Dead Head
Encyclopedia
Dead Head is a Dutch thrash metal
band from the Dutch city Kampen. The band was formed in 1989 by the four original members Tom van Dijk (bass, vocals), Robbie Woning (guitar), Ronnie van der Wey (guitar), and Hans Spijker (drums). Their mission was to become the most intensive and brutal thrash-metal band Europe ever had seen. They were influenced by classic thrash metal bands like Dark Angel, Kreator and Sadus.
Since its debut record in 1991, the band has released five albums and one 10 inch.
After the demo’s Dead Head made in 1989 and 1990 they scored a record deal with the German company Rising Sun Records, they released Dead Head’s first album “The Feast Begins At Dawn” in 1991. After the recordings for the debut-album Dead Head did a tour through Denmark with Edge Of Sanity and Invocator, and played in Holland with Sepultura, Heathen, Skyclad, Candlemass, Suffocation, Sinister, Gorefest, Malevolent Creation and Grave.
Their original drummer Hans Spijker was replaced by Marco Kleinnibbelink in 1992. With their new drummer Dead Head started working on new material for their second album which resulted in the album “Dream Deceiver” in 1993. Before the release of that album Dead Head did a European tour with the band Massacra. During the tour Dead Head played with big names like Kreator and Biohazard in Belgium.
It took a lot of time to write a sequel to 'Kill Division'. A lot of bands that formed later than 1989 released a lot of albums but Dead Head didn’t feel any pressure and kept releasing albums only if they really felt the urge. At first the band thought that there are already enough great CDs being released nowadays but changed their view and came to the statement that there are also a lot of bad CDs being released on the market. Their mission became to show the world what in their opinion was missing in the nu-metal days.
With their fourth album called “Haatland” the band did what they wanted to do: put out a straightforward aggressive thrash metal album that came from their hearts. The recording began in 2004 and the album was released in 2005 by critical acclaim.
Expect the new album sometime in October this year.
Their slogan remains the same:
FUCK COMMERCIALISM,
FUCK FASHION, FUCK YOU !
EPs
Demo’s
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from the Dutch city Kampen. The band was formed in 1989 by the four original members Tom van Dijk (bass, vocals), Robbie Woning (guitar), Ronnie van der Wey (guitar), and Hans Spijker (drums). Their mission was to become the most intensive and brutal thrash-metal band Europe ever had seen. They were influenced by classic thrash metal bands like Dark Angel, Kreator and Sadus.
Since its debut record in 1991, the band has released five albums and one 10 inch.
Early days (1989–1999)
Even in the beginning of their career Dead Head never cared about trends, they wanted top play aggressive fast thrash metal and made sure everyone heard it. Passing around 100% pure thrash flyers to promote the band wasn’t the most ingenious marketing plan to promote the band when every aggressive metalfan only had interest in the newest thing in metal called “death metal”. But ignoring that fact and doing the best they could at their live shows they even garnered a real death metal reputation.After the demo’s Dead Head made in 1989 and 1990 they scored a record deal with the German company Rising Sun Records, they released Dead Head’s first album “The Feast Begins At Dawn” in 1991. After the recordings for the debut-album Dead Head did a tour through Denmark with Edge Of Sanity and Invocator, and played in Holland with Sepultura, Heathen, Skyclad, Candlemass, Suffocation, Sinister, Gorefest, Malevolent Creation and Grave.
Their original drummer Hans Spijker was replaced by Marco Kleinnibbelink in 1992. With their new drummer Dead Head started working on new material for their second album which resulted in the album “Dream Deceiver” in 1993. Before the release of that album Dead Head did a European tour with the band Massacra. During the tour Dead Head played with big names like Kreator and Biohazard in Belgium.
Kill Division & Haatland (1999–2006)
'Kill Division', Dead Head's third album was put together in the original line-up as they began in 1989. Altogether, this album represents the band's roots more than anything, maybe except from playing live. The songs were recorded totally live. No bullshit whatsoever and show the band as it really is: raw and without any compromise.It took a lot of time to write a sequel to 'Kill Division'. A lot of bands that formed later than 1989 released a lot of albums but Dead Head didn’t feel any pressure and kept releasing albums only if they really felt the urge. At first the band thought that there are already enough great CDs being released nowadays but changed their view and came to the statement that there are also a lot of bad CDs being released on the market. Their mission became to show the world what in their opinion was missing in the nu-metal days.
With their fourth album called “Haatland” the band did what they wanted to do: put out a straightforward aggressive thrash metal album that came from their hearts. The recording began in 2004 and the album was released in 2005 by critical acclaim.
Depression Tank (2007-present)
The band began writing songs for new material in 2007 while doing only a few shows in the Netherlands. In 2008 they signed a record deal with the label Displeased records and released the name of the upcoming album: “Depression Tank”. The recording began in May and some songtitles will be: Nero Dies, Firegate, Murder, Less Than Zero and Pesticide (a song from a 1989 demotape but now recorded with a decent sound).Expect the new album sometime in October this year.
Their slogan remains the same:
FUCK COMMERCIALISM,
FUCK FASHION, FUCK YOU !
Band members
Current members
- Ralph de Boer – bass & lead vocals (2008–present)
- Ronnie van der Wey – guitar (1989–present)
- Robbie Woning – guitar (1989–present)
- Hans SpijkerHans SpijkerHans Spijker is co-founder of the thrash metal band Dead Head. He founded the band in 1989 with Robbie Woning, Tom van Dijk and Ronnie van der Wey. He left the band in 1992 and did not contribute to the album Dream Deceiver. He rejoined the band in 199? and was back on the album Kill Division.In...
– drums (1989–1992, 199?-present)
Former members
- Tom van Dijk – bass & lead vocals (1989–2008)
- Marco Kleinnibbelink – drums (1992-199?)
- Michiel Dekker – bass & lead vocals (199?-199?)
Discography
Albums- 1991 - The Feast Begins At DawnThe Feast Begins At Dawn-Personnel:*Tom van Dijk - bass, vocals*Robbie Woning - guitar*Ronnie van der Wey - guitar*Hans Spijker - drums-External links:* *...
(Bad Taste Recordings) - 1993 - Dream DeceiverDream Deceiver-Personnel:*Tom van Dijk - bass, vocals*Robbie Woning - guitar*Ronnie van der Wey - guitar*Marco Kleinnibbelink - drums-External links:* *...
(Bad Taste Recordings) - 1999 - Kill DivisionKill Division-Personnel:*Tom van Dijk - bass, vocals*Robbie Woning - guitar*Ronnie van der Wey - guitar*Hans Spijker - drums-External links:* *...
(Cold Blood Industries) - 2000 - Come To SalemCome To Salem-Personnel:*Tom van Dijk - bass, vocals*Robbie Woning - guitar*Ronnie van der Wey - guitar*Hans Spijker - drums-External links:* *...
(Unveiling The Wicked/Hammerheart) - 2005 - HaatlandHaatlandHaatland is the fourth album by Dutch thrash metal band Dead Head, released in 2005.Haatland was produced by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Tom van Dijk - bass, vocals*Robbie Woning - guitar...
(Extremity/GMR Music Group) - 2009 - Depression TankDepression TankDepression Tank is the fifth studio album by Dutch thrash metal band Dead Head, released in early 2009Dead Head began writing material for Depression Tank in 2006, in the beginning of 2008 they signed a record deal with Displeased Records for the album....
(Displeased Records)
EPs
- 2004 - Dog God EP (Fadeless Records)
Demo’s
- 1989 - Double Live Tape
- 1990 - The Festering