Brainbox

Part of a vibrant Amsterdam pop music scene in the late sixties with their harder edged blend of psychedelic rock and Chicago blues, Dutch band Brainbox paid hommage to both American and British Contemporaries while at the same time developing their own more progressive brand of pop music.

Brainbox was formed in 1968 shortly after guitarist Jan Akkerman and drummer Pierre van der Linden joined 19 year-old singing prodigy Kazmierz » Kaz » Lux to lay down a couple of demos after the latter had won a talent contest sponsored by the Dutch Record label Bovema. Of Polish descent and Dutch upbringing Lux had previously sang with sevral Dutch pop bands but his heartfelt vocal deliveries were closer to the soul of Howlin`Wolf and Leadbelly while at the same time hitting the higher registers of Ella ( Fitzgerald ). Both Akkerman and van der Linden themselves were no strangers to the Amsterdam pop music scene with Akkerman having become one of the most famous young musicians in his homeland with a hit single, «The Russian Spy And I» in 1966 while playing with a band called «The Hunters». Having played proffessionally as early as the age of 10 by this time he had developed a distinctive rock guitar sound which drew more from jazz and classical sources most notably Tal Farrow, Diango Reinhardt, Bola Sete and Julian Bream. Van der Linden had also played with Akkerman in one of his earlier groups «Johnny And His Cellar Rockers» in addition to other Dutch pop groups including «After Tee» and «Met & Zonder». Newcomer bassist Andre Reynen completed the new band as Akkerman had played the bass parts himself on the two demo recordings and the stage was set.

While Lux`s emotive voicings sounded similar to contemporary blues rocker counterparts from the UK such as Rory Gallager ( actualy from The Republic of Ireland ) and Joe Cocker, when fused with Akkermans`s immaginative guitar the result was a blistering meltdown of emotive blues and heavy rock with jazz attitudes. They experimented with interpretations of the music of George Gershwin, Tim Hardin as well as Simon and Garfunkel`s «Scarborough Fair» in addition to their own compositions. Akkerman`s adventurous guitar work gave the band a progressive aspect wth his extensive soloing and intricate rhythms and resulted in a 16 minute plus showpeice, «Sea Of Delight», on their first self-titled album which was almost unheard of in pop music at the time. The flute was also an instrument which many psychedelic bands were becoming increasingly interested in during the late sixties most notably Jethro Tull and a guest musician, Tom Barlage, contributed to a couple of tracks on the band`s first album with the flute also resurfacing on later Brainbox recordings. Despite their experimental approach they became better known for their singles three of which had been released by the end of 1969. However, Akkerman`s appetite for more explorative and complex instrumental music saw him jamming with another young Dutch musician, Thijs van Leer, who possessed similar aspirations which resulted in Akkerman`s dismissal from the band by the end of `69. He subsequently formed «Focus» along with Van Leer which later became one of the first internationally acclaimed rock bands to eminate from the Netherlands. He was followed by Van der Linden into «Focus» a few months later with the remanants of Brainbox forging on with new musicians.

The void left by Akkerman proved difficult to fill with jazz guitarist Herman Meyer being briefly bought in before a more permanent lineup was established with new members guitarists John Schuursma and Rudy de Queljoe along with Frans Smit on drums joining Lux and Reynen. A number of singles were recorded with this lineup in 1970 which also appeared on an album which was oddly entitled «The Best Of Brainbox» released the following year which also contained tracks previously released with Akkerman and Van der Linden. The band continued to shift members throughout 1971 and with Lux departing to follow a solo path it eventually morphed into a completely new band with ex-Ekseption vocalist Michel van Dijk on vocals and flute, Ronnie Meyes on guitar, Robert Verwey on bass with Frans Smit returning on drums. Although an album was released in early 1972 by this lineup entitled «Parts» it lacked the chemistry and soul established by the previous lineups with Kaz Lux despite the level of musicianship which attempted to move in a more progressive direction. Overshadowed by the potency of the art/rock movement which was gaining momentum at the time Brainbox was dissolved shortly after the realease of «Parts» and unfortunately the album has yet to see a release on CD. In 1982-84 Brainbox reformed as a touring band with Kaz Lux on vocals, Rudy de Queljoe and John Schuursma on guitars with original drummer and bassist Pierre van der Linden and Andre Reynen. Although some demos were recorded during this period no album materialised. The band reunited again in 2003 and 2004 with Eric Baghus replacing Reynen on bass and a live swan song album was released entitled «The Last Train» which documented the band`s last performances in Sept. 2004.

Brainbox was one of the few bands in rock music history which acquired legengary status on the strength of a few singles and one major LP alone, arguably because of Akkerman`s subsequent success with «Focus» as well as a solo artist. Nonetheless, the band is fondly remembered in it`s homeland of the Netherlands as one of the first Dutch supergroups that played a daring combination of bues, folk and heavy rock.
::::: Bio written by Ian Gledhill (Vibrationbaby), Canada. :::::