FLAVIUM
''THE BEST OF FLAVIUM''
1980
45:16
**********
1 Have A Laugh 02:57
2 Can't Get Her Out Of My Sight 05:41
3 Thumbing Back West 03:05
4 (I'm Gonna) Make It Home Tonight 03:39
5 Save Me From Sorrow 04:57
6 Highlife 03:59
7 Easy Lovin' 03:39
8 With The Wheel In My Hand 03:18
9 When The Booze Hit Me 07:08
10 Key To Your Heart 02:36
11 Go Ask The Union 04:13
**********
Eric Bagchus/Bass
Anne Geert Bonder/Guitar
Hans Driesten/Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals
Nico Groen/Drums
Jos Veldhuizen/Vocals
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ABOUT THE BAND
www.alexgitlin.com/flavium.htm
Since 1969, this group from the Apeldoorn area has been one of the leading blues bands in The Netherlands. They were founded by Peter Beemsterboer (drums, ex-So & So) and Anne Geert Bonder (guitar). Other founder members were Michiel Goedkoop (v) and Doewe Munk (b, to Plain Dust), in 1971 replaced by Luc Steensma (to Electric Air), followed in 1972 by Rob de Vrij. In 1974, they settled on Eric Bagchus (also ex-So & So).
In 1971, Hans Driesten (vocals, guitar, piano, harp, ex-So & So) became the front man. Other members in the formative years were Herman Driesten (g, Hans's brother, back to Devils Jump) and Rob Fontain (kb, ex-Bobby's Children).
In 1975, they landed a recording contract with a small record label, Ivory Tower. In 1977, the band was augmented by Peter Dijksterhuis (organ, piano, to The Sherman Brothers). After "Pluggin' In Your Socket", Beemsterboer (to Shakey Sam's Blues Band) was replaced by Nico Groen (ex-Speedtwins). After one more album recorded for Ivory Tower, the band (minus Dijksterhuis) got a contract with the major label Polydor and was assigned Pim Koopman (ex-Kayak, then in Diesel) as producer. Koopman had the band record Willie Nelson's "Nightlife" and arranged it not unlike Fleetwood Mac's "Need Your Love So Bad". It would prove to be Flavium's only sizeable hit and boosted the sales of the well-produced 1979 "No Kiddin'" album. To everyone's surprise, the band recruited ex-Teaser lead singer Jos Veldhuizen the following year, who would take away much of the limelight from Hans Driesten. Driesten was ousted in 1982, just after the release of "Against The Grain", due to "eccentric behaviour". He would continue with bands like Flavor, The Höfners and, more recently, The Bleaching Bones. He was replaced by Rob Goedkoop (ex-Railway). As someone who admired Driesten’s talent, Pim Koopman didn't agree with the changes within the band. Cees Schrama took over as producer, but in late 1984 Polydor dropped the band. They recorded another live album for the ambitious BONI label (who at the time also had The Cats and Diesel under contracts). Next they went back to Ivory Tower for the album "Backdoor Man". On this LP they were joined by a new drummer, Otto van Riggelen, as longtime member Nico Groen had left to join No Exqze. In 1988, Flavium recruited Hans Lafaille (ex-Cuby + Blizzards and Sweet d'Buster) and were asked to record a 20th anniversary album for Polydor comprising blues standards, but the highlight of the album was the Driesten-sung old hit "Nightlife".
For the next Polydor album, "Slowburn" (produced by Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans), Lafaille was replaced by Arno Willemsen. Jan-Willem Berkhout came in as an extra guitar player. Then Frank Pistorius joined on keyboards, making the band a six-piece, but in 1993 Bonder and Bagchus pulled a coup by continuing the band with former members Hans Lafaille and Rob Goedkoop (who took over the lead vocals). Veldhuizen felt betrayed, but continued on with Berkhout, Pistorius, Willemsen and new bass player André de Boer as Free & Easy. In 1996, Flavium was more or less history when Hans Lafaille left to join the reformed Cuby + Blizzards. But Bonder & Bagchus had another trick up their sleeves when the following year they returned with Gerton Eykelkamp on drums and the multi-talented founder member Hans Driesten back on guitar, piano and lead vocals. But gigs were few and far between.
In 2001, Bagchus started playing in the reformed Brainbox, whose drummer Pierre van der Linden joined Flavium. Flavium, featuring Jos Veldhuizen, Anne Geert Bonder and Rob Geboers on keyboards, then became the opening act for Brainbox.
Brainbox played their farewell concert in September 2005, but Flavium continued with Gover van de Kolm replacing Geboers. When van der Linden went back to his old band Focus, the drum stool was taken over by Hans Waterman (ex-Cuby + Blizzards, Solution and Q'65). However, now the band had no management and no booking agent.
Although Flavium never officially disbanded, Anne Geert Bonder started playing smaller gigs with a backing band called The Blueshop, together with his old musical partner Peter Beemsterboer (1969-1978) on drums. This band slowly started getting more and more ex-Flavium members on board as Erik Bagchus and Jos Veldhuizen joined in. The sextet was completed by Eddy van de Bunte (g) and Kees Luijendijk (kb/g). Beemsterboer quit in 2008 as things got "too serious again". Nico Groen deputised for him, but The Blueshop then decided to take a sabbatical. In early 2009, Flavium went on a 40th anniversary tour with the line-up of Anne Geert Bonder, Eric Bagchus, Jos Veldhuizen, Nico Groen, Rob Goedkoop (from the 1982-1985 line-up) and Rob's son Emiel on keyboards.
