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Claw Boys Claw

 
Artist: Claw Boys Claw
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Group Members:

Peter Bos

Similar Artists:

Fatal Flowers

Influenced By:

The Stooges, The Birthday Party, Gun Club, The Cramps
  • Formed: 1983, Claw Boys Claw
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Pajama Day

Biography

God help the beast in Claw Boys Claw, for they are the expert representatives of a truly deranged performance mentality ever to dwell on the Dutch club circuit. On-stage, the band's main attraction is lead singer Peter Te Bos, quite possibly a species of the same breed as Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Nick Cave circa the Birthday Party, and Stooges-era Iggy Pop. Obviously inspired by these better-known U.S. colleagues, between 1983 and 1997 Claw Boys Claw succeeded in carving their own piece of garage rock and punk blues , introducing subtle doses of psychedelia and country on 1997's Will-o-the-Wisp. Although never officially disbanding, nothing was heard from them thereafter. From 1999 on, rumors circulated that they were working on new material. Together with Fatal Flowers, Claw Boys Claw deserves to be credited as the most important group to evolve from the Dutch capitol's early-'80s punk scene (aka "Amsterdam School of Guitar"). Formed in 1983 by l'Attentat's Allard Jolles, the band almost immediately gained attention from public and press. Their first lineup consisted of Bobbie Rossini on bass, guitarist John Cameron, and Jolles himself on drums. By coincidence (i.e. being spotted in a supermarket by future girlfriend Rossini), singer Peter Te Bos walked in on the band and completed the lineup. After winning a local band contest, the prize money was used to record a debut album. Shocking Shades of Claw Boys Claw received fair responses upon its 1984 release and Claw Boys Claw embarked on a series of national gigs. A far-out performance by singer Te Bos, as well as their memorable cover of Shocking Blue's "Venus," don't fail to make a lasting impression. In 1986 they were signed by Polydor and played both the renowned Dutch Pink Pop Festival and Roskilde in Denmark. On a national scale Te Bos made a nice job of their reputation as well by kissing the Dutch State Secretary for Welfare, Public Health and Culture on the occasion of being honored with the BV Pop Award. Although their fourth album Crack My Nut got them as far as New York's New Music Seminar, media attention didn't translate into sales of any kind. After being dumped by Polydor, Claw Boys Claw struck back with Hitkillers. Consisting only of cover versions, it's remarkable for turning Dutch pop classics by the likes of Earth and Fire and Cuby & the Blizzards inside out, in a way that surpasses the earlier "Venus." The back cover shows a hilarious photo gallery with pictures of the band dressed up as their supposed heroes. Tour obligations with regard to Songs for Drella held none other than John Cale back from producing the next Claw Boys Claw record. Angelbite marked a shift towards a more bluesy and melodic sound. More effort was put into rhythmic structures, and Te Bos' singing is gradually improving. In the process, Rossini and Jolle's replacement Marius Schrader quit the band and were replaced with Arno Kooy and Marc Lamb. Turning to a more acoustic approach on-stage helped further to improve their sound. Eventually, this led to an artistic and financial highlight with 1992's Sugar, for which the band joined forces with producer Michel Schoots (aka Urban Dance Squad drummer Magic Stick) and yet another bass player (ex-Fatal Flowers Geert de Groot). A surprise entry in the Dutch charts for "Rosie" helped to sell 30.000 copies of the album. Sugar was followed by 1994's less successful Nipple, and after a three year gap, Claw Boys Claw released what turned out to be their last album for a long period: Will-o-the-Wisp. Psychedelic arrangements and a touch of country did not lead to an expected breakthrough. Individual bandmembers turned to their own musical courses, while Te Bos engages himself fully as a graphic designer. Among his better-known work are the Urban Dance Squad logo and the mascot of the Dutch Campingflight to the Lowlands festival. ~ Quint Kik, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Claw Boys Claw
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Claw Boys Claw
Origin Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres Rock, punk rock, rhythm & blues
Years active 1983–1997, 2006-present
Labels Polydor, PIAS
Associated acts L'Attentat
Website www.clawboysclaw.nl
Members
Peter te Bos
John Cameron
Marc Lamb
Marcus Bruystens
Former members
Allard Jolles
Bobbie Rossini
Marius Schrader
Arno Kooy
Geert de Groot

Claw Boys Claw[1] are a Dutch rock and roll band, formed in Amsterdam. The core members of the band are Peter Te Bos (vocals) and John Cameron (guitar).[2] The band released eight full-length albums between 1983 and 1997. After some years of inactivity, the band started playing live again in 2007 and released a new album, Pajama Day, in 2008.

