Bots (band)
Encyclopedia
Bots is a socially engaged Dutch language
folk
rock group from the southern city of Eindhoven that is successful in both the Netherlands
and Germany
. The band was formed in 1974 by Hans Sanders and is mainly known for the song "Zeven Dagen Lang" ("Sieben Tage Lang" in German, "Seven Days Long" in English). The first albums were produced by Peter Koelewijn
. In 2005 a new version of Zeven dagen lang was recorded with the rapper Ali B
on the occasion of the Muziek10Daagse. On 3 November 2007 Hans Sanders died at the age of 61.
Bots is formed by Bonkie Bongaerts and Bertus Borgers. After leaving the band Dirty Underwear, Hans Sanders – stuck with a band with no pianist
and no saxophone
support – chose to team up with Bonkie Bongaerts and form the new group Bots (Dutch
botsen: "to clash" / BO-nkie Bongaer-TS).
1975
The band records its first album Van Kwaad Tot Erger (From Bad To Worse) with producer Peter Koelewijn
. The album places Bots in the centre of attention and the band also makes its debut on national TV. The singles "Het Lied Van De Werkende Jeugd" ("The Song Of The Working Youth") and "De Man" ("The Man") are released. The band tours frequently, also in Belgium. By this time Hans Sanders started to claim texts and lyrics he did not actually write. This was only discovered in 1981 when gold-record awards resulted in increased payments for Hans Sanders but not for the other band members.
1976
East Germany is interested in the band. The song "Zeven Dagen Lang" ("Seven Days On End") ends up on the album Voor God En Vaderland (For God And Country). Co-producer of the album is Peter Koelewijn. The single reaches number 23 in the charts. Themes on the album include feminism, racism, solidarity and militarism. The music shows influences of both folk and pop.
1977
Bots tours East Germany. Bots records the poem "Rond" ("Round") by Bert Schierbeek
.
1978
The third Bots album is called Wie Zwijgt Stemt Toe (Silence Lends Consent) and is also recorded with Peter Koelewijn
. The band's line-up still includes the likes of Sanders and Bongaerts but also sax and flute player Piet Engel, Peter de Vries (bass) and Frans Meijer (drums). The single "Popmuzikant" ("Pop Musician") dents the charts. Together with Eindhoven-based theatre group Proloog Bots creates the musical Barst.
1979
Bots also works with Proloog on the Bots Rood Show. This musical theatre production is, however, not very successful. Bots also plays in West Germany
. They begin by playing Dutch-language songs but soon they are asked to sing in German.
1980
Bots records the album Je Voelt Pas Nattigheid Als Je Droog Komt Te Staan (You Won't Smell A Rat Until You Come Across One) with producer Peter Koelewijn
. In the autumn the band's first German-language album comes out. Aufstehn! (Stand Up!) contains German versions of songs like "Zeven Dagen Lang" (de:"Sieben Tage Lang" en:"Seven Days On End") and Ali. The songs are translated by German authors Günter Wallraff
, Henning Venske and Peter Tobiasch.
1981
Bots sells over 400.000 copies of Aufstehn! and its follow-up Entrüstung (Indignation, also Ent-Rüstung = Dis-Armament (correctly: en:disarmament = de:Abrüstung) ). But the success also has a downside and there are many changes in the band's line-up. Bots now includes Broer Bogaart (drums) and Noudt Jansen (bass).
1981–1982
There was a major dispute within the band and between the band and producers/record companies. Hans Sanders had been holding back money from everyone. Due to the these disputes, the band's line-up changed completely. The band has not been supported by a major record company nor recorded a popular hit since.
1983
The third German-language Schön Krank (Considerable (slang) Sick) is recorded, with very little success or sales. The band is on the road a lot and plays for free in front of half a million people at the Künstler Für Den Frieden (Artists For Peace) festival in West Berlin. This was the last (desperate) action publicly recorded from the band (which could hardly be referred to as 'Bots' any longer).
1985
From 1985 until 1988 Sjoerd van Bommel is the band's drummer.
1986
German-language record Lass Die Sterne Stehen is released.
1988
The band plays in Germany
.
1990
The Dutch-language album Paradijs (Paradise) is recorded and released on the Free label in May. The album is produced by Sanders and keyboard player/singer Kees Buenen. Bots sporadically performs in their hometown of Eindhoven.
1997
When football team PSV Eindhoven wins the national championships Sanders re-records his classic "Zeven Dagen Lang" and turns it into "Zeven Jaren Lang" ("Seven Years On End"). Former BOTS band members and fans were insulted by the way Sanders rewrote the song and publicly tried to claim Bots' heritage.
2001
Bots still tours (drives around) but seldom plays. During the Folkwoods Festival in August the band's line-up includes Sanders, Buenen, George Koenraad (drums/vocals), Erik van Donkersgoed (guitar/vocals) and Anton Wannemakers (bass).
2007
Lead singer Hans Sanders dies; band is looking for a replacement to sing the rest of the numbers written for the new album.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
rock group from the southern city of Eindhoven that is successful in both the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The band was formed in 1974 by Hans Sanders and is mainly known for the song "Zeven Dagen Lang" ("Sieben Tage Lang" in German, "Seven Days Long" in English). The first albums were produced by Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
. In 2005 a new version of Zeven dagen lang was recorded with the rapper Ali B
Ali B
Ali B is a Dutch rapper of Moroccan descent. He has been noted as the first Moroccan-Dutch star in Dutch pop culture, "perhaps the most popular rapper in the Netherlands", and has performed together with Akon and Dutch artist Marco Borsato.-Personal life:Ali B married his then-manager Breghje,...
on the occasion of the Muziek10Daagse. On 3 November 2007 Hans Sanders died at the age of 61.
