Laurens Bakker
Encyclopedia
Laurens Bakker is the original drummer for the Dutch heavy metal band Picture
.
Laurens, known as "Bakkie," started playing drums in various bands including Fase 5 and then John Ridge and Coccoon. In 1977, he met up with Rinus Vreugdenhil
and with various musicians, started Picture
. By 1979, Jan Bechtum
and Ronald van Prooijen
had joined the band for their first stable (and the classic) lineup. He remained with the band through their Eternal Dark album, but had to leave for personal reasons, as the gruel of touring, their bad luck with management, and having to support a family took a toll.
Laruens' influences included Carmine Appice
, Vinnie Appice, John Bonham
, Phil Rudd
, and Cozy Powell
. He used a Rogers Drums
nine piece, double bass set and Paiste
cymbals.
Recently (late 2007), Laurens and the original members of Picture
, with Ronald van Prooijen
, teamed up for a reunion rehearsal. It went so well that they decided to continue rehearsing for some concert dates, and considered recording a new album in early 2008 with Shmoulik Avigal from the Diamond Dreamer
lineup as their singer.
As of mid 2008, a permanent lineup was established with Laurens, Rinus Vreugdenhil
, Jan Bechtum
, Rob vanEnkhuizen, and Pete Lovell. They are currently playing throughout Europe
to very enthusiastic crowds. A limited edition live album was recorded at various venues and was released by the band. Plans are to go into the studio in early 2009 to record a new CD with new songs, two of which appeared on the limited edition CD.
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
.
Laurens, known as "Bakkie," started playing drums in various bands including Fase 5 and then John Ridge and Coccoon. In 1977, he met up with Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil is the bass player and longest standing member of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Rinus started out in the band Lemming as the bass player and sound mixer. He chose bass because he liked the low sound. In 1977, he met up with Laurens Bakker and with various musicians, started...
and with various musicians, started Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
. By 1979, Jan Bechtum
Jan Bechtum
Jan Bechtum is a Dutch guitarist and composer.Bechtum was the first lead guitarist of Picture. He was influenced by Deep Purple, , Yes and Genesis....
and Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen was the original singer of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Ronald started out in the band Fragma. He originally sang and played a little guitar but decided to stick to singing. He'd been hanging around with Laurens Bakker and Rinus Vreugdenhil as they went through various...
had joined the band for their first stable (and the classic) lineup. He remained with the band through their Eternal Dark album, but had to leave for personal reasons, as the gruel of touring, their bad luck with management, and having to support a family took a toll.
Laruens' influences included Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
, Vinnie Appice, John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, Phil Rudd
Phil Rudd
Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
, and Cozy Powell
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
. He used a Rogers Drums
Rogers Drums
The Rogers company was started in 1849 by an Irish immigrant from Dublin named Joseph Rogers. Rogers came to the United States and started crafting drum-heads. His son began making drums in the mid-1930s at a Farmingdale, New Jersey location...
nine piece, double bass set and Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
cymbals.
Recently (late 2007), Laurens and the original members of Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
, with Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen
Ronald van Prooijen was the original singer of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Ronald started out in the band Fragma. He originally sang and played a little guitar but decided to stick to singing. He'd been hanging around with Laurens Bakker and Rinus Vreugdenhil as they went through various...
, teamed up for a reunion rehearsal. It went so well that they decided to continue rehearsing for some concert dates, and considered recording a new album in early 2008 with Shmoulik Avigal from the Diamond Dreamer
Diamond Dreamer
Diamond Dreamer is the third album by the metal group Picture, which was released in July 1982.In order to improve on the audio quality of their first two albums, Picture recorded Diamond Dreamer with the help of Saxon producer Pete Hinton....
lineup as their singer.
As of mid 2008, a permanent lineup was established with Laurens, Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil
Rinus Vreugdenhil is the bass player and longest standing member of the Dutch heavy metal band Picture.Rinus started out in the band Lemming as the bass player and sound mixer. He chose bass because he liked the low sound. In 1977, he met up with Laurens Bakker and with various musicians, started...
, Jan Bechtum
Jan Bechtum
Jan Bechtum is a Dutch guitarist and composer.Bechtum was the first lead guitarist of Picture. He was influenced by Deep Purple, , Yes and Genesis....
, Rob vanEnkhuizen, and Pete Lovell. They are currently playing throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to very enthusiastic crowds. A limited edition live album was recorded at various venues and was released by the band. Plans are to go into the studio in early 2009 to record a new CD with new songs, two of which appeared on the limited edition CD.