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Netherlands

Skrunch (the)

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skrunch

Skrunch (the) – S/T

Tombstone records TOMB-DISC 672 [1989]
The Skunch – Watch Out! – Beez – In The Desert – I’m A Rocket – Small Town Stomp – Staze – The Big One – The Dream – When My Baby Left Me – Morning Fever – Rebel Rebel – True – Breakaway

Skrunch (the) – Smelly Sally

KIX 4u 3360 [1991]
Teflon Shake – Wild One – Herman the Sperm – Sorry – Intro – Raving Antstits – Gotta Geck Back – Lady Ghost Lover – Blue Suede Shoes – Smelly Sally – Caveman – Cadillac – Get Yourself Together – She’s Nice

The Skrunch
smelly sally

The Skrunch was a Dutch Psychobilly band formed in 1987 by Patrick Sturm (double bass and vocals), Daniel Nicolas (guitar), and Chris (drums). They disbanded in 1991. During their short career, the trio released two albums. They probably had no bigger ambition than having fun together. Hence, they sound more like a bunch of friends having a good time than a band that wants to create good music. As a result, Skrunch had little to offer. Their original songs were, at best, average, and their covers were barely recognizable (special mention to their horrible version of Breakaway). They were far from being accomplished musicians, and the sound is untidy. The poor production didn’t help either, especially on the first one. Smelly Sally, the second album, showed some improvement, but 14 songs are way too much for a band like this.

The Radioactive Kid

Crazy Tones (the)

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crazy tones

The Crazy Tones – She’s Got What It Takes

Tombstone Records – Tomb-Disc 678[1989]
You Better Believe – She’s Got What It Takes – Mister Cop – Baby Blue – You – Lonely Street – I Never Let You Down – Rhythm – Whispering Love – Bye Bye Blues – Macho Man – Dream – Don’t Ever Say Goodbye – Broken Heart Blues – The Door To My Heart – Cause I Love You

crazy tones

The Crazy Tones were formed in 1985 when Remi Groot met Jacco Buchholz. They enlisted the services of a friend of Jacco named Beerke to play the drums. They recorded various demos and appeared on a compilation with two titles (“Rockabilly Party” and “Let’s make some love”) recorded under the supervision of Boz Boorer. In 1988, Beerke left the group and was replaced by Ritchie Adams. The following year, they recorded “She’s Got What It Takes,” their first (and only) album for Tombstone Records.
The album is very representative Neo-Rockabilly from the late 1980s. The guitar has a clear, sometimes synthetic sound, and we can hear jazzy influences in addition to the usual Cliff Gallup and Mark Harman style, which is a plus. The double bass is well highlighted, and fans of the instrument will particularly enjoy the track “Rhythm.” The drums, often played with brushes, are more subtle but they fulfill their role perfectly. The singing is quite good, although it sometimes lacks finesse in the slightly slower pieces, especially at the end of phrases.
The album mainly consists of mid-tempo tunes, creating a very danceable and lively result. “Macho Man” is a bit wilder, reminiscent of the early Ricochets. What sets the group apart is their willingness, like good artists of the 1950s, to include ballads (such as “Lonely Street,” “You,” “Dark Lonely Street,” and “The Door To My Heart”) that count among the album’s best tunes.
Ultimately, while not revolutionizing the genre, “She’s Got What It Takes” features enough good songs and original ideas to be considered a mini-classic.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

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Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches – S/T

KIX 4 U Records – KIX 4 U 3353 [1990]
I’ve Got No Time – Running Wild – Bad – Is This Love – Heartbeat – New Parts – What You Want Is What You Get – True Love/Divine – The Boogie Man – Let’s Go – Sex Craze – Cadillac Lies – Here I Go Again – Square

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

Sons of the Yompin’ Cockroaches was formed by Ronald Van Oudheusden on bass, Franklin Bergman on drums and Ronnie “Roteb” Huisman on guitar. The group played with an electric bass, giving them a much more compact sound (also more in tune than most other groups) and a more solid base.
Even if their only album contains a good dose of Psychobilly, superbly crafted moreover, the group exceeds the strict limits of the genre. Thus, alongside tracks capable of competing with the best tracks of the genre (True Love/Divine; or the melodic Running Wild), we can hear influences ranging from Garage (Here I Go Again)to Hillbilly (New Parts) and even a Pogues-sounding tune with accordion (Square). Others, like Cadillac Lies, sound more traditional rock with an 80s touch.
The songs are all original compositions and are very neat. The production is very well done, and the group knows its business. We can only regret that this first attempt remained without follow-up.

