NORMAAL

Normaal

Successful rock band that sings in the dialect of the Achterhoek
Full biography

Members

Willem Terhorst   basgitaar, zang
Roel Spanjers   accordeon, toetsinstrumenten, zang
Jan Manschot   drums
Jan Willem Tolkamp   gitaar
Jan de Ligt   saxofoon
Bennie Jolink   gitaar, zang
Timo Kelder   drums
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Former members

Fokke de Jong   drums, percussie
Paul Kemper   gitaar
Jan Kolkman   gitaar
Arend Bouwmeester   klarinet, percussie, saxofoon
Tessa Boomkamp   drums, gitaar, zang
Willem van Dijk   basgitaar
Alan Gascoigne   gitaar
Ferdi Joly   gitaar
André Houtappels   gitaar, lapsteel
Joost Hagen   trompet
Jelle Schouten   trompet
Joppe Bestevaar   baritonsaxofoon
Peter Delannoye   trombone
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Mentioned in the biography of

1947   Adri-jan Hoes
1971   Dick Kemper
1975   John Sonneveld
1977   Johnny Hoes
1980   Pé Daalemmer & Rooie Rinus
1981   Imca Marina
1982   Bertus Staigerpaip
1986   Bertus Borgers
1986   Sylvain Poons
1986   Zangeres Zonder Naam
1989   Boh Foi Toch
1992   Jovink & The Voederbietels
1992   Willem Duyn
1994   Erwin Musper
1995   The Rumble Cats
1997   Erwin Nyhoff
1997   IOS
1999   De Dijk
1999   Jovink & The Voederbietels
2000   Cuby + Blizzards
2000   Hein Offermans
2000   Henk Westbroek
2000   J.B. Meijers
2000   Koen van Baal
2000   Supersub
2001   Boh Foi Toch
2002   Jovink & The Voederbietels
2003   De Kast
2003   Marco Borsato
2003   Roel Spanjers
2003   Tessa Boomkamp
2004   Frédérique Spigt
2005   Jovink & The Voederbietels
2006   Anouk
2010   Phaedra Kwant
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Biography Normaal

Successful rock band that sings in the dialect of the Achterhoek

1975

Normaal is formed. The band members all have names that relate to the region they come from. Singer Bennie Jolink (Buiz'n Beernd) sings in the local dialect of the Achterhoek in the east of The Netherlands.

1976

Normaal records its first single: Hels As 'N Jagdhond ('Mad as a hound dog').

Peter Koelewijn

1977

The single Oerend Hard ('Extremely Fast') is the band's first big hit. The same-titled album climbs the charts.

1978

Ojadasawa ('Yeah That's Right') is released, but is less successful than its predecessor.

Johnny Hoes

1979

Normaal signs to WEA and the single Hendrik Haverkamp tops the charts. An English guitar player joins the band: Alan Gascoigne, soon known as 'Alan de Gaspiepe'.

1980

Ferdi Jolij (Frederik Puntdroad), one of the band's songwriters, leaves.

1981

German singer/songwriter Udo Lindenberg translates Normaal lyrics. WEA release three singles in Germany: Was War Gestern Los? ('81), Mama Wo Ist Mein Pils? ('82) und De bur is trumf ('84). As of 1981 Jolink writes all songs with lyricist Bennie Migchelbrink. Normaal takes care if most of its own business. The band understands the importance of merchandising and buys a press for T-shirts amongst others. The bond with their fans gets increasingly stronger this way.

1982

The Deurdonderen ('Rock on') tour kicks off.

1983

The De Boer Is Troef ('The Farmer Rules') tour is on its way and the band is supporting act for Rod Stewart in The Netherlands.

1984

Normaal receives a golden record for the album De Boer Is Troef.

1985

Steen Stoal En Sentiment ('Rock, Steel and Sentiment') is recorded in the band's own studio.

Haverkamp Nico Groen

1986

Normaal plays several gigs for charity.

1987

Normaal is taken to court by its former manager Mick Froeling and looses tons of money, but continues as a band nevertheless. Jolink gets hurt in Morocco's Atlas Rally. Jan Akkerman and 'recidivist' Alan Gascoigne are temporary stand-ins.

Jan Akkerman

1988

The album Da's Normaal ('That's Normal') is released.

1989

This year's charity is a local hospital.

Boh Foi Toch

1990

The book Wat Is Normaal? ('What's Normal?') is published.

1992

Jolink is involved in a serious car accident.

Willem Duyn

1993

Former Normaal guitarist Gascoigne is featured on the album Struck By Lightning by the Tim Disney Band.

Tim Disney Band

1994

The blues rock single Doe Effe Normaal ('Please Act Normally') is released.

1995

Now En ('So What') comes out.

Corry Konings Haverkamp Jack Jersey

1996

Completely fagged-out Jolink decides to call it quits, but when he realises the fans' disappointment he comes back on his decision. The amount of gigs, however, is kept to a minimum.

1997

The album Onwies Høken ('Heavy partying') is released in two versions: a 2CD and a 4CD.

1998

The 2CD Kriebel In De Konte - Normaal in levende lijve ('Itching Butt - Normaal Alive and Kicking') is released.

1999

On his solo album Howling At The Moon Jolink covers Hank Williams and Normaal songs in a country setting.

Antonie Broek Arthur Ebeling Bennie Jolink De Dijk Frédérique Spigt Jan Smit Jovink & The Voederbietels Pim Kops

2000

The band celebrates its 25th anniversary and the acoustic album Effe Zitten ('Sit And Relax') comes out.

