andy Star & the Stripes with Ted Oberg (g) and
Ruud Franssen (b) and then added Björn Pool (v) and Niek Dijkhuis (d). In 1968,
they took on board the blues duo Indiscrimination with John Lagrand
(blues harp) and Nicko Christiansen (v, s), the latter replacing Pool. During
the same year, Gerard Strötbaum replaced Franssen and Cesar Zuiderwijk (ex-Hu
& the Hilltops, to Golden Earring) came in on
drums. The band started getting more and more attention, resulting in a record
contract with the mighty Phonogram (who distributed labels like Decca and
Philips). They opened a show for Fleetwood Mac during a small winter tour
of 1969.
After they had recorded two unsuccessful singles, Strötbaum was replaced by Henk
Smitskamp (ex-Motions, to Sandy Coast).
The line-up of Oberg, Lagrand, Christiansen, Zuiderwijk and Smitskamp recorded
the highly acclaimed album, "Hell's Session" in 1969, the first
production of former Golden Earrings drummer Jaap
Eggermont (later world-famous through his Stars On 45
productions), for a new label, Red Bullet (owned by Willem van Kooten a.k.a.
DJ Joost den Draaijer).
In 1970, Smitskamp was replaced by Ruud van Buuren (ex-Groep 1850,
to Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers). When Zuiderwijk
joined Golden Earring, Dick Beekman (ex-Cuby
+ Blizzards and Ro-d-ys) was next in the
long line of drummers to join the band. Livin' Blues seemed to change
drummers on a yearly basis. After "Wang Dang Doodle" became an
international hit, the band started touring Europe, one highlight being their
appearance at the Palermo Pop Festival in Sicily. Then John Le Jeune (ex-Island)
took over the drum stool, but he also lasted for just one album. The band had
another international hit with "LB Boogie" and made their first visit to
Poland, where they'd become one of the most successful bands ever.
Le Jeune left for the Schick Band and was replaced by Arjan Kamminga, who
was forced to quit not long after the release of "Rockin' At The Tweedmill"
(recorded in England and produced by Mike Vernon) due to back problems. He would
later resurface in Mark Foggo & Secret Meeting. In 1973, Englishman Kenny
Lamb became the last drummer of the first era of Livin' Blues. The album
"Ram Jam Josey" was again produced by Mike Vernon who'd also recommended
Lamb (ex-Jellybread, a British blues band recording for Vernon's Blue
Horizon label).
In 1974, “Mark I” Livin' Blues fell apart. John Lagrand joined Water,
Nicko Cristiansen formed Himalaya,
Kenny Lamb returned to England and Ruud van Buuren joined
Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers. Ted Oberg had to continue with Livin'
Blues because their manager (Ted's mother!) had signed new contracts with
Ariola and Grandad Music. John Fredriksz (ex-George
Cash and Q'65, the singer who always seemed
to come in when a band's heyday was over) became the new vocalist. They also
took on board Paul Vink (kb, ex-Finch, to Limousine),
but he only lasted a few months. The line-up was completed by the returning Henk
Smitskamp (b, from Shocking Blue), Ronnie Meyjes (g, ex-Brainbox) and Michel Driesten (d) and
had a disco hit with "Boogie Woogie Woman", a far cry from the earlier
blues-rock sound. By the time the album "Live '75" was recorded, Meyes
and Driesten had disappeared and Cor van de Beek (also from Shocking Blue) was the drummer.
The 1976 line-up was: Ted, Johnny, André Reynen (bass, ex-Sympathy
and Brainbox) and Jacob van Heiningen
(drums, ex-Galaxis, replaced by Ed
Molenwijk, ex-Dizzy Daisy, to Casino). In spite of the
internationally successful album, "Blue Breeze" (1977), the band were
without a recording contract by 1978. Jan Piet Visser (h, ex-Houseband)
joined in 1979, but a year after that the core of "Mark I" Livin' Blues
reunited for the 1980 Haagse Beatnach: Oberg, Lagrand and Christiansen were
joined by Evert Willemstijn (b) and Boris (Bo, Beau) Wassenbergh (dr, ex-Cashmere,
to The Zoo). That line-up started touring again, but due to the lack of
interest in the blues music, Livin' Blues slowly ground to a halt in the
first half of the 1980s. In the meantime, Johnny Frederiksz, André Reynen and
Jan Piet Visser formed Nitehawk. When that band also turned out to be
unsuccessful, Ted Oberg formed the J&T Band (Johnny & Ted) with
Frederiksz, adding ex-Finch members Peter Vink
(b) and Fred van Vloten (d).
In 1986, John Lagrand and Nicko Christiansen reformed Livin' Blues and,
for the first time since 1967, Ted Oberg was not present. Other members were:
Joop van Nimwegen (g, ex-Q'65 and
Finch), Willem van de Wall (g, ex-Himalaya),
Aad van Pijlen (b, ex-Freelance Band and
Himalaya) and Art Bausch (d, ex-Barrelhouse,
ex-Oscar Benton, and founder member of
Blue Planet). After one unsuccessful album, "Now", Lagrand left to
join the Muskee Gang and Christiansen got a
new line-up together. However, the rights to the name Livin' Blues were
owned by Ted Oberg's mother and Christiansen had to call the band New Livin'
Blues. Just like all preceding line-ups, New Livin' Blues went
through many changes, which are impossible to document (mainly due to the lack
of press coverage and record releases). On the CD "Out Of The Blue"
(1995), the line-up was: Christiansen, Loek van der Knaap (g), Frank Buschman
(b) and Elout Smit (d).
