Supersister

Pseudonyms

Sweet O.K. Supersister

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Supersister

Band from The Hague that combines rock, jazz and classical music in a style similar to Zappa and the Bonzo Dog Band.
Full biography

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Members

Robert Jan Stips   toetsinstrumenten, zang
Marco Vrolijk   drums
Sacha van Geest   fluit
Ron van Eck   basgitaar

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Former members

Rob Kruisman   fluit, saxofoon
John Schuursma   gitaar
Elton Dean   saxofoon
Herman van Boeyen   drums
Rob Douw   tekstdichter, zang
Gerhard Smid   gitaar, zang
Daniel Denis   drums
Charlie Mariano   fluit, klarinet, saxofoon
Full list... Summarized list

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News archive

Tentoonstelling en lezingen over 50 jaar Golden Earring (7/12/11) 
Nationale Nederpop Avond in september (3/25/10) 

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Biography Supersister

Band from The Hague that combines rock, jazz and classical music in a style similar to Zappa and the Bonzo Dog Band.

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1967 - 1968

Originally called Sweet O.K. Supersister, Supersister is formed in The Hague by Robert-Jan Stips (vocals and keyboard), Sacha van Geest (flute), Marco Vrolijk (drums) and Ron van Eck (bass).

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1970

Supersister's progressive sound sticks out among the beat and rock music and the band spearheads the local hippie scene. In the spring of 1970 Supersister's first single She Was Naked is released. It's the group's first hit and it earns them a record deal with Polydor. Their debut album Present From Nancy is reasonably successful.

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1971

The single A Girl Named You precedes the album To The Highest Bidder and Supersister performs at Pinkpop.

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1972

Supersister is constantly touring the country and their single Radio enters the Top 40. The single is followed by the band's third album Pudding En Gisteren. In the autumn they release a compilation album in the Superstarshine series, which contains a previously unreleased live version of Wow.

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1973

Pudding En Gisteren earns the band an Edison Music Award. However, the first signs of musical indifferences in the band are surfacing. Both Stips and Van Eck are fed up with the band's sound and want to move to a new, more jazz influenced direction. Vrolijk and Van Geest leave the band. Supersister is joined by Charlie Mariano (formerly Ambush, Chris Hinze and Embryo) and begins sessions with Georgio Gomelski in the Manor studio near Oxford for their fourth album Iskander.

Ambush Ccc Inc. Chris Hinze Embryo Livin' Blues

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1974

Iskander is not as successful was expected. It is obvious that the fans are finding it hard to come to terms with the band's new sound. Charlie Mariano quits and is replaced by saxophone player Elton Dean (formerly Soft Machine). Lack of success, however, makes the band decide to split up.

Bintangs Brainbox Carlsberg Pork Pie Stamp 'n Go Third Eye

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1975

The album Spiral Staircase doesn't make a big impact. However the single Coconut Woman featuring steel band Los Alegres becomes a minor hit. On February 15 the band plays a one-off live version of the album in Amsterdam's Paradiso. Guest musicians include George Kooymans and Cesar Zuiderwijk of Golden Earring, Herman van Boeyen (Vitesse), Hans Lafaille (Cuby+Blizzards), Cees van Leeuwen (ex-Kayak) and Josée van Iersel (Gruppo Sportivo). After these activities Van Geest quits the musical scene and embarks on a successful career as a graphic designer.

Cuby + Blizzards Golden Earring Gruppo Sportivo Kayak Vitesse

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2000

Supersister re-forms for the Progfest festival in Los Angeles where they play three gigs. The album Memories Are New is released. It contains previously unreleased material from the 1960s and 1970s, live recordings and even some Dutch-language songs. Supersister also plays two gigs in The Netherlands.

Ardy Besemer Bart Chabot De Geheelontkenners

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2001

In May Supersister plays three additional gigs in The Netherlands. Sadly, Sacha van Geest dies on July 29 due to a heart attack. According to Robert Jan Stips this will almost certainly be the end of Supersister. In October the band's show in Paradiso is released on the double CD Supersisterious, while Memories Are New is released in Japan in a special edition. Recordings of a reunion show in Paradiso are released on the double CD Supersisterious.

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2009

Robert Jan Stips, Ron van Eck and Marco Vrolijk get together for a show at the American progrock festival NEARfest '09 that takes place in June at the Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA. The band has to cancel their appearance due to health problems of Van Eck.

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2011

The three musicians prepare for a gig during the NEARfest in the USA, but have to cancel a second time, because Ron van Eck is taken to hospital after a sudden pneumonia. De bass player passes away on July 20. ‘Ron was Supersister’s architect and philosopher,’ write his band mates on the official website, ‘without him it would have been something else completely, as well musically as lyric-wise. We sure will miss him badly, our dear music mate and friend with whom we went through so many stages in life together.’

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Discography Supersister

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.

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Photos Supersister

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Video Supersister

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