The Wildcats - Wild Romance

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The original Wildcats started in 1982 as a Rock..n..Roll Trio, with different Line-Up, playing gigs around their area in Rotterdam, Netherlands. To make their favourite sound, the British Revival Style (like Crazy Cavan, Shotgun etc.), they searched for a second guitar player. In 1984 Kees De Prins van Bemmel, a very young enthusiastic guitar player, joined the band. The line up in those days was: Roel Hazelhof on bass, Kees ?Spider? Jan Dekker on leadvocals & guitar, Peter Schenk on drums & vocals and Kees ?De Prins? van Bemmel on guitar & vocals. The band got very popular, played at many Festivals in several countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and on the big weekenders in Great Britain).

In 1986 they recorded the legendary EP Behind Bars on Go Cat Go Records containing the smash hit I Found A Friend In Alcohol. They also did two great tracks (You bring me down & The boys are here) for the sampler called Good Rockin Tonight on Disky Records.

The Wildcats created exactly that powerful sound the European Teddy girls & boys wanted to hear. I found a friend in alcohol became more than a club hit! So Big Beat Records (one of the biggest R..n..R record companies in that time) was very interested to sign them. But in 1987 Spider tried other things, the band took another guitar player and Kees De Prins van Bemmel started singing the lead vocals continuously from now on.
Unfortunately, in 1989 the band had to quit, Bass player and founder of the first Wildcats Roel Hazelhoff had a tragic accident and lost one finger and parts of his thumb and other fingers. Going through the feeling at that moment the band didnt want to replace Roel, so started a new band named Hot Rock. In August 2001 with gigs in Germany, including the remembering flashy appearance on the Brandenburg Festival which could be seen as a Rock and Roll breakthrough for the band. After that, they got a very successful tour in Suomi, Finland, where they played as headliner and co-headliner on different festivals. Also a big article was made for the, over 200 pages hardcover book, Rockin Annual of Jari Eklund. During the following time the band was booked for shows all over Europe like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Holland, England and of course Germany.

In 2003 The (new) Wildcats released their first album Wild Romance on CD which is nearly sold out yet. After a scandinavian tour Stefan had new plans for life and left the band. The idea was growing to get the original Wildcats drummer and founder member Peet Schenk. After one call, he was ready to rock again! Peet Schenk has besides the Wildcats a history that started in the mid seventies with bands like: Rocky Road (featuring Kees Spider Dekker singing and guitar playing), Gene Savane and his Tennessee Ducktails and the Blazing Aces (later on the legendary band with Jur Scherpenzeel from Maloe Melo). He also played alongside Kees van Bemmel and his brother in Hot Rock. The man has earned his spurs.

During the year 2004 the band had a creative break and took time out. After a short while they decided to re-start The Wildcats as a trio. Soon after first rehearsals and gigs they found out there is this special chemistry in the band. Most fans mentioned This sounds really like the old days! and you even dont miss a second guitar. So the Wildcats decided to keep it this way and they are now, running through 2005, stronger than ever and working out some very demanded new material for the shows and the next CD. Wherever they roll through, playing these old Wildcats-Hits, Revival Rock..n..Roll, Classics and their fantastic own new material, theres magic in the air and a hell of a wild party going on.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• rockabilly
• revival