In 1996, John Lagrand joined the reformed Cuby + Blizzards
and two years later, Nicko Christiansen formed the Nicko C Band, keeping
Loek van der Knaap on board. In 1998, Ted Oberg formed his own band Oberg
with Jan Scherpenzeel (v, h), Frank Schaafsma (b) and Ramon Rambeaux (d, ex-Wild
Romance, replaced by Ronald Oor, ex-Diesel
and I've Got The Bullets). At the end of that year, Nicko
Christiansen and John Lagrand toured with guitarist Eelco Gelling (ex-Cuby
+ Blizzards) as Nederblues Summit.
In 2003, Christiansen and Lagrand wanted to start performing again as Livin'
Blues, but Oberg objected. The new band was then named Blues A-Livin'
instead. Oberg reappeared the following year, touring with Simone Roerade (v),
Rob Geboers (kb, ex-Flavium), Marco Oonincx (b,
ex-Ana Popovic Band) and drummer Arie Verhaar (ex-Tom Principato
and Tino Gonzales), as Grand Slam.
On 30th June, 2005, John Lagrand died at the age of 55 from emphysema.
Christiansen continued as The Livin' Blues Experience with Loek van der
Knaap (g), Yaroon Vanniele (bas), Kees van Krugten (d) and Francois Spannenburg
(blues harp). In 2009, Livin' Blues was voted as the "best international
blues band" by readers of the Two Blues magazine in Poland. Ted Oberg has called
his band Oberg once again, although it is now fronted by female singer
Liane Hoogeveen. The other members are: Mick Hup (g, replaced Will Sophie), Nico
Heilijgers (b) and Paul Damen (d).
LIVIN' BLUES
2-1-71 SINGLE 10 8 WANG DANG DOODLE
19-6-71 SINGLE 21 5 BLACK LISA
19-2-72 SINGLE 17 6 L.B. BOOGIE
18-1-75 SINGLE 13 7 BOOGIE WOOGIE WOMAN
9-4-77 SINGLE tip SHYLINA
1968 Murphy McCoy/My Sister Kate Philips JF 334548
1969 You Better Watch Yourself (Sonny Boy)/One Night Blues Philips JF 334683
LP Hell's Session Philips UBY 873018
1970 Wang Dang Doodle/Crazy Woman Philips 6075111
LP Wang Dang Doodle Philips 6413009
1971 Black Lisa/Red River Mountain Philips 6075124
1972 Choice/Selection [commercial single for insurance company Eerste Nederlandse/Nillmij] Philips W 6802084
L.B. Boogie/Johnny W Philips 6075135
LP Bamboozle Philips 6413024
LP Rockin' At The Tweed Mill Philips 6413044/6423052
1973 Please Don't Leave Me/Sweet Suzanne Philips 6012305
Poinsetta Petal/Gamble On Ariola AT 13093
LP Ram Jam Rosey Ariola IT 87388
LP Hell's Session [re] Philips 6440090
LP Wang Dang Doodle [re] Philips 6440125
1974 Boogie Woogie Woman/Ricochet Ariola AT 13703
1975 LP Live '75 Ariola XAT 89243
1976 LP Wang Dang Doodle [re] Fontana 7240256
1977 Shylina/That Night Ariola AT 17723
LP Blue Breeze Ariola XOT 28430
LP Hell's Session [re] Philips 6440315
1978 1968-1978 (comp) Ariola ET 26325
1980 Hoochie Coochie Man [on 2LP Haagse Beatnach] CNR 772005/06
1986 CD Hell's Session + bonus Mercury 512 983-2
1988 LP Now Bounce BR 8701
CD Original Tapes (Wang Dang Doodle + Bamboozle) Philips 8349952
1989 CD Snakedance / Live Universe CDSP 8914
Wang Dang Doodle/LB Boogie Corduroy CS 740
1991 CD Wang Dang Doodle Repertoire RR 4111-WZ
CD Hell's Session Repertoire RR 4138-WZ
1992 CD A Blues Legend Ariola, 262922
1993 CD The Early Blues Sessions Pseudonym CDP 1007
1995 CD Out Of The Blue Sony 480717-2
CDs Mysterious Ways/Who's Doing That Voodoo Studio 88 662350-1
1998 2CD Three Originals (Hell's Session/Wang Dang Doodle/Bamboozle/Rockin' At The Tweedmill) Mercury, 558 125-2
2002 CD Bamboozle Repertoire RR-4338-WZ
2003 3CD The Complete Collection : The Philips Years Hunter Music 14732
2005 CD Universal Masters Collection Mercury 586852-2
2008 CD This Is The Time (Livin' Blues Xperience) LBX 2008
Hard rock group from Amsterdam, existed in 1977-1980 and revived again in 1981. Line-up: Chris van Jaarsveld (v, g, 1980-1981 in Nitehawk, in 1982 to Hammerhead), Eric Karreman (g, in 1982 to Hammerhead), Peter v.d. Heiden (dr, in 1979 replaced by Rob Stols and in 1980 by Nico de Gooyer, ex-Teaser and Nitehawk, to Bruno Basta).
1978 Don't tell me what I've got to do
[op LP Keihard en swingend] EMI 5C 028-25884
After leaving Livin' Blues, singer John Frederiksz tried to
form several bands. The first one was Nitehawk in 1980. Line-up: Nico de Gooyer (dr,
ex-Captain Coke), Chris van Jaarsveld (g, ex-Captain
Coke), Jan Piet Visser (h, ex-Livin' Blues)
and André Reijnen (b, ex-Earth & Fire). 1981
Livin' Blues saw a reunion of sorts in the
formation of J & T Band, featuring Ted Oberg (g) and Peter Vink (b,
ex-Finch). In 1982, John formed Grizzly:
Chris Latul (g, ex-Latul), Ruud Baron (v, b, ex-Latul), Brian Hicky
(v, o, p, ex-Beau Boy)
and René van Leersum (dr, ex-Beau Boy).
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