Some say I'm suicidal with a sense of humor.
July 11, 2011 9:38 AM   Subscribe

"I've had enough; maybe I'll be seeing you around. Make it a great party." Ten years ago today, Dutch rock'n'roll junkie Herman Brood stepped out of this world. Brood was The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon, as well as an accomplished visual artist, and the country's most famous hard drug user -- which may have sabotaged his American breakthrough. Black Francis made an album (turned into a musical) in his honor. You can study to be a rock star at the Herman Brood Academie. His bronze bust in his (and mine) hometown Zwolle has been moved to keep it safe from copper thieves.
posted by monospace (15 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Brood was The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon,

Wally Tax and the Outsiders, and all the guys in Golden Earring would beg to differ.
posted by jonmc at 9:46 AM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Ham en kaas op mijn broodje, a.u.b.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:06 AM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Oh, dear, I knew about Herman Brood but hadn't heard he was dead, I guess I assumed he'd died a long time ago.

Back in the day, I heard that Nina Hagen's song Smack Jack was about her relationship with him, though I don't see any references to this on the net (but it seems pretty likely given their respective chronologies). However, this song is definitely about him...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:06 AM on July 11, 2011


Thanks for the links! I have one of his prints, but didn't know the whole story behind the artist.
posted by kozad at 10:12 AM on July 11, 2011


The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon

Hmmmmm...
posted by stinkycheese at 10:14 AM on July 11, 2011


Brood was The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon

Does this guy count?
posted by Rangeboy at 11:13 AM on July 11, 2011


I was in that musical! Maybe when I'm off work I can talk about the experience a little (if anyone's interested).
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 11:42 AM on July 11, 2011 [2 favorites]


The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon

eddie van halen

i have on vinyl herman brood's wild romance with saturday night on it - it's a good album and i really like how he does otis redding's champagne on wine, but ...

eddie van halen does count, even if i don't have any of his records

sorry about that
posted by pyramid termite at 12:42 PM on July 11, 2011


champagne and wine, i mean
posted by pyramid termite at 12:43 PM on July 11, 2011


eddie van halen does count

Not by my counting.

Eddie was seven years old when his patents immigrated to California. He grew up in America. He lives in America. Regardless of where his parents were from, or where he was born, in America that makes you an American.
posted by three blind mice at 1:46 PM on July 11, 2011


So growing up and living in the U.S. is enough to make you an American? I'm sure a lot of folks will be thrilled to hear that.
posted by stinkycheese at 3:57 PM on July 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


So happy to see the links to Catastrophic's "Bluefinger" up there. They're a fine group who do great work. Brood's pal Koos came to see it, even.

I was in that musical

And you did a fine job!
posted by Ubermonkey at 5:26 PM on July 11, 2011


Regardless of where his parents were from, or where he was born, in America that makes you an American.

Unless, of course, you have the balls to do your Dutch radio interviews in Dutch, no matter how bad it is. I heard him do this in '92, and his Dutch was as bad as mine after a year in the country, and I thought, if he has the stones to do it so can I!

I still, however, cannot play, "Eruption."
posted by digitalprimate at 6:39 PM on July 11, 2011


> Does this guy count?
> posted by Rangeboy at 2:13 PM on July 11 [+] [!]

born Andreas Cornelis ("Dries") van Kuijk. TIL! Thanks for that, Rangeboy. Had no clue.


> The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon

For iconic work from the Low Countries, nothing touches Hocus Pocus (song name, group = Focus. You'll have to yootoob it yourself if you don't know it, too many versions and I'm too sleepy but start with radio mix, can.t go wrong.) Crossover blockbuster, hit my personal Totally Insane list at #1 for being throw-up-in-the-ice-bucket funny (booting "You got to fight for your right to party" down to #6) and also personal Overall Top Five for just plain OMFG rocking. Recommended with a bullet.
posted by jfuller at 7:27 PM on July 11, 2011


Alright folks, I was editorializing. Hard to avoid with a topic like this. Maybe Herman wasn't the *only* Dutch rock icon, but he certainly ranks among the greatest. Carry on.
posted by monospace at 5:40 AM on July 12, 2011


« Older Tragedy on Volga   |   The Age of Mechanical Reproduction Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments