Diesel (band)
Encyclopedia
Diesel was a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the few Dutch acts to chart in the U.S.
when their song "Sausalito Summernight" entered the U.S.
Top 40 in 1981.
drummer Pim Koopman
. The group, at first no more than a hobby project, initially consisted of Koopman (drums, keyboard and vocals) and Rob Vunderink (guitar/lead vocals, composer and lyricist), Mark Boon (guitar, composer and lyricist), and Frank Papendrecht (bass). Their first album, Watts in a Tank
, was released in the Netherlands
in 1980. One of its tracks, "Going Back to China", was released in the Netherlands as a single in 1979 and became a top 40 hit. Two other singles from this album, "Down In The Silvermine" and "Sausalito Summernight" (also misspelled "Sausolito Summernight"), were released in 1980 and also became charted hits. Late 1980 Boon and Papendrecht left to join Meike Touw's Tutti Frutti. They were replaced by bass player Wijnand Ott
and guitarist Hugo de Bruin
. Mid 1981 Koopman left the band and Kim Weemhoff took the drumseat.
In 1981, Watts in a Tank was released in the United States
. The single "Sausalito Summernight" rose to #25 on the U.S.
Top 40. It reached #1 in Canada. Watts in a Tank itself went up to #68 on the Billboard 200
. This success prompted the return of Mark Boon and an American tour. At Boon's suggestion, guitarist Bas Krumperman joined the band just before the North American tour, moving the band's sound in a country-rock direction. The band got a distribution deal with Atco Records and recorded another album, Unleaded, in 1982, but it was not a success. In the next few years the group had many new members, such as Leen Barbier (guitar/vocals), André Versluijs (bass), Jan Loomans (guitar/vocals), and Henk Hager (guitar/vocals), before disbanding in 1985.
Mark Boon later formed The Zoo, managed by André Versluijs, releasing a CD called What's in the package. Diesel reformed in 2000 with members Koopman, Vunderink, Versluijs, Thomas Kroon (drums) and Otto Lenselink (guitar) They recorded a new album, Diesel On The Rocks; this album, released in 2001, consisted of covers and previously recorded material, along with three new tracks.
Watts in a Tank was reissued in 2002, including the original five-minute version of "Sausalito Summernight".
In 2004
, the original line-up of Boon, Koopman, Papendrecht and Vunderink did a one-off charity gig which led to plans to reform the group on a permanent basis. Papendrecht was replaced later by Werner Cornand, but the group hasn't done a lot of concerts since the announcement of the rebirth of Diesel early 2007.
Frank Papendrecht died November 17, 2009 as a result of a heart attack. Less than a week later, on November 23, 2009 Pim Koopman
also suffered a heart attack and died.
In November 2010 Diesel's Sausalito Summernight was performed during a Pim Koopman tribute concert in the Amsterdam rock temple Paradiso. In 2011 Rob Vunderink started a new Diesel project changing the spelling of the band's name into Deazol.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when their song "Sausalito Summernight" entered the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Top 40 in 1981.
Biography
Diesel was created in October 1978 by ex-KayakKayak (band)
Kayak are a Dutch progressive rock band formed in 1972 in the city Hilversum by Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman. In 1973, their debut album "See See The Sun" was released, including 3 hit singles. Their main popularity was in the Netherlands, with their top hit reaching #6 on the Dutch charts in...
drummer Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
. The group, at first no more than a hobby project, initially consisted of Koopman (drums, keyboard and vocals) and Rob Vunderink (guitar/lead vocals, composer and lyricist), Mark Boon (guitar, composer and lyricist), and Frank Papendrecht (bass). Their first album, Watts in a Tank
Watts in a Tank
Watts in a Tank was the first album released by the Dutch musical group Diesel. It was first released in the Netherlands in 1980 by Polydor, and was released in the United States by Regency in 1981...