The Claw Boys Claw established a reputation for its exuberant and energetic live shows--in the Dutch press, Te Bos is often referred to as a "podium beast."[3] They never attained much commercial success, and a venture into the American market was unsuccessful, but many of their albums are critically acclaimed. They were called one of the most important Dutch bands of the 1980s,[4] received one the highest awards given to Dutch pop musicians (the BV Popprijs), and continue, as "one of the best Dutch bands,"[5] to attract attention with their records and their performances.

Contents

Beginnings

Claw Boys Claw was founded in 1983 by guitarist Allard Jolles, at the time guitarist and singer of L'Attentat, though he played drums in his newly-founded band. The original four members were Jolles, Peter Te Bos, John Cameron, and bassist Bobbie Rossini. Their "garage rock," as the Dutch termed it (a lo-fi mixture of rock and roll and punk), quickly gains popularity, and in 1984 the band releases their first album, Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw, containing among others a cover of the song "Venus" by Shocking Blue. The album was recorded in three hours and cost 500 guilders (some $250 at the time), money the band had won in a talent show. While not a commercial success at the time, the album (which was reissued in 2008) was later called one of the best records in the history of Dutch pop music by Trouw.[4] Jolles leaves the band in May 1985 to focus on L'Attentat, and is replaced by Marius Schrader.[6]

The singles "So Mean" and "Indian Wallpaper" are successful in the underground scene, but the 1986 album With Love From The Boys, released by Polydor, breaks through to a broader audience, selling 8000 copies.[7] That year the band plays at Pinkpop, the most important open air festival in the Netherlands, and under the pseudonym "The Hipcats" opens up for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, playing mainly cover songs.[8] They even release a Christmas single, "Blue Bells." In 1987 the Claw Boys Claw play at the Roskilde Festival and release their third full-length album, Crack My Nut, their last on Polydor. There is disagreement between band and label: Peter Te Bos, in an interview with the leading Dutch music magazine, Muziekkrant OOR, complains that they receive no support from their label and that their records are not promoted at all.[9] The band receives the prestigious BV Popprijs[10] from the Christian-Democrat minister of culture Elco Brinkman, and Te Bos causes a stir by kissing the amazed Brinkman as he hands Te Bos the award; five years later the photograph makes the cover of André Nuchelman's study of the difficult relations between Dutch government and popular music, "Dit gebonk dient tot het laatste toe te worden bestreden": Popmuziek en overheidsbeleid 1975-2001.[11]

Hoping to reach a larger audience, the band performs at the New Music Seminar in New York in 1988, but success in the United States never comes about. They meet with John Cale, who is interested in producing the band's next album. Despite having built a great reputation as live-artists, the band get dropped by Polydor because of disappointing sales. The band subsequently releases the album Hitkillers on the Megadisc label, an album consisting of Nederpop covers. In February 1989 Rossini and Schrader leave the band and are replaced by Marc Lamb en Arno Kooy from The Agentz. Despite personnel trouble and disappointing commercial success, the band's reputation appears solid, and they were called one of the most prominent bands of the 1980s.[4]

Middle years

The Claw Boys Claw attempt a more accessible sound on Angelbite (1990). Rumors of a cooperation with John Cale had persisted, but Angelbite is produced by Steve Parker (who had worked with British band The Fall and Dutch singer Mathilde Santing), and recorded at ICP studios in Brussels. They play Parkpop in 1991, and Kooy is replaced by Geert de Groot (formerly of the Fatal Flowers). The Dutch press considers $uga[r] (1992) a highpoint for the band, and it establishes a style the band will follow on every album after, a circuitous and melodic "brooding swamp rock"[12] The album is recorded at Orkater studios in Amsterdam and produced by Magic Stick (Michel Schoots, of the Urban Dance Squad). The ballad "Rosie" is the band's first single to score in the Dutch Top 40,[13] and the song is still their best-known.[3]

In 1993 they play Pinkpop again and open for U2 three nights in a row in the Kuip,[3] the largest crowd the band have ever played for, but after 1994's Nipple, recorded in the band's own studio and produced by Luc Suèr, the band loses momentum. Te Bos returns to his old profession, graphic design; the band releases one more CD, Will-o-the-Wisp (recorded in Smecky Barrandov Studio in Prague, and produced by Henk Jonkers and Frank van der Weij), and play one more memorable show: in 1998, they play in Paradiso in Amsterdam, performing covers of Iggy and the Stooges as part of the "Marlboro Flashback" series, which even gave the Claw Boys Claw the rare opportunity for a TV-special.[14][15] The band stops performing around 2000.

Rebirth, 25th anniversary

There are rumors in the spring of 2006 that the Claw Boys Claw are working on a new album and want to start touring again, and that Geert de Groot was replaced by Lya Spykstra. According to Te Bos, he and Cameron wrote some seventy songs since 2002,[16] some of which are released in February 2008 on Pajama Day, on the Dutch label Play It Again Sam. The album is welcomed by critics, who hail their lyrical maturity and honesty and their musical ability.[2] Most critics do note that the Claw Boys Claw have dialed down the volume, but still praise the album—Belgian weekly HUMO specifies that these are the most exciting rock songs they've heard in years and gives it four out of five stars,[17] and while the reviewer from De Recensent found only three worthwhile songs on the CD,[16] the Dutch paper De Volkskrant thought it a brooding and dark album containing "beautiful secrets."[18] Dutch music magazine Muziekkrant OOR concurs, calling the album "swamp rock" full of tension, and "a record to take to bed."[19]

Starting November 16, 2007, the group plays live shows again (not with Spykstra but with Marcus Bruystens on bass), and the Dutch music critics respond very positively,[20] online music magazine LiveXS calling their performance at the January 2008 Noorderslag festival in Groningen "legendary."[21] The "country's most legendary live band" plays their first radio show in a decade on in January 2008, for VPRO's 3VOOR12.[22] They continue to play all around the country, in The Hague on the night before the Koninginnedag celebrations, for instance.[23][24] Their most visible show in 2008 was probably at Lowlands (alongside, for instance, the Sex Pistols),[25][26][27] a festival for which Te Bos also designs the logo and all other objects, even the gate to the festival terrain.[28] The band's dynamic live performances are honored with the 2008 "Iron Podium Beast," the VNPF LiveXS Award for best show;[29][30][31] LiveXS calls the band "better than ever" in a review of a show in the Melkweg in December 2008.[32]

In honor of their 25th anniversary, on June 2, 2008, HipCat/PIAS Benelux released Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw on CD, remastered with five additional tracks. Also reissued were $uga[r], with two additional tracks, Nipple, with three additional tracks, and Will-O-The-Wisp, with five additional tracks, all by EMI/Msi Music/Super D.[33] The band continues to tour and is slated to play a festival in Utrecht around Easter 2009.[34]

Members

Current members

  • Peter te Bos - vocals (1983-now)
  • John Cameron - guitar (1983-now)
  • Marc Lamb - drums (1989-now)
  • Marcus Bruystens - bass (2007-now)

Past members

  • Allard Jolles - drums (1983-1985)
  • Bobbie Rossini - bass (1983-1989)
  • Marius Schrader - drums (1985-1989)
  • Arno Kooy - bass (1989-1991)
  • Geert de Groot - bass (1991-ca. 2000)

