Normaal

For other uses, see Normal.
Normaal

Normaal in concert at Parkpop in 2006
Background information
Origin Achterhoek, Netherlands
Genres Blues rock, hard rock, country rock
Years active 1973-present
Website www.normaal.nl
Members Bennie Jolink
Ferdi Joly
Willem Terhorst
Roel Spanjers
Jan de Ligts
Jan Wilm Tolkamp
Timo Kelder
Past members Jan Manschot

Normaal is a rock band from the Netherlands, more specifically from the Achterhoek region, who sing in Achterhooks, a local variety of the Low Saxon language group. Bennie Jolink, who was an Arts education student stationed in Amsterdam in the 1970s, started the band in 1975 as a reaction to disco and glamrock, in addition to the overall "Dutch snobbery" towards people from the Low Saxon-speaking regions, and use of the English language by many other Dutch artists. "Normaal" meaning "normal", suggesting the same: "act normally". The band has since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other Dutch band. Despite this fact, the band never reached number one.[1] The music could be typified as "heavy country rock", and possibly as a rowdier version of ZZ Top or Status Quo.

History

The band was founded in 1973 by guitarist and lead vocalist Bennie Jolink and drummer Jan Manschot.

The band has a very loyal following of 'anhangers' (fans) or 'høkers', some of whom follow the band's tours anywhere they go. The concerts are usually performed in large party tents in the countryside. In the early days, the concerts were mainly focused on consuming large quantities of alcohol, girls and partying (for which they have come up with the umbrella term 'høken') rather than sound quality, although this has changed over the last decades. The term 'høken' is an example of words that the band invented or popularized, and fit their local dialect. Høken is used as word in several of the band's lyrics, song titles and album/DVD titles. It has become an established term especially in the Achterhoek region, and can even be found in the Van Dale Dutch dictionary with attribution to the band.[2]

Their first and biggest hit was "Oerend Hard" ('Bloody Fast'), a song about two motor cyclists who "never heard of slow driving". Predictably, the song ends with them crashing, whereafter it is implied that both drivers have died in the crash, after which the band (and its fans) sings that despite this fact, they will continue to drive "oerend hard". Several members of the band have been involved in serious motor accidents.[1]

In September 2006, Normaal released Hier is Normaal ("Here is Normaal"), followed by two concert tours. Not only their album, but both concert tours of that year were carbon neutral. The energy needed for all 44 concerts was compensated via investments in renewable energy projects in India. Normaal is the first Dutch band to have taken a stance against global climate change.

In October 2007, organizers of two hugely successful concerts by Normaal enabled the band to donate $11,000 to Woodstock General Hospital Foundation. The idea came from a dairy farmer; Ben Van Haastert from Woodstock, Ontario. Haastert's wife Ankie and local friends assisted in planning. One concert was held in nearby London, Ontario (a neighbouring city with a larger population), and the other was held in Woodstock.

Founding member Jan Manschot died in January 2014.[3]

Members

Current members
  • Bennie Jolink - guitars, percussion, lead vocals (1973-present)
  • Ferdi Joly - vocals, guitars, saxophone, clarinet, harmonica (1975-1980) (2010-present)
  • Willem Terhorst - bass, vocals (1975-present)
  • Roel Spanjers - keyboards, accordion, piano, vocals (2003-present)
  • Jan de Ligt - saxophone (2003-present)
  • Jan Wilm Tolkamp - guitars, vocals (2006-present)
  • Timo Kelder - drums, vocals (2014-present)
Former members
  • Jan Manschot - drums, percussion, vocals (1973-2013; died 2014)
  • Jan Kolkman - guitar, vocals, accordion, saxophone (1975-2003)
  • Alan Gascoigne - guitar (1980-2003)
  • Paul Kemper - guitar, backing vocals (1983-1999)
  • Nico Groen - drums (1985)
  • Fokke de Jong - drums, vocals (1989-2013)
  • Willem Duyn - lead vocals, due to motorcycle-accident Bennie Jolink (1992)
  • Robert Colenbrander - guitar, backing vocals, accordion (1992-1993)
  • Arend Bouwmeester - saxophone (2003)
  • Tessa Boomkamp - drums, vocals (2003-2005)
  • Joost Hagen - trumpet (2007-2009)

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

References

  1. 1 2 Dutch Wikipedia site for Normaal
  2. ↑ Høken Dutch wikipedia page
  3. ↑ Medeoprichter Jan Manschot van Normaal overleden

External links

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