, was released in 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...
in 1980. One of its tracks, "Going Back to China", was released in the Netherlands as a single in 1979 and became a top 40 hit. Two other singles from this album, "Down In The Silvermine" and "Sausalito Summernight" (also misspelled "Sausolito Summernight"), were released in 1980 and also became charted hits. Late 1980 Boon and Papendrecht left to join Meike Touw's Tutti Frutti. They were replaced by bass player Wijnand Ott
Wijnand Ott
Wijnand Ott is a Dutch musician.In 1980 Ott joined Diesel as a replacement for Frank Papendrecht. He had taken up a career as a bassist only recently before that and despite his shy demeanour, he was a quality bassist.In 1984 he left the band just before its demise around a year later.Today Ott...
and guitarist Hugo de Bruin
Hugo de Bruin
Hugo de Bruin is a Dutch rock guitarist. De Bruin played in Diesel for a two year period and afterwards joined The Time Bandits in the mid eighties. In the early nineties he had a brief stint with Ten Sharp, who had a hit with the song 'You', with 20 million copies sold world-wide...
. Mid 1981 Koopman left the band and Kim Weemhoff took the drumseat.
In 1981, Watts in a Tank was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The single "Sausalito Summernight" rose to #25 on the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Top 40. It reached #1 in Canada. Watts in a Tank itself went up to #68 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. This success prompted the return of Mark Boon and an American tour. At Boon's suggestion, guitarist Bas Krumperman joined the band just before the North American tour, moving the band's sound in a country-rock direction. The band got a distribution deal with Atco Records and recorded another album, Unleaded, in 1982, but it was not a success. In the next few years the group had many new members, such as Leen Barbier (guitar/vocals), André Versluijs (bass), Jan Loomans (guitar/vocals), and Henk Hager (guitar/vocals), before disbanding in 1985.
Reunions
Diesel was reconstituted in 1988 and had a hit in the Netherlands with their single "Samantha", sung by Jeroen Englebert. The band broke up again in 1989.Mark Boon later formed The Zoo, managed by André Versluijs, releasing a CD called What's in the package. Diesel reformed in 2000 with members Koopman, Vunderink, Versluijs, Thomas Kroon (drums) and Otto Lenselink (guitar) They recorded a new album, Diesel On The Rocks; this album, released in 2001, consisted of covers and previously recorded material, along with three new tracks.
Watts in a Tank was reissued in 2002, including the original five-minute version of "Sausalito Summernight".
In 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, the original line-up of Boon, Koopman, Papendrecht and Vunderink did a one-off charity gig which led to plans to reform the group on a permanent basis. Papendrecht was replaced later by Werner Cornand, but the group hasn't done a lot of concerts since the announcement of the rebirth of Diesel early 2007.
Frank Papendrecht died November 17, 2009 as a result of a heart attack. Less than a week later, on November 23, 2009 Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
also suffered a heart attack and died.
In November 2010 Diesel's Sausalito Summernight was performed during a Pim Koopman tribute concert in the Amsterdam rock temple Paradiso. In 2011 Rob Vunderink started a new Diesel project changing the spelling of the band's name into Deazol.
Discography
- "Alibi" (Polydor, 1979; 7" single)
- "Goin' Back To China" (Polydor, 1979; 7" single)
- "Down In The Silvermine" (Polydor, 1980; 7" single)
- "Sausalito Summernight" (Polydor, 1980; 7" single); also titled "Sausolito Summernight"
- Watts In A TankWatts in a TankWatts in a Tank was the first album released by the Dutch musical group Diesel. It was first released in the Netherlands in 1980 by Polydor, and was released in the United States by Regency in 1981...
(Polydor, 1980; LP album) - Unleaded (Atco/RegencyRegency RecordsRegency Records is a record label founded by Georgia record producer and TV/Radiosyndicator Johnny Carter and North Georgia disc jockey Lamar Gravitt in 1965...
, 1982; LP album) - "Leader Of The Pacman" (1982; 7" single)
- "Sound Of The 60's" (Boni, 1984; 7" single)
- "Stormy Waters" (Boni, 1985; 7" single)
- "Samantha" (Mercury, 1988; CD single)
- "Colorado" (Mecury, 1989; 7" single)
- Sausalito Summernight (Hunter Records, 2000; CD compilation album)
- Diesel On The Rocks (Red Bullet, 2001; CD album)
- "Rocky Mountain Way" (Red Bullet, 2001; CD single)
- Watts In A TankWatts in a TankWatts in a Tank was the first album released by the Dutch musical group Diesel. It was first released in the Netherlands in 1980 by Polydor, and was released in the United States by Regency in 1981...
(One Way Records, 2002; CD album)