Although prominent Dutch blues band Livin' Blues from The Hague came to prominence in 1969, they had been around since 1967. The line-up by then was: Ted Oberg (guitar, ex-Crashdown and Andy Star & Stripes), Ruud Fransen (bass, ex-Stripes), Bjorn Toll (vocals), Niek Dijkhuys (drums) and John Lagrand (harp, ex-Indiscrimination).
In 1968 the line-up changed to: Ted, John, Nicko Christiansen (vocals, guitar & sax; ex-Crashdown and Indiscrimination), Peter Kleinjan (bass), Beer Klaasse (drums; ex-Groep 1850 & soon afterwards to Q'65), and by the end of 1968 featured Ted, John, Nicko, Henk Smitskamp (keyboards, ex-Motions), Gerard Strutbaum (bass) & Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums, ex-Hu & Hilltops).
The group's line-up continued to fluctuate; in 1969 it featured Ted, Nicko, John, Henk (now on bass), Cesar. Later that same year, Gerard was replaced by Ruud van Buuren, ex-Boots. (Following Gerard's departure, Henk played the bass for a while; then left to join Sandy Coast.)
In 1970, Cesar left the group to join Golden Earring and was succeeded by, resp., John den Blanke (ex-Soul Serenade) and Dick Beekman (ex-Cuby, to Lynx). In 1971, John Lejeune (ex-Island, to Schick Band) entered the group as the new drummer, as did, in 1972, Herman van Boeyen (ex-Panda). In addition, there was a change of bassists: in 1971, Ruud van Buuren went on to join Long Tall Ernie and was succeeded by Jan van der Voort (ex-Full House, later in Free & Easy), who, in 1972, was, in turn, replaced by by Jaap van Eijk (ex-Panda).
In 1973, Ted left the group for a few months; two new drummers were added: Englishman Kenny Lamb (ex-Jellybread) and Arjen Kamminga (later in Mark Foggo & Secret Meeting).
In 1974, the group's lineup was totally revised yet again; also more emphasis was made on rock than blues in their newly adopted direction. The line-up featured: Ted, Johnny Frederiksz (vocals, ex-Temple, Kjoe, Q'65) and Henk Smitskamp (back on bass; ex-Shocking Blue). In 1975, ex-Finch organist Paul Vink also participated for a short period of time. Further additions involved: Ron Meyes (guitar, ex-Brainbox, Q'65, to Marx and Knack) and Cor van Beek (drums, ex-Leo Unger, later in Headline, replaced Michel Driessen in 1974, ex-Cobra).
The 1976 line-up was: Ted, Johnny, André Reynen (bass, ex-Sympathy), Jacob van Heiningen (drums, ex-Galaxis) & Johnny Frederiksz (vocals).
Jacob van Heiningen (dr, ex-Galaxis, replaced by Ed Molenwijk, ex-Dizzy Daisy, to Casino). This line-up became very successful in Poland with series of live performances. Afterwards, Pietjan Visser (h, ex-Houseband) came and reinforced the group in 1979, and an almost completely new line-up followed in 1980: Ted Oberg (g), Nicko Christiansen (v, g, ex-Himalaya), Evert Willemstein (b) and Boris Wassenbergh (dr, ex-Cashmere). In that same year, André Reynen, Johnny Frederiksz and Pietjan Visser formed Nitehawk. Neither band lasted very long, so Johnny and Ted formed the J&T Band (see Grizzly). Paul Vink went on to join Limousine, John Lagrand - Water, Nicko Christiansen - Himalaya, Dick Beekman - Big Rock Revival, Pietjan - Rex Reason Bluesband and Evert - Bizarre.
LIVIN' BLUES
2-1-71 SINGLE 10 8 WANG DANG DOODLE
19-6-71 SINGLE 21 5 BLACK LISA
19-2-72 SINGLE 17 6 L.B. BOOGIE
18-1-75 SINGLE 13 7 BOOGIE WOOGIE WOMAN
9-4-77 SINGLE tip SHYLINA
1968 Murphy McCoy/My sister Kate Philips JF 334548
1969 You better watch yourself (Sonny boy)/One night blues Philips JF 334683
LP Hell's session Philips UBY 873018
1970 Wang dang doodle/Crazy woman Philips 6075111
LP Wang dang doodle Philips 6413009
1971 Black Lisa/Red river mountain Philips 6075124
1972 Choice/Selection [reclamesingle voor verzekeringsmij Eerste Nederlandse/
/Nillmij] Philips W 6802084
L.B. Boogie/Johnny W Philips 6075135
LP Bamboozle Philips 6413024
LP Rockin' at the Tweed Mill Philips 6413044/6423052
1973 Please don't leave me/Sweet Suzanne Philips 6012305
Poinsetta petal/Gamble on Ariola AT 13093
LP Ram jam Rosey Ariola IT 87388
LP Hell's session [re] Philips 6440090
LP Wang dang doodle [re] Philips 6440125
1974 Boogie woogie woman/Ricochet Ariola AT 13703
1975 LP Live '75 Ariola XAT 89243
1976 LP Wang dang doodle [re] Fontana 7240256
1977 Shylina/That night Ariola AT 17723
LP Blue breeze Ariola XOT 28430
LP Hell's session [re] Philips 6440315
1978 1968-1978 Ariola ET 26325
1980 Hoochie coochie man [op 2LP Haagse beatnach] CNR 772005/06
Hard rock group from Amsterdam, existed in 1977-1980 and revived again in 1981. Line-up: Chris van Jaarsveld (v, g, 1980-1981 in Nitehawk, in 1982 to Hammerhead), Eric Karreman (g, in 1982 to Hammerhead), Peter v.d. Heiden (dr, in 1979 replaced by Rob Stols and in 1980 by Nico de Gooyer, ex-Teaser and Nitehawk, to Bruno Basta).
1978 Don't tell me what I've got to do [op LP Keihard en swingend] EMI 5C 028-25884
After leaving Livin' Blues, singer John Frederiksz tried to
form several bands. The first one was Nitehawk in 1980. Line-up: Nico de Gooyer (dr,
ex-Captain Coke), Chris van Jaarsveld (g, ex-Captain
Coke), Jan-Piet Visser (h, ex-Livin' Blues)
and André Reijnen (b, ex-Earth & Fire). 1981
Livin' Blues saw a reunion of sorts in the
formation of J & T Band, featuring Ted Oberg (g) and Peter Vink (b,
ex-Finch). In 1982, John formed Grizzly:
Chris Latul (g, ex-Latul), Ruud Baron (v, b, ex-Latul), Brian Hicky
(v, o, p, ex-Beau Boy)
and René van Leersum (dr, ex-Beau Boy).
Submitted by: Adri Verhoef (a3@a3.xs4all.nl-removespam)
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