This group from Grollo in Drente can be called a patriarch of the Dutch blues groups. The two frontmen,
Harry "Cuby" Muskee (v, h, ex-Oldfashioned Jazzband) and Eelco Gelling (g), had already played together in the
Rocking Strings (1962) and the Sharks (1963). Together with bassist Willy Middel and drummer Dick Beekman they played rock & roll in those early years.
They changed their name into Cuby & Blizzards after adding guitarist Hans Kinds. Their first gig was set to take place at the Emmen zoological gardens, and soon the group became so popular, that they had to rush-produce their first recording, followed by a tour through Italy.
The group's fame eventually spread throughout Europe and reached the shores of Albion. Also worth noting is that Eelco was asked to come and play with
John Mayall's
Bluesbreakers, and the group toured through the Netherlands with Van
Morrison. They also recorded an LP together with the then-52-year old American bluesman
Eddie Boyd, entitled, "Praise The Blues". Other memorable feats: the Edison that was presented to them by Wim Sonneveld for the LP
"Desolation", a performance on the Grand Gala du Disque in 1968 and a visit by
John Mayall to
Cuby's little farm in Grollo.
Apart from Harry and Eelco, who were present in the group continuously, the line-up was as follows: bassist Willy Middel was replaced in 1967 by Jaap van Eyck
(ex-Blues Dimension, in 1969 to Focus). Drummer Dick Beekman left the group temporarily from 1966-67 to play in the
Rodijs, and was replaced in that era by Hans Waterman (ex-René Five, later in
Solution) and Peter de Leeuwe (ex-Bintangs, later in
Ekseption), respectively. A keyboard player was added to Cuby in 1966, one Henk Hilbrandie, who then yielded that spot to
Herman Brood (ex-Moans). Hans Kinds left the group in 1967, but was not replaced.
In 1969, Harry, Eelco, Herman Deinum (b, ex-Blues Dimension), Helmig van der Vegt (o, p,
ex-Blues Dimension) and Hans Lafaille (dr, ex-Blues Dimension). In 1972, after Hans and Herman departed to join
Rob Hoeke's band, the group disbanded.
Harry and Eelco remained musically active in the 70s, with their new project, the
Red White & Blue Band, an outfit which re-billed itself as Cuby & Blizzards at the end of 1975.
In 1975, when it turned out that the Red White & Blue Band wasn't quite working out, it was decided to reform
Cuby & Blizzards, albeit in the new line-up: Harry, Eelco, Lou Leeuw (b,
ex-Rocking Tigers), a succession of drummers: Herman van Boeyen (ex-Supersister, to
Vitesse), Cesar Zuiderwijk (Golden
Earring, temporary replacement) and Mels Bol (ex-Fontessa). On the LP, Frank Nuyens (g,
ex-Q'65) and Robert-Jan Stips could be heard as well. Following the change of name, Frank and Piet de Leeuwe (o, p,
ex-Child Of Nature and Toermalijn) completed the group.
In 1976, the line-up was: Harry, Eelco, Charles van der Steeg (s, ex-Bintangs), Bernard Reinke (g,
ex-Capital C), Jan Groenink (dr, ex-Shamrock) and Lou Leeuw (b). During the course of that year, Harry and Eelco parted ways: Eelco went on to tour with
Golden Earring, and Harry continued on as the Harry Muskee Band with Bernard and Lou.
Other members included: Martin van Dijk (o, p, ex-Parnassus, later in Werk In
Uitvoering) and the aforementioned Jan Groenink (dr, to Shakey Sam). This band stayed together till 1979. But prior to its break-up, Bernard joined
Phoney & Hardcore and was replaced by Ruud van As (g), Lou joined Nina Hagen Band and
Phoney & Hardcore. In 1980, Harry re-emerged in the Muskee Gang with the following line-up: Hans Lafaille (dr,
ex-Sweet d'Buster), Jan Holder (tr), Rudi van Dijk (s, ex-Flash & Dance Band and
Farrago), Bas Munniksma (s, ex-Human Orchestra) and Cees v.d. Laarse (b,
ex-Jan Akkerman, to Tao). Finally, the 1981 line-up : Hans Lafaille (dr), Herman Deinum (b), Paul Smeenk (g), all three
ex-Sweet d'Buster members, Rudi van Dijk (s) and Jeff Reynolds (tr).