Juvenile Delinquents

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juvenile delinquents

Juvenile Delinquents – Jumpin Around

Tombstone Records – TOMB-DISC 666 [1987]
Jump Around – Glad All Over – Ghost Train – Our Generation – Oeh Ah – She’s Wild So Wild

Juvenile Delinquents

It’s not easy to find pieces of information about The Juvenile Delinquents. The trio consisted of Crazy Eef on guitar, Ome Piet on electric bass and Robert van Driel on drums. They formed in the second half of the eighties and recorded this mini-album in January 1987. Using an electric bass gave them a fuller and more in-tune sound than many. If the Juvenile Delinquents are, musically speaking, a tight little band, one can’t say the same about the vocals that are a bit young.
Anyway, the songs are good, even excellent, like Ghost Train, and they had a good idea to release a mini-album to avoid the repetitions.

Rockats (the) – Psychobilly band

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Rockats, not to be confused with the famous American neo-rockabilly band, were a psychobilly trio from Amsterdam. Originally known as a high school band named the Wild Rabbits, the Rockats formed in November 1987 with Martijn Spanteren on guitar and vocals, Arjan de Witt on electric bass and Remko Visser on drums.
After the band split, Remko Visser remained active, playing with Asmodeus.

Rockats (the) – The First Take Off

Tombstone Records Tomb-Disc 671 [1988]
Take-Off – Poor Zombie – Lost City – Lonesome Cowboy – I Hope She Loves Me – Mama – Gone – Don’t Leave Me Alone – Lucy – Prisoner – Screw & Roll – Baby Baby – Rapping Spirit

In May of the following year, they recorded their first album, “The first Take Off”, for Tombstone Records. It contains some good songs, but the global sound is slightly “young” though, like the Juvenile Delinquents, the use of an electric bass gives them a fuller and more precise sound. The main problem is the vocals. The singer tends to overact, and his scratchy voice is a bit annoying in the long run.

Rockats (the) – Keep On Turning

Tombstone Records Tomb-Disc 675 [1989]
Rockats – The Shadow – Rattlesnake – Nightmare – Let’s Go Crazy – Doctor Doctor – Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Black Sunshine – All I Have To Do – Redlight Woman – Spend The Night With You – Whiskey On The Rocks

rockats keep on turning

One year later, they released “Keep On Turning”, still on Tombstone. This one is way better. It contains a few good ideas like Rattlesnake, a spaghetti western-tinged number, and original arrangements too. Furthermore, the singing shows quite an improvement.

Rockats (the) – The Last Crusade

Tombstone Records Tomb-disc 687 [1990]
Keep On Rock’In – Wanted – 1991 – Satisfied – Seducer – Last Crusade – Break Out – Fire – One Night Stand – Your Eyes – Burn In Hell – Jane

“The Last Crusade”, their third and last album, appeared in 1990. It contains excellent songs like the Seducer, featuring superb bouncing bass.
Other songs slightly departed from their previous release with more aggressive melodies and metal influences akin to the Krewmen of the same period.

The Radioactive Kid

Bang Bang Bazooka

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Bang Bang Bazooka – S/T

Count Orlock R.O.C.K. IV [1988]
Wild One – Dirty Hound – I’m Gonna Love You Too – Stop It Baby – Cheetah Man – Rockin’ Shock – Drive – Rocky Mountain Blues – Goldrush – Red Dress -The Blues That I Hate – Black Widow – Vampire

Rene van Lersel (drums) formed Bang Bang Bazooka in 1987 with Marcel Hoitsema (vocals and guitar), Francois Besson (guitar), Bart Gevers(double bass) and Rene van Lersel (drums).
Their first album saw the light of day the following year. Their sound combines traditional Rockabilly with metal. Despite being uneven in the songwriting, a totally wasted cover of Buddy Holly’s I’m Gonna Love You Too, this album contains a healthy dose of good ideas and originality that saves the final result.

Bang Bang Bazooka – True Rebel

Count Orlock C.O.C.K. VIII [1990]
Frankenstein Rock – Big City – True Rebel – Outlaw Man – Crime On Time – Human Alligator – Gonna Have A Ball – And I Play – Long Black Train – Joe Survived – Big John – Crimson Moon

bang bang bazooka

In 1990, Count Orlock released True Rebel, the band’s second album. It was dedicated to Arno V.D. Wassenberg, the band’s roadie who tragically died in a car accident.
True Rebel sounds like a better and more accomplished version of their debut album. Having Dick “Hardrock-abilly” Kemper in the producer’s seat marks an improvement in terms of production.
The songwriting is better too. A song like Frankenstein Rock, which shows the influence of Batmobile, could easily find its place on Sex Starved or Hard Hammer Hits. They also developed a more aggressive brand of neo-rockabilly by adding elements of Metal and Glam Rock (hence the presence of Crimson Moon, a cover of T-Rex) and even some Boogie Blues.
The guitar is powerful and very present, and the band makes good use of the two guitars even though the lead can sometimes be too intrusive.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

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