Line-up
- Bonkie Bongaerts guitar, piano, vocals
- Frans Meijer drums
- Hans Sanders guitar, vocals
- Kees Buenen guitar, piano, vocals
- Noudt Janssen bass guitar, vocals
- Peter de Vries bass guitar
- Piet Engel flute, saxophone
- Sjors Van De Molengraft flute, saxophone
Other musicians
- Anton Wannemakers bass guitar
- Bert Smaak drums
- Broer Bogaart drums
- Erik van Donkersgoed backing vocals, guitar
- Floris Teunissen Van Manen drums
- George Koenraad backing vocals, drums
- Sjoerd Van Bommel drums
Biography
1974Bots is formed by Bonkie Bongaerts and Bertus Borgers. After leaving the band Dirty Underwear, Hans Sanders – stuck with a band with no pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and no saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
support – chose to team up with Bonkie Bongaerts and form the new group Bots (Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
botsen: "to clash" / BO-nkie Bongaer-TS).
1975
The band records its first album Van Kwaad Tot Erger (From Bad To Worse) with producer Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
. The album places Bots in the centre of attention and the band also makes its debut on national TV. The singles "Het Lied Van De Werkende Jeugd" ("The Song Of The Working Youth") and "De Man" ("The Man") are released. The band tours frequently, also in Belgium. By this time Hans Sanders started to claim texts and lyrics he did not actually write. This was only discovered in 1981 when gold-record awards resulted in increased payments for Hans Sanders but not for the other band members.
1976
East Germany is interested in the band. The song "Zeven Dagen Lang" ("Seven Days On End") ends up on the album Voor God En Vaderland (For God And Country). Co-producer of the album is Peter Koelewijn. The single reaches number 23 in the charts. Themes on the album include feminism, racism, solidarity and militarism. The music shows influences of both folk and pop.
1977
Bots tours East Germany. Bots records the poem "Rond" ("Round") by Bert Schierbeek
Bert Schierbeek
Lambertus Roelof Schierbeek was a Dutch writer. He won numerous awards throughout his career, among them the 1991 Constantijn Huygens Prize.-Reference:...
.
1978
The third Bots album is called Wie Zwijgt Stemt Toe (Silence Lends Consent) and is also recorded with Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
. The band's line-up still includes the likes of Sanders and Bongaerts but also sax and flute player Piet Engel, Peter de Vries (bass) and Frans Meijer (drums). The single "Popmuzikant" ("Pop Musician") dents the charts. Together with Eindhoven-based theatre group Proloog Bots creates the musical Barst.
1979
Bots also works with Proloog on the Bots Rood Show. This musical theatre production is, however, not very successful. Bots also plays in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. They begin by playing Dutch-language songs but soon they are asked to sing in German.
1980
Bots records the album Je Voelt Pas Nattigheid Als Je Droog Komt Te Staan (You Won't Smell A Rat Until You Come Across One) with producer Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
. In the autumn the band's first German-language album comes out. Aufstehn! (Stand Up!) contains German versions of songs like "Zeven Dagen Lang" (de:"Sieben Tage Lang" en:"Seven Days On End") and Ali. The songs are translated by German authors Günter Wallraff
Günter Wallraff
Günter Wallraff is a famous German writer and undercover journalist.-Research methods:Wallraff came to prominence thanks to his striking journalistic research methods and several major books on lower class working conditions and tabloid journalism...
, Henning Venske and Peter Tobiasch.
1981
Bots sells over 400.000 copies of Aufstehn! and its follow-up Entrüstung (Indignation, also Ent-Rüstung = Dis-Armament (correctly: en:disarmament = de:Abrüstung) ). But the success also has a downside and there are many changes in the band's line-up. Bots now includes Broer Bogaart (drums) and Noudt Jansen (bass).
1981–1982
There was a major dispute within the band and between the band and producers/record companies. Hans Sanders had been holding back money from everyone. Due to the these disputes, the band's line-up changed completely. The band has not been supported by a major record company nor recorded a popular hit since.
1983
The third German-language Schön Krank (Considerable (slang) Sick) is recorded, with very little success or sales. The band is on the road a lot and plays for free in front of half a million people at the Künstler Für Den Frieden (Artists For Peace) festival in West Berlin. This was the last (desperate) action publicly recorded from the band (which could hardly be referred to as 'Bots' any longer).
1985
From 1985 until 1988 Sjoerd van Bommel is the band's drummer.
1986
German-language record Lass Die Sterne Stehen is released.
1988
The band plays in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
1990
The Dutch-language album Paradijs (Paradise) is recorded and released on the Free label in May. The album is produced by Sanders and keyboard player/singer Kees Buenen. Bots sporadically performs in their hometown of Eindhoven.
1997
When football team PSV Eindhoven wins the national championships Sanders re-records his classic "Zeven Dagen Lang" and turns it into "Zeven Jaren Lang" ("Seven Years On End"). Former BOTS band members and fans were insulted by the way Sanders rewrote the song and publicly tried to claim Bots' heritage.
2001
Bots still tours (drives around) but seldom plays. During the Folkwoods Festival in August the band's line-up includes Sanders, Buenen, George Koenraad (drums/vocals), Erik van Donkersgoed (guitar/vocals) and Anton Wannemakers (bass).
2007
Lead singer Hans Sanders dies; band is looking for a replacement to sing the rest of the numbers written for the new album.