Part of a
vibrant Amsterdam pop music scene in the late sixties with their harder
edged blend of psychedelic rock and Chicago blues, Dutch band Brainbox
paid hommage to both American and British Contemporaries while at the
same time developing their own more progressive brand of pop music.
Brainbox was formed in 1968 shortly after guitarist Jan Akkerman and
drummer Pierre van der Linden joined 19 year-old singing prodigy
Kazmierz " Kaz " Lux to lay down a couple of demos after the latter had
won a talent contest sponsored by the Dutch Record label Bovema. Of
Polish descent and Dutch upbringing Lux had previously sang with several
Dutch pop bands but his heartfelt vocal deliveries were closer to the
soul of Howlin` Wolf and Leadbelly while at the same time hitting the
higher registers of Ella ( Fitzgerald ). Both Akkerman and van der
Linden themselves were no strangers to the Amsterdam pop music scene
with Akkerman having become one of the most famous young musicians in
his homeland with a hit single, "The Russian Spy And I" in 1966 while
playing with a band called "The Hunters". Having played proffessionally
as early as the age of 10 by this time he had developed a distinctive
rock guitar sound which drew more from jazz and classical sources most
notably Tal Farrow, Diango Reinhardt, Bola Sete and Julian Bream. Van
der Linden had also played with Akkerman in one of his earlier groups
"Johnny And His Cellar Rockers" in addition to other Dutch pop groups
including "After Tee" and "Met & Zonder". Newcomer bassist Andre
Reynen completed the new band as Akkerman had played the bass parts
himself on the two demo recordings and the stage was set.While Lux`s
emotive voicings sounded similar to contemporary blues rocker
counterparts from the UK such as Rory Gallager ( actualy from The
Republic of Ireland ) and Joe Cocker, when fused with Akkermans`s
immaginative guitar the result was a blistering meltdown of emotive
blues and heavy rock with jazz attitudes. They experimented with
interpretations of the music of George Gershwin, Tim Hardin as well as
Simon and Garfunkel`s "Scarborough Fair" in addition to their own
compositions. Akkerman`s adventurous guitar work gave the band a
progressive aspect with his extensive soloing and intricate rhythms and
resulted in a 16 minute plus showpeice, "Sea Of Delight", on their first
self-titled album which was almost unheard of in pop music at the time.
The flute was also an instrument which many psychedelic bands were
becoming increasingly interested in during the late sixties most notably
Jethro Tull and a guest musician, Tom Barlage, contributed to a couple
of tracks on the band`s first album with the flute also resurfacing on
later Brainbox recordings. Despite their experimental approach they
became better known for their singles three of which had been released
by the end of 1969. However, Akkerman`s appetite for more explorative
and complex instrumental music saw him jamming with another young Dutch
musician, Thijs van Leer, who possessed similar aspirations which
resulted in Akkerman`s dismissal from the band by the end of `69. He
subsequently formed "Focus" along with Van Leer which later became one
of the first internationally acclaimed rock bands to emanate from the
Netherlands. He was followed by Van der Linden into "Focus" a few months
later with the remnants of Brainbox forging on with new musicians. The
void left by Akkerman proved difficult to fill with jazz guitarist
Herman Meyer being briefly bought in before a more permanent lineup was
established with new members guitarists John Schuursma and Rudy de
Queljoe along with Frans Smit on drums joining Lux and Reynen. A number
of singles were recorded with this lineup in 1970 which also appeared on
an album which was oddly entitled "The Best Of Brainbox" released the
following year which also contained tracks previously released with
Akkerman and Van der Linden. The band continued to shift members
throughout 1971 and with Lux departing to follow a solo path it
eventually morphed into a completely new band with ex-Ekseption vocalist
Michel van Dijk on vocals and flute, Ronnie Meyes on guitar, Robert
Verwey on bass with Frans Smit returning on drums. Although an album was
released in early 1972 by this lineup entitled "Parts" it lacked the
chemistry and soul established by the previous lineups with Kaz Lux
despite the level of musicianship which attempted to move in a more
progressive direction. Overshadowed by the potency of the art/rock
movement which was gaining momentum at the time Brainbox was dissolved
shortly after the release of "Parts" and unfortunately the album has yet
to see a release on CD. In 1982-84 Brainbox reformed as a touring band
with Kaz Lux on vocals, Rudy de Queljoe and John Schuursma on guitars
with original drummer and bassist Pierre van der Linden and Andre
Reynen. Although some demos were recorded during this period no album
materialized. The band reunited again in 2003 and 2004 with Eric Baghus
replacing Reynen on bass and a live swan song album was released
entitled "The Last Train" which documented the band`s last performances
in Sept. 2004.Brainbox was one of the few bands in rock music history
which acquired legendary status on the strength of a few singles and one
major LP alone, arguably because of Akkerman`s subsequent success with
"Focus" as well as a solo artist. Nonetheless, the band is fondly
remembered in it`s homeland of the Netherlands as one of the first Dutch
super groups that played a daring combination of blues, folk and heavy
rock. Line-up / Musicians Jan Akkerman/guitars,organ,vibes,bass Pierre van der Linden/drums Andre Reynen/bass Kaz Lux/vocals,percussion Discography(Album) Brainbox 1969
1.Dark Rose 2.Reasons To Believe 3.Baby, What You Want Me To Do 4.Scarborough Fair 5.Summertime 6.Sinner's Prayer 7.Sea Of Delight
