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BIOGRAPHY Formed in the early 70’s, Kayak has its roots and heritage in Hilversum, the Dutch Media Capital, where founder members Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman met up with Max Werner whilst studying music at the Hilversums Conservatorium (Academy of Music). Johan Slager was already part of the band and with the addition of Cees van Leeuwen the line-up was complete. This soon led to a recording contract with EMI and in 1973 they released their debut album See See The Sun, which produced two hit singles (Mammoth and Lyrics). SEE SEE THE SUN The follow-up album, Kayak II, also delivered a hit single (Wintertime), saw the band build up a good following and beginning to make a name for themselves as a group of talented musicians. This resulted in the Dutch music press labelling them the ‘latest super group’. KAYAK II In 1974 Cees van Leeuwen came to the conclusion that he could no longer combine the hectic touring and recording schedules with his law studies and left the band. With Bert Veldkamp taking over the band hit the studio again to record their third album Royal Bed Bouncer. ROYAL BED BOUNCER In 1976 the band signed to Phonogram for the release of their fourth studio album, The Last Encore, but all was not well; Pim Koopman decided to leave, and was soon followed by Bert Veldkamp. Within the space of a couple of months, Kayak lost its complete rhythm section as well as one of its main composers – a huge setback. LAST ENCORE In the Autumn of 1976, replacements were found for both Pim and Bert and Kayak once again hit the studio to record Starlight Dancer. The title track was released as a single and reached number 14 in the Dutch hit parade. Starlight Dancer was also released in the US, however this album was essentially a compilation of The Last Encore and Starlight Dancer. Want You To Be Mine was released as a single and went to number 55 in the Billboard 100 and they were declared ‘Most Promising Band of the Year’ by the influential US publication Record World. STARLIGHT DANCER Within 18 months the replacement rhythm section decided to move on. A chaotic period followed, which almost spelt the end for the band despite having a US tour planned and international break-through on the cards. Max announced his desire to switch from vocals to drums (which he studied at the music academy) and so the hunt was on for a replacement vocalist and bassist. A new singer was found in Edward Reekers, who joined along side Peter Scherpenzeel (Ton’s younger brother) on bass guitar. Two additional newcomers were found in Irene Linders (Ton’s wife and one of Kayak’s lyricists) and Katherine Lapthorn, who between them took on the responsibility for providing backing vocals. Phantom Of The Night, the album that followed this line-up change, meant a radical shift in direction. An unwelcome change in the eyes of many of the band’s original fans, but then the unexpected happened; the single Ruthless Queen became a huge overnight success, reaching the number 4 spot in the Dutch hit parade and opening doors to a much wider audience. With album sales in the Netherlands topping 100.000, Phantom Of The Night became platinum and reached the number 1 spot in the album charts. PHANTOM OF THE NIGHT In 1980 the band headed for Los Angeles to record Periscope Life, which outsold the previous albums but lacked hit single success. PERISCOPE LIFE In 1981 Kayak returned to more progressive and symphonic roots with their next release, Merlin, which was substantially a concept album telling the Arthurian legend of Merlin the sorcerer. MERLIN Merlin, together with Royal Bed Bouncer are seen by many, as Kayak’s finest albums, however, the overall lack of commercial success along with a great deal of musical and personal rivalry within the band created enormous strain. The band finally imploded when Max Werner topped the German charts with his solo single Rain In May, and the band managed to release a (faked) live album, Eyewitness, containing three previously unreleased tracks all recorded live in the studio. EYEWITNESS Seventeen years of silence follows, until in 1997 a television programme focussing on classic albums featured Royal Bed Bouncer. When in 1999 Kayak is invited make a special guest appearance on the popular Dutch TV show ‘Vrienden Van Amstel Live’ the band agrees and Ton Scherpenzeel, Max Werner, Bert Veldkamp, Johan Slager and Pim Koopman’s temporary replacement Marc Stoop don the stage for the first time in 17 years. With this performance Kayak entered its second lease of life. Ton, Pim, Bert, Max and new guitarist Rob Winter signed to ProActs and soon after recorded Close To The Fire. Released in May 2000, the album was well received and attracted fans from the early days with Max again taking on the vocal responsibilities. The old magic and inspirational fire were back and the band started touring again. They were joined, on stage, by ex-Vandenberg singer Bert Heerink, who ensured the band could perform the songs previously sang by Edward Reekers and also giving Max the opportunity to concentrate on percussion. CLOSE TO THE FIRE Suffering from health problems, in the Autumn of 2000 Max’s departure became inevitable. Bert Heerink took over all vocal duties and Rob Vunderink joined as second guitarist. 2001 saw the release of 2 Kayak albums, Chance For A LIVE Time and Night Vision. The release of Chance For A LIVE Time, Kayak’s first live album, recorded during the Close To The Fire Tour the previous year, was soon followed by the band recording their twelfth studio album Night Vision, which hit the shops in November of that year. CHANCE FOR A LIVE TIME NIGHT VISION During the recording of Night Vision, plans were hatched to re-record Merlin with a symphony orchestra, turning it into a fully fledged concept album with extended storyline. After concluding the successful Night Vision tour, Ton, Pim and Irene start writing and arranging the rock opera Merlin which turned out the be one of the most demanding projects in Kayak’s history and crucial to the band’s future The split from their record label ProActs and the departure of Rob Winter were major blows but when in the Autumn of 2002 a replacement was found in Joost Vergoossen. When Cindy Oudshoorn joined the cast as leading lady Morgan Lefay the recording of Kayak’s magnus opus Merlin – Bard Of The Unseen could at last begin. MERLIN – BARD OF THE UNSEEN The rock opera proved to be a huge success as was the subsequent theatre tour for which the Kayak-cast was joined by three dancers for visual effect. The highlight of 2003 came when the tour culminated in an open air performance with a full symphony orchestra in front of an enthusiastic 7000 strong audience. The performance was made even more special as the band was joined on stage by Bobby Kimball (Toto) as Lancelot and Petra Berger as Guinevere. Most of 2004 was spent writing and preparing the theatrical follow-up Nostradamus – The Fate Of Man, which saw its premiere in March 2005. For this second rock opera Kayak needed an ever bigger cast and the search was on for vocalists to join Cindy Oudshoorn and Bert Heerink. This saw the return of Edward Reekers, who already made several guest appearances during the Merlin tour, and he took on one of the vocal roles as well as that of story teller. Just before the band were due to start recording Bert Veldkamp announced his decision to leave. As it was too late to look for a new bass player, Ton Scherpenzeel (who originally started out as a bass player) decided to lay down the bass lines for this double album himself. Jan van Olffen joined the band in 2005 and with a total cast of 13 the band set off on a 32 date theatre tour. NOSTRADAMUS – THE FATE OF MAN Disc 2 December 2005 saw the departure of Bert Heerink. Edward Reekers, after a successful collaboration during Nostradamus, returns as the bands joint lead vocalist with Cindy Oudshoorn. In the Autumn of 2006 the band embarks the KAYAKoustic tour which was followed by the release of a live album KAYAKoustic in May 2007. KAYAKoustic The second half of 2007 is spent writing and recording the new studio album Coming Up For Air, not a rock opera like the previous two Kayak albums but a beautiful CD with 15 new songs with no conceptual link. COMING UP FOR AIR In January 2008 the band heads out on the road again for their 35th Jubilee Tour.
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