Discography

Main article: Claw Boys Claw discography

Albums

Singles

  • "So Mean" (7", Hipcat, 1985)
  • "Indian Wallpaper" (12", Hipcat, 1985)
  • "Locomotive Breath" (Polydor, 1986)
  • "Blue Bells" (7" single, Polydor, 1986) B-side "Jingle Bells"
  • "Teenage Heartattack" (Polydor, 1987)
  • "Gimme A Break" (Polydor, 1988)
  • "Dracula/The Rose" (CD single, Megadisc, 1989) Includes nine songs the CBC played as "The Hipcats" opening for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Utrecht, October 6, 1986, incl. "Return Of The Phantom Shark" and "Sunset B."
  • "Maniac" (Solid, 1990)
  • "Bite The Dice" (CD single, Solid, 1990) Includes acoustic set: "Hungerlove," "Bite The Dice, Maniac," "Spoons On Fire," "Locomotive Breath"
  • "Rosie" (EMI, 1992)
  • "Spread That Jam" (EMI, 1993)
  • "Jackal Is Back" (Hipcat/EMI, 1993)
  • "Call Me An Angel" (CD single, Hipcat/EMI, 1994) Includes "Part Two"
  • "Sick In The Head" (CD single, Hipcat/EMI, 1995) Includes acoustic set: "Paris," "Walk Away," "Call Me An Angel"
  • "Why Don't You Grow" (CD single, Hipcat, 1997) Includes "Will-O-The-Wisp (In My Garden) Lazy Tune Version
  • "Kiss Kiss" (Hipcat, 1997)
  • "I Am Sea" (PIAS, 2008)

