Comments on: Some say I'm suicidal with a sense of humor.

Some say I'm suicidal with a sense of humor.

monospace — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:38:26 -0800

"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.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:46:31 -0800

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.

By: humboldt32

humboldt32 — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:06:28 -0800

Ham en kaas op mijn broodje, a.u.b.

By: lupus_yonderboy

lupus_yonderboy — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:06:35 -0800

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...

By: kozad

kozad — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:12:13 -0800

Thanks for the links! I have one of his prints, but didn't know the whole story behind the artist.

By: stinkycheese

stinkycheese — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:14:46 -0800

The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon Hmmmmm...

By: Rangeboy

Rangeboy — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:13:26 -0800

Brood was The Netherlands' only legitimate rock and roll icon Does this guy count?

By: 2or3whiskeysodas

2or3whiskeysodas — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:42:46 -0800

I was in that musical! Maybe when I'm off work I can talk about the experience a little (if anyone's interested).

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:42:46 -0800

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

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:43:39 -0800

champagne and wine, i mean

By: three blind mice

three blind mice — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:46:34 -0800

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.

By: stinkycheese

stinkycheese — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:57:26 -0800

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.

By: Ubermonkey

Ubermonkey — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:26:54 -0800

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!

By: digitalprimate

digitalprimate — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:39:37 -0800

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."

By: jfuller

jfuller — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:27:55 -0800

> 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.

By: monospace

monospace — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:40:16 -0800

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.