Boh Foi Toch Henk Westbroek Jammah Tammah Marcel de Groot Old Ni-js Pim Kops Rens van der Zalm

2001

The song 't Is Stil Op De Boerderij ('All's Quiet On the Farm') is released as an expression of sympathy to the farmers whose farms have been hit by foot and mouth disease. In November the documentary Ik Kom Altied Weer Terug ('I Always Come Back') shows in the cinemas. The band also releases an album with the same title.

2002

Due to an accident at a motor cross training in July, Jolink gets hurt. During his recovery, Voederbietels singer Hendrik-Jan Lovink replaces him at live shows. Later in the year asthma patient Jolink is hospitalised again.

Jovink & The Voederbietels

2003

On January 31 the band plays its last theatre date. It also marks the last gig of drummer Fokke de Jong. He will move to De Kast, where he will take over from Nico Oudhuijse. De Kast's larger gig guide justifies his departure. Alan Gascoigne and Jan Kolkman leave the band as well. In its mark 1 line-up (Jolink, Terhorst, Manschot and Jolij) the band plays in marquees. However, playing fewer dates, Normaal, decides to focus on theatre shows. The album Vernemstig Te Passe is a self-release. The live album was recorded during a concert at Vereenigingsgebouw Juliana in 't Woold on 10 May and contains mostly songs from the band's early period. The band's line-up is exactly the same as in the period 1975-1978. On 14 November the Høk & Swing Tour 2 kicks off. The line-up consists of Bennie Jolink, Willem Terhorst and Alan Gascoigne. They are joined by Roel Spanjers (mandoline/vocals), Tessa Boomkamp (drums) and Arend Bouwmeester (saxophone/clarinet/percussion).

De Kast Roel Spanjers Tessa Boomkamp

2004

Bennie Jolink is one of the guest vocalists on Vuur ('Fire'), the duets album by Frédérique Spigt. He also contributes to What A Difference A Day Makes, a Unicef charity project featuring lots of Dutch artists singing songs out of the great American Song book. The owner of Normaal rehearsal rooms reconsiders the building's core business. So Normaal is forced to relocate from its home soil to neighbouring region Twente. In the city of Haaksbergen the band finds a place, which can double as rehearsal room and atelier for Jolink. From October 30 the band embarks on a theatre tour with its new show 'Da's O.k. Normaal.'

Frédérique Spigt

2005

In the end of April Normaal publishes the limited edition illustrated songbook Deur De Joaren Hen ('Throughout the years'). It includes the band's entire discography. Once more Jolink breaks a foot at a motor cross in Emmen (April 18). It won't stop him from Normaal's 30th anniversary show on May 5 in Lochem, back to the spot where the band's history started. Guests at this show include drummer Antonie Broek, Pim Kops (De Dijk) on accordion and singer Frédérique Spigt. It is released in the fall as the DVD 30 Jaar Høken ('30 Years of Great Fun'). 3FM DJ Giel Beelen sings one of the bonus tracks. On September 10 the band plays in Holsted, Denmark to a crowd of Dutch expat farmers. Historian Jos Palm writes the Jolink biography Oerend Hard ('Incredibly Fast'), which is published in November.

De Dijk

2006

On March 10 Jolink wins the Johanna van Buren Culture Prize, which acknowledges his great achievements in regional Eastern Dutch culture. At the annual Edison Music Awards on March 15, staged at Amsterdam's Melkweg, Normaal gets a lifetime achievement award. Cartoonist Henk Kuijpers creates a cartoon version of D'n Poot Op Het Gas ('Stamp On The Gas'). The cartoon is part of Strips ('Cartoons') In Stereo, a book/CD consisting of 14 'cartoonised' Dutch language pop songs. The book is presented in Paradiso during the annual Book Week in March. In April the band starts its 16-show theatre tour. The line up is: Bennie Jolink (vocals, guitar) Willem Terhorst (bass), Ferdi Joly (guitar), Fokke de Jong (drums), Jan de Ligt (saxophone) and Jan-Willem Tolkamp (guitar). As of May Normaal is back in its natural habitat, the party tents on fairs and festivals. In June the band performs at The Hague's Parkpop festival. The album Hier ('Here') Is Normaal (September) is a double CD with both acoustic tracks and heavy rock songs. In November Bennie Jolink embarks on a five-day tour for Dutch troops in Afghanistan. For the occasion he rewrites the lyrics to Oerend Hard, which now becomes Oe-oe-Oeroezgan ('Uruzgan'). Out of solidarity with the troops he shaves off his wild hair for the first time ever in his career.

2007

During a Johnny Cash Tribute in 2004 Jolink finds out that the deep dark voice of the American country singer suits him like a glove. With this understanding he cuts his second solo album Opa, Vertel ('Granddad Tell Me') featuring self-penned country songs in his local dialect. At the 35 theatre shows Normaal also plays an a capella song. From May to September the band traditionally plays in festival tents. The Tour is dubbed Veldtocht ('Campaign') 2007. They also play in Holsted, Denmark. The boxed set 100x Normaal contains all Normaal hits, augmented by their best album tracks out of their career. The Hits of their Telstar years are featured in a live rendition only.

Bennie Jolink

2008

Normaal plays lots of new songs during their tours. These songs are released late May on a new album which is appropriately titled Ni-je Nrs (New Songs). Because various band members contribute songs, the new album sounds very divers and features not only the band's usual rock sound but also ballads and calypso and reggae influences.

PBII

2009

The Blues eLPee (June) is blues in the widest sense of the word. The album is recorded analogue on a 24-track recorder and is released as both a CD and an LP. The CD includes four extra tracks which are not on the LP. The LP includes two tracks which are not included on the CD. In the same period, VPRO Radio & TV releases live sessions of the band which were recorded on 19 September 1977. Bassist Willem Terhorst releases his first solo album called Krek Wak Wol featuring music in the style of his favourite bands: The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and other Southern rock bands. Several Normaal members appear on the album.

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