Henny Vrienten

Early days

Vrienten began his career in the late 1960s as a member of local outfit Les Cruches. In the early 1970s he wrote songs for others and released his first single as Ruby Carmichael. In 1977 Vrienten released his debut solo album Paul Santos, which he recorded with US producer Tom Salisbury. Lift Me Up Higher was extracted as a single.

Doe Maar

Meanwhile, Vrienten began to work with singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot in the studio and on stage. While recording the 1975 album Waar ik woon en wie ik ben ('Where I live and who I am"), he met keyboard player Ernst Jansz and drummer Johnny Lodewijks. The latter suggested they form a reggae band. The Rumbones (Rumboon: Dutch alcohol-filled chocolate), led by the vocals of French Toots-soundalike Cris Lester, toured from October 13 to November 12, 1977 and split up immediately afterwards. Vrienten moved on to Sammie America's Gasphetti, recorded demos at his garage, and did another tour with de Groot. Jansz offered him to join his band Doe Maar, but Vrienten turned him down, questioning the survival prospects of a Dutch-language group playing for fun. In 1980, he changed his mind after ending his relationship with his wife and her two teenage kids. Vrienten joined Doe Maar in time for the recording of their second album; he delivered three songs and co-designed the green/pink sleeve as the band's trademark colours.

The album Skunk was belatedly released in March 1981, 32 Jaar ("32 Years") being the lead single and becoming a hit. The follow-up Smoorverliefd ("Smitten") missed the Top 40, but with the 1982-released Doris Day, (a complaint against TV boredom), Doe Maar broke through and become key figures of the New Dutch Wave explosion. Initially they enjoyed their newfound popularity, but six months down the line doubts started to creep in.

In March 1983, by which time the fourth album Virus (4US), was released, Doe Maar announced a six-month publicity ban (i.e., no interviews and radio/TV appearances). This completely backfired as Doe Maar-mania grew even bigger.

In between tours of Belgium and the Netherlands Antilles, Henny recorded his first Dutch-language solo album, Geen Ballade, which he released in March 1984, a few weeks before Doe Maar played two farewell shows for live broadcast.

Instead of embarking on a solo tour, Vrienten decided to stretch himself by writing TV and film scores (notably the Dutch Sesame Street) and producing for other artists.

Solo career

From 1986 to 1991, Vrienten played oldies like Teddy Bear's Picknick with Magnificent Seven, whose members include singer/advert composer Fay Lovsky and unofficial fifth Doe Maar-member Joost Belinfante.

A new solo album was in the pipeline but held back by the release of a Best-of album; the expected Doe Maar revival never happened, and in early 1992, Mijn Hart Slaapt Nooit ("My Heart Never Sleeps") saw the light of day. As with Geen Ballade, the album received minimal promotion. At the end of the year, all Doe Maar members reunited to support the 1960s outfit CCC Inc. (featuring Ernst Jansz and Joost Belinfante) at their 25th anniversary concert. Only a few people noticed.

In the mid-1990s, a new generation of Dutch-language acts emerged, and Henny ended up collaborating with rap group Osdorp Posse.

Doe Maar: the reunion

In 1999, the four-piece rock band BLØF (also referred to as the Dutch Counting Crows) spent a whole tour playing a Doe Maar-covers-only set. Doe Maar members attended the show at the Amsterdam Paradiso and on November 1, 1999 they announced their reunion for one last album and a 25-date tour of the Netherlands and Belgium consisting of eight club shows, a record-breaking 16-night stint at the Ahoy Rotterdam, and a stadium show at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. Klaar ("Done") was released in April 2000; the band were finally acknowledged by the pop critics who had previously criticized them for singing in Dutch. The band continues to play occasional reunion shows.

Further collaborations

In 2008 Vrienten recorded an album with contemporaries Frank Boeijen and Henk Hofstede (frontman of The Nits). Aardige jongens ("Nice Guys") was promoted with a theatre tour; they performed the album as well as individual classics.

In 2010 Vrienten appeared in Ali B op volle toeren, a programme in which young Dutch rappers exchange songs with established artists. He contributed 32 Jaar Later ("32 Years Down the Line"), a sequel to the song that gave Doe Maar their first top 40 hit back in 1981.

In 2014 and 2015, he released two solo albums and went on tour.

In 2016 Vrienten formed the supergroup Vreemde Kostgangers ("Strange Boarders") with Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans and Boudewijn de Groot. In between tours they recorded two albums which were both released in 2017; a third tour is scheduled for 2018.

Solo

• 1977 Paul Santos
• 1984 Geen ballade
• 1991 Mijn hart slaapt nooit
• 2006 Nacht - De soundtrack
• 2008 Aardige jongens
• 2014 En toch...
• 2015 Alles is anders
• 2017 Vreemde Kostgangers
• 2017 Nachtwerk

Soundtracks

Studio albums with Doe Maar

• 1981: Skunk (nl)
• 1982: Doris Day & andere stukken (nl)
• 1983: 4us (nl)
• 2000: Klaar (nl)

Live albums with Doe Maar

• 1983: Lijf aan Lijf (nl)
• 1995: Het afscheidsconcert - Live in de Maaspoort 's‑Hertogenbosch
• 2000: Hees van Ahoy
• 2012: Symphonica in Rosso 2012 (nl)

Dub albums

• 1982: Doe de dub (dub version of the Doe Maar album 'Doris Day & andere stukken')
• 1984: Hot Dub (dub version of the album 'Bamboo reggae' from Chris Hinze)

The Magnificent 7

• 1990: The best of the worst

Raymond Van Het Groenewoud

• 1985: Habba