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TO THE TOP
**********
''THE BEST OF FLAVIUM''
1980
45:16
**********
1 Have A Laugh 02:57
2 Can't Get Her Out Of My Sight 05:41
3 Thumbing Back West 03:05
4 (I'm Gonna) Make It Home Tonight 03:39
5 Save Me From Sorrow 04:57
6 Highlife 03:59
7 Easy Lovin' 03:39
8 With The Wheel In My Hand 03:18
9 When The Booze Hit Me 07:08
10 Key To Your Heart 02:36
11 Go Ask The Union 04:13
**********
Eric Bagchus/Bass
Anne Geert Bonder/Guitar
Hans Driesten/Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals
Nico Groen/Drums
Jos Veldhuizen/Vocals
**********
ABOUT THE BAND
www.alexgitlin.com/flavium.htm
Since 1969, this group from the Apeldoorn area has been one of the leading blues bands in The Netherlands. They were founded by Peter Beemsterboer (drums, ex-So & So) and Anne Geert Bonder (guitar). Other founder members were Michiel Goedkoop (v) and Doewe Munk (b, to Plain Dust), in 1971 replaced by Luc Steensma (to Electric Air), followed in 1972 by Rob de Vrij. In 1974, they settled on Eric Bagchus (also ex-So & So).
In 1971, Hans Driesten (vocals, guitar, piano, harp, ex-So & So) became the front man. Other members in the formative years were Herman Driesten (g, Hans's brother, back to Devils Jump) and Rob Fontain (kb, ex-Bobby's Children).
In 1975, they landed a recording contract with a small record label, Ivory Tower. In 1977, the band was augmented by Peter Dijksterhuis (organ, piano, to The Sherman Brothers). After "Pluggin' In Your Socket", Beemsterboer (to Shakey Sam's Blues Band) was replaced by Nico Groen (ex-Speedtwins). After one more album recorded for Ivory Tower, the band (minus Dijksterhuis) got a contract with the major label Polydor and was assigned Pim Koopman (ex-Kayak, then in Diesel) as producer. Koopman had the band record Willie Nelson's "Nightlife" and arranged it not unlike Fleetwood Mac's "Need Your Love So Bad". It would prove to be Flavium's only sizeable hit and boosted the sales of the well-produced 1979 "No Kiddin'" album. To everyone's surprise, the band recruited ex-Teaser lead singer Jos Veldhuizen the following year, who would take away much of the limelight from Hans Driesten. Driesten was ousted in 1982, just after the release of "Against The Grain", due to "eccentric behaviour". He would continue with bands like Flavor, The Höfners and, more recently, The Bleaching Bones. He was replaced by Rob Goedkoop (ex-Railway). As someone who admired Driesten’s talent, Pim Koopman didn't agree with the changes within the band. Cees Schrama took over as producer, but in late 1984 Polydor dropped the band. They recorded another live album for the ambitious BONI label (who at the time also had The Cats and Diesel under contracts). Next they went back to Ivory Tower for the album "Backdoor Man". On this LP they were joined by a new drummer, Otto van Riggelen, as longtime member Nico Groen had left to join No Exqze. In 1988, Flavium recruited Hans Lafaille (ex-Cuby + Blizzards and Sweet d'Buster) and were asked to record a 20th anniversary album for Polydor comprising blues standards, but the highlight of the album was the Driesten-sung old hit "Nightlife".
For the next Polydor album, "Slowburn" (produced by Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans), Lafaille was replaced by Arno Willemsen. Jan-Willem Berkhout came in as an extra guitar player. Then Frank Pistorius joined on keyboards, making the band a six-piece, but in 1993 Bonder and Bagchus pulled a coup by continuing the band with former members Hans Lafaille and Rob Goedkoop (who took over the lead vocals). Veldhuizen felt betrayed, but continued on with Berkhout, Pistorius, Willemsen and new bass player André de Boer as Free & Easy. In 1996, Flavium was more or less history when Hans Lafaille left to join the reformed Cuby + Blizzards. But Bonder & Bagchus had another trick up their sleeves when the following year they returned with Gerton Eykelkamp on drums and the multi-talented founder member Hans Driesten back on guitar, piano and lead vocals. But gigs were few and far between.
In 2001, Bagchus started playing in the reformed Brainbox, whose drummer Pierre van der Linden joined Flavium. Flavium, featuring Jos Veldhuizen, Anne Geert Bonder and Rob Geboers on keyboards, then became the opening act for Brainbox.
Brainbox played their farewell concert in September 2005, but Flavium continued with Gover van de Kolm replacing Geboers. When van der Linden went back to his old band Focus, the drum stool was taken over by Hans Waterman (ex-Cuby + Blizzards, Solution and Q'65). However, now the band had no management and no booking agent.
Although Flavium never officially disbanded, Anne Geert Bonder started playing smaller gigs with a backing band called The Blueshop, together with his old musical partner Peter Beemsterboer (1969-1978) on drums. This band slowly started getting more and more ex-Flavium members on board as Erik Bagchus and Jos Veldhuizen joined in. The sextet was completed by Eddy van de Bunte (g) and Kees Luijendijk (kb/g). Beemsterboer quit in 2008 as things got "too serious again". Nico Groen deputised for him, but The Blueshop then decided to take a sabbatical. In early 2009, Flavium went on a 40th anniversary tour with the line-up of Anne Geert Bonder, Eric Bagchus, Jos Veldhuizen, Nico Groen, Rob Goedkoop (from the 1982-1985 line-up) and Rob's son Emiel on keyboards.
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TO THE TOP
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