1965 Stumble and fall/I'm so restless CNR UH 9802 1966 LSD got a million dollars/Your body not your soul Philips JF 333512 Back home/Sweet Mary Philips JF 333586 Richard Cory/You don't know Philips JF 333587 LP Desolation Philips XPY 855022 1967 Just for fun/Things I remember Philips JF 333684 Another day another road/Feeling like a suitcase Philips JF 333856 Distant smile/Don't know which way I'm going to Philips JF 333902 The sunshine of your shadow/Crying tears Philips JF 333958 Another land/Somebody will know someday [premiesingle] Philips 113381 W LP Praise the blues [met Eddie Boyd] Philips XPY 855033 LP Groeten uit Grollo Philips XPY 855040 1968 Window of my eyes/Checkin' up on my baby Philips JF 334543 Nostalgic toilet/116a Queensway Philips JF 334650 LP Trippin' thru a midnight blues Philips XPY 855060 LP Live! Philips PY 844087 LP On the road Boek en Plaat/Philips K 101-4 1969 Appleknockers flophouse/Because of illness Philips JF 336071 2LP Cuby's blues [cassette met 2 LP's] Philips H 72 BG 220 LP Appleknockers flophouse Philips PY 849016 1970 Thursday night/Wee wee baby Philips 6012015 LP Too blind to see Philips 6413002 LP King of the world Philips 6413010 1971 Backstreet/Easy to leave hard to forget Philips 6012100 LP Simple man Philips 6413014 1972 Pawnbroker/Straight no chaser Philips 6012179 Sometimes/Every time Philips 6012214 LP Sometimes Philips 6413026 1973 LP Desolation [re] Philips 6440065 LP Live! [re] Philips 6440091 LP Ballads Philips 6440117 LP Appleknockers flophouse [re] Philips 6440158 1974 LP Groeten uit Grolloo [re] Philips 6343227 LP Midnight blues [re] Philips 6343228 LP Afscheidsconcert Philips 6343229 LP The best [dubbelaar] Philips 6677021 LP Cuby's blues [dubbelaar] Philips 6677023 1976 Kid blue/Perfect song CNR 141361 LP Kid blue CNR 660002 LP Groeten uit Grolloo/Desolation [dubbelaar] Philips 6677039 1977 EP Window of my eyes/Appleknockers flophouse/Downhearted woman/ /Another day another road Philips 6208021 LP Old times good times [opnamen uit 1967] Philips 6416111 LP Simple man [re] Philips 6440306 LP Appleknockers flophouse [re] Philips 6440307 LP Praise the blues [re] Philips 6440308 LP Desolation [re] Philips 6440309 LP Groeten uit Grolloo [re] Philips 6440310 LP Sometimes [re] Philips 6440311 LP Too blind to see [re] Philips 6440312 1979 LP The forgotten tapes Philips 6401107 LP Featuring Herman Brood live Melody Express 1 LP Live [re] Universe SP 3 LP Old times good times [re] Philips 6416111 1981 LP Live [re] K-Tel HN 4301 HARRY MUSKEE BAND 1977 Devil daisy/Bad news Negram 5C 006-25762 LP Love vendetta Negram NN 3 1978 Mr. Cool/Solid sender Negram 5C 006-25894 RED, WHITE & BLUE BAND 1975 Master of planning/Pigeon girl Polydor 2050368 LP Polydor 2925034 1976 Happyville/Country life Polydor 2050386
CUBY AND THE BLIZZARDS 17-9-66 SINGLE 33 4 BACK HOME 18-3-67 SINGLE 34 4 JUST FOR FUN 15-7-67 SINGLE 20 7 ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ROAD 16-12-67 SINGLE 20 6 DISTANT SMILE 28-9-68 SINGLE 10 10 WINDOW OF MY EYES 28-12-68 SINGLE 37 2 NOSTALGIC TOILET 15-11-69 SINGLE 12 9 APPLE-KNOCKERS FLOPHOUSE 23-5-70 SINGLE 27 4 THURSDAY NIGHT 8-5-71 SINGLE 34 2 BACK STREET 8-1-72 SINGLE tip PAWN BROKER MUSKEE 9-3-91 SINGLE tip BROTHER BOOZE 23-3-91 ALBUM 64 6 CUT THE LUXE 18-6-94 ALBUM 57 13 SKY SONGS RED, WHITE 'N BLUE 26-4-75 ALBUM 13 10 RED, WHITE 'N BLUE [Album v/d week op 3-5-75]
After the split up of Cuby & Blizzards in 1976 (for the second time), Harry formed his own Harry Muskee Band in 1977. Members: Martin van Dijk (keyboards), Jan Groenink (drums, ex-Cuby), Lou Leeuw (bass, ex-Cuby), Bernard Reinke (guitar, ex-Cuby, already soon replaced by Ruud van As).
1977 Devil Daisy/Bad news Negram 5C 006-25762
LP Love vendetta NN 3
Tipparade:
[9-3-1991] "Brother Booze" Muskee