References

  1. ^ Their name derives from a song of the same name on the 1982 debut album by Motor Boys Motor, two of whose members would later found The Screaming Blue Messiahs. See Gimarc, George (1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 260. ISBN 9780312169688. http://books.google.com/books?id=-I0g4VDwtzgC. 
  2. ^ a b Zwennes, Erik (2008-01-28). "Pajama Day wrijft het venijn met precisie onder de huid". 3VOOR12. VPRO. http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/39187755. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  3. ^ a b c Thijsse, René; Eelco Walraven (2008-02-05). "Claw Boys Claw doorbreken tien jaar stilte" (in Dutch). Radio Netherlands Worldwide. http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.wereldomroep.nl/actua/nl/cultuur/080205clawboysclaw-redirected. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  4. ^ a b c Bosch, Saskia (1992-12-31). "Claw Boys Claw in rustiger vaarwater terechtgekomen". Trouw. http://www.trouw.nl/krantenarchief/1992/12/31/2696927/Claw_Boys_Claw_in_rustiger_vaarwater_terechtgekomen.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  5. ^ Dekker, Dennis (2008-07-15). "Af en toe achterhaald, maar immer bevlogen: Claw Boys Claw - Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw". 8Weekly. http://www.8weekly.nl/artikel/6537/claw-boys-claw-shocking-shades-of-claw-boys-claw.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  6. ^ "Biografie, Claw Boys Claw". Muziek Centrum Nederland. 2009. http://www.popinstituut.nl/Encyclopedia/Biography.aspx?id=320&name=Claw+Boys+Claw&lang=NL. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  7. ^ Evers, Paul (1987-09-05). "Claw Boys Claw Kust Uw Kloten". Muziekkrant OOR: pp. 26–32.  p. 28
  8. ^ Nine of these songs are later released on the CD single Dracula / The Rose.
  9. ^ "Claw Boys Claw Kust Uw Kloten," 28.
  10. ^ "Popprijs op 17 januari uitgereikt". BUMA/STEMRA. Nieuwsbank persberichtenarchief. 2009-01-06. http://www.nieuwsbank.nl/inp/2009/01/17/R018.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  11. ^ Nauta, Hans (2006-06-29). "Pop en beleid / Van zinloos gebonk tot industrie met potentie". Trouw. http://www.trouw.nl/archief/article1322613.ece/Pop_en_beleid___Van_zinloos_gebonk_tot_industrie_met_potentie.html. Retrieved 2009-01-10.  The book is published by the Boekmanstichting, ISBN 90-6650-073-5.
  12. ^ "Muziek Centrum Nederland, Biografie Claw Boys Claw". Popinstituut. http://www.popinstituut.nl/Encyclopedia/Biography.aspx?id=320&name=Claw+Boys+Claw&lang=NL. Retrieved 2009-01-11. 
  13. ^ "Claw Boys Claw - Rosie". Dutchcharts.nl. GfK. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?key=39526&cat=s. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
  14. ^ Wouw, Erwin van (2002-04-29). "Peter te Bos, Interview". De Recensent.nl. http://www.derecensent.nl/2000-2004/peter_te_bos.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
  15. ^ A video of the Claw Boys Claw playing "Search & Destroy" on the TV special, aired by Veronica, is available on Youtube[1].
  16. ^ a b "Rev. of Claw Boys Claw, Pajama Day". De Recensent.nl. 2008-02-11. http://www.derecensent.nl/pivot/entry.php?id=684&t=template_entrypage.html. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  17. ^ "Rev. of Claw Boys Claw, Pajama Day". HUMO. 2008-03-01. http://www.humo.be/tws/cd-reviews/4850/claw-boys-claw-pajama-day.html. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  18. ^ Pot, Menno. "Bedachtzame Claw Boys Claw". De Volkskrant. http://extra.volkskrant.nl/select/muziek/artikel.php?id=1483. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  19. ^ Denekamp, John (2008). "Rev. of Claw Boys Claw, Pajama Day". Muziekkrant OOR. http://www.oor.nl/albums_details.asp?id=5195&albumType=1. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  20. ^ Jongeneelen, Willem (2008). "Claw Boys Claw klinkt als herboren". BN/De Stem. http://www.bndestem.nl/algemeen/cultuur/2735485/Claw-Boys-Claw-klinkt-als-herboren.ece. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  21. ^ "Claw Boys Claw op Noorderslag". LiveXS. 2008-01-15. http://www.livexs.nl/Joomla/20080115999/Claw-Boys-Claw-op-Noorderslag. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  22. ^ Zwennes, Erik (2008-01-16). "3VOOR12 Presenteert... Claw Boys Claw!". 3VOOR12. VPRO. http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/39056854. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  23. ^ "Claw Boys Claw op Haagse Nach". AD.nl: Den Haag Cultuur. 2008-03-18. http://www.ad.nl/denhaag/cultuur/2146538/Claw_Boys_Claw_op_Haagse_Nach.html. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  24. ^ "Verslag KoninginneNach 2008: Kerkplein". 3VOOR12. VPRO. 2008-05-01. http://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/artikel/40520892. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  25. ^ Carvalho, Hester (2008-08-17). "Lowlands ‘08 maakte veel emoties los". NRC Handelsblad. http://www.nrc.nl/kunst/article1956761.ece/Lowlands_08_maakte_veel_emoties_los. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  26. ^ "Lowlands 2008: Het Perfecte Evenwicht". OOR.nl. Muziekkrant OOR. 2008-08-19. http://www.oor.nl/deruit_concertverslagen_details.asp?id=861. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  27. ^ "Het grote Lowlands 2008-verslag". musicfrom.nl. 2008-08-19. http://www.musicfrom.nl/magazine/verslagen/29673/het-grote-lowlands-2008-verslag.html. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  28. ^ "Zanger Claw Boys Claw al jaren vormgever Lowlands". NRC Handelsblad. 2008-08-14. http://www.nrc.nl/kunst/article1955303.ece/Zanger_Claw_Boys_Claw_al_jaren_vormgever_Lowlands. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  29. ^ "IJzeren Podiumdieren voor Pinkpop, Melkweg, Anouk, en Claw Boys Claw". Muziekkrant OOR. 2008-06-12. http://www.oor.nl/news_details.asp?id=5651. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  30. ^ "IJzeren Podiumdieren bekend". Algemeen Dagblad. 2008-06-11. http://www.ad.nl/cultuur/2360537/IJzeren_Podiumdieren_bekend.html. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  31. ^ "VNPF LiveXS Awards voor Pinkpop, Melkweg, Anouk en Claw Boys Claw". Muziek Centrum Nederland. 2008-06-12. http://www.popinstituut.nl/Schedule/NewsDetail.aspx?Id=6561. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  32. ^ Jansen, Jim (2009-01-02). "Claw Boys Claw beter dan ooit". LiveXS. http://www.livexs.nl/Joomla/200901022712/Claw-Boys-Claw-beter-dan-ooit. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  33. ^ "Rev. of Claw Boys Claw, Sugar, Nipple, Will-O-The-Wisp". Muziekkrant OOR. 2008. http://www.oor.nl/albums_details.asp?id=5486&albumType=1. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
  34. ^ "Utrecht 'rockt' met Pasen". De Weekkrant.nl. 2009-01-05. http://deweekkrant.nl/artikel/2009/januari/05/utrecht_rockt_met_pasen. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 

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