BOTS

Bots

Socially engaged pop group from the southern city of Eindhoven that is successful in both the Netherlands and Germany.
Full biography

Members

Piet Engel   fluit, saxofoon
Sjors Van De Molengraft   fluit, saxofoon
Bonkie Bongaerts   gitaar, piano, zang
Frans Meijer   drums
Noudt Janssen   basgitaar, zang
Hans Sanders   gitaar, zang
Peter de Vries   basgitaar
Kees Buenen   gitaar, piano, zang
Rik Polman   zang
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Former members

Floris Teunissen Van Manen   drums
George Koenraad   achtergrondzang, drums
Bert Smaak   drums
Anton Wannemakers   basgitaar
Erik van Donkersgoed   achtergrondzang, gitaar
Broer Bogaart   drums
Sjoerd van Bommel   drums
Pim Woudenberg   engineer
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Mentioned in the biography of

1971   Peter Koene
1974   The New Electric Chamber Music Ensemble
1978   Koen van Baal
1978   RK Veulpoepers BV
1980   Sjoerd van Bommel
1982   Peter Vincent
2002   Focus
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Biography Bots

Socially engaged pop group from the southern city of Eindhoven that is successful in both the Netherlands and Germany.

1974

Bots is formed by singer and composer Hans Sanders (ex-Peter Koelewijn, Dirty Underwear and Zuidnederlandse Fanfare).

Dirty Underwear Peter Koelewijn

1975

Sanders records the album Van Kwaad Tot Erger ('From Bad To Worse') with producer Peter Koelewijn and several guest musicians. The album places Bots in the centre of attention and the band also makes its debut on national TV. The singles Het Lied Van De Werkende Jeugd ('The Song Of The Working Youth') en De Man ('The Man') are released. The band tours frequently, also in Belgium.

1976

East Germany is interested in the band. The song Zeven Dagen Lang ('Seven Days On End') ends up on the album Voor God En Vaderland ('For God And Country'). Co-producer of the album is Peter Koelewijn. The single reaches number 23 in the charts. Themes on the album include feminism, racism, solidarity and militarism. The music shows influences of both folk and pop.

1977

Bots tours East Germany. Sanders records the poem Rond ('Round') by Bert Schierbeek.

1978

The third Bots album is called Wie Zwijgt Stemt Toe ('Silence Lends Consent') and is also recorded with Peter Koelewijn. The band's line-up now includes the likes of Sanders and Bongaerts but also sax and flute player Piet Engel, Peter de Vries (bass) and Frans Meijer (drums). The single Popmuzikant ('Pop Musician') dents the charts. Together with Eindhoven-based theatre group Proloog Bots creates the musical Barst.

Toneelwerkgroep Proloog

1979

Bots also works with Proloog on the Bots Rood Show. This musical theatre production is, however, not very successful. Bots also plays in West Germany. They begin by playing Dutch-language songs but soon they are asked to start singing in German.

1980

Bots records the album Je Voelt Pas Nattigheid Als Je Droog Komt Te Staan ('You Won't Smell A Rat Until You Come Across One') with producer Peter Koelewijn. In the autumn the band's first German-language album comes out. Aufstehn contains German versions of songs like Zeven Dagen Lang ('Seven Days On End') and Ali. The songs are translated by German author Gunther Wallraff.

1981

Bots sells over 400.000 copies of Aufstehn and its follow-up Entrustung. But the successs also has a down side and the band knows many changes in its line-up which now includes Broer Bogaart (drums), Noudt Jansen (bass) and Kees Buenen (vocals, piano, guitar).

1983

The third German-language Schon Krank is recorded. The band is on the road a lot and plays in front of half a million people at the Kunstler Fur Den Frieden festival in West Berlin.

1985

From 1985 until 1988 Sjoerd van Bommel is the band's drummer.

1986

German-language record Lass Die Sterne Stehen is released.

1988

The band plays in Germany a lot.

1990

The Dutch-language album Paradijs ('Paradise') is recorded and released on the Free label in May. The album is produced by Sanders and keyboard player/singer Kees Buenen. Bots sporadically performs in their hometown of Eindhoven.

1997

When football team PSV Eindhoven wins the national championchips Sanders re-records his classic Zeven Dagen Lang and turns it into Zeven Jaren Lang ('Seven Years On End').

2000

The New album Zeven Dagen Lang ('Seven Days Long') comes out.

2001

Bots still tours. During the Folkwoods Festival in August the band's line-up includes Sanders, Buenen, George Koenraad (drums/vocals), Erik van Donkersgoed (guitar/vocals) and Anton Wannemakers (bass).

2004

To commemorate its 30th anniversary Bots prepares a special DVD.

2005

In January the new single Je Voelt Pas Nattigheid Als Je Droog Komt Te Staan ('You Become Aware Of It, Once It Hits You'). In the same month the band appears seven nights at the De Vrienden van Amstel Live shows in Rotterdam's Ahoy' arena. Botsproeven is the first album after 14 years. Guest Ali B. turns the classic Zeven Dagen Lang ('Seven days Long') into a modern rap version.

Ali B

2007

After a long illness singer/guitarist Hans Sanders dies on 3 November at the age of 61.

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