Benjamin B
Encyclopedia
Guitar rock band Benjamin B was founded in 1994 in Winschoten
, the Netherlands
. After releasing two albums on Excelsior Recordings
, the band released its latest record Tired of the Moon on Living Room Records.
In the following year the band took part in several band competitions. The group won the Pop=Prima award and also managed to reach the final round of De Grote Prijs, an important Dutch competition for new musical talent. In addition to that, the band’s first demo became ‘demo of the year’ in Music Maker
and received a very positive review in FRET
magazine.
. The much praised mini-cd Benjamin B. CD, with four original compositions and one Gershwin cover, was released in the fall of ’96.
The band released their first full-length CD The Comfort of Replay the next year.
1998 saw the band playing at Noorderslag festival alongside the rest of the Netherland’s finest bands. In May Barbara B. left the band, and Vincent van Vondel (or Vincent B.) took her place. Also Nico B. joined the band on keys/guitar, turning Benjamin B. into a quartet.
The band’s second full-length album Instant Art was released in 1999. The record was a true studio album, as the band pieced the songs together during the recording sessions. Instant Art failed to be a commercial breakthrough though.
In 2000 Scholtens worked on a project away from Benjamin B: together with Robert de Keijser he released an album under the name Stad. The songs on the record were all sung in a Northern Dutch dialect (Gronings
).
After a recess of nearly a year the band returned to the stage, playing the Eurosonic festival in January 2001. The band started work on a new album. At the same time the band released a cover song on their website each month. Their first cover song was Boys Don’t Cry
from The Cure
. In September Scholten’s Stad project reached the semi finals of De Grote Prijs van Nederland.
In 2003 the band finally recorded their third album, but it took another year for the album to be released. Excelsior Recordings were not willing to release the version that the band recorded on its own account. The label offered the band the opportunity to re-record the album to improve its sound quality. After a lengthy period of deliberation the band opted to stick to the album in its initial form.
With Living Room Records Benjamin B. found a new home for their album Tired of the Moon, which was released in the fall of 2004. Former member Barbara B. also made a return as she joined in on the track Drive.
In 2005 the band submitted the song Yolk to compilation record Schaamte En Woede. The profits of this charity album were for the benefit of a refugee support organisation.
Winschoten
Winschoten is a former municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands.Population : 18.497; area: 22,24 km2.The origin of the name of Winschoten is not known but it has received nicknames. One of these is Molenstad . It has also been known, in living memory, as Sodom...
, 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...
. After releasing two albums on Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings is an independent record label located in Utrecht, Netherlands, born out of a love - for 7" vinyl, and anger - over almost-famous Dutch band’s Daryll-Ann's luck. First up was a single release; Nothing sucks like Electrolux...
, the band released its latest record Tired of the Moon on Living Room Records.
The Early Days
In 1994 singer/guitar player Fiebo Scholtens dropped out of law school. He decided to start a band together with Barbara Lampe and Michel Weber. Thus Benjamin B. was founded.In the following year the band took part in several band competitions. The group won the Pop=Prima award and also managed to reach the final round of De Grote Prijs, an important Dutch competition for new musical talent. In addition to that, the band’s first demo became ‘demo of the year’ in Music Maker
Music Maker
Music Maker may refer to:* Music * Music Maker * Music Maker...
and received a very positive review in FRET
FRET (magazine)
FRET is a free magazine which covers the pop music scene in the Netherlands. It is published in the Dutch language. It contains interviews, reviews, a gig guide and background information about Dutch bands and artists. The magazine is available at record stores and venues in the Netherlands.FRET...
magazine.
Excelsior Recordings
In 1996 these successes translated into a record deal with Excelsior RecordingsExcelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings is an independent record label located in Utrecht, Netherlands, born out of a love - for 7" vinyl, and anger - over almost-famous Dutch band’s Daryll-Ann's luck. First up was a single release; Nothing sucks like Electrolux...
. The much praised mini-cd Benjamin B. CD, with four original compositions and one Gershwin cover, was released in the fall of ’96.
The band released their first full-length CD The Comfort of Replay the next year.
1998 saw the band playing at Noorderslag festival alongside the rest of the Netherland’s finest bands. In May Barbara B. left the band, and Vincent van Vondel (or Vincent B.) took her place. Also Nico B. joined the band on keys/guitar, turning Benjamin B. into a quartet.
The band’s second full-length album Instant Art was released in 1999. The record was a true studio album, as the band pieced the songs together during the recording sessions. Instant Art failed to be a commercial breakthrough though.
In 2000 Scholtens worked on a project away from Benjamin B: together with Robert de Keijser he released an album under the name Stad. The songs on the record were all sung in a Northern Dutch dialect (Gronings
Gronings
Gronings, in the dialect itself called Grunnegs or Grönnegs, is a collective name for some Friso-Saxon dialects spoken in the province of Groningen and around the Groningen border in Drenthe and Friesland. Gronings and the strongly related varieties in East-Frisia have a strong Frisian influence...
).
After a recess of nearly a year the band returned to the stage, playing the Eurosonic festival in January 2001. The band started work on a new album. At the same time the band released a cover song on their website each month. Their first cover song was Boys Don’t Cry
Boys Don't Cry (song)
"Boys Don't Cry" was the second single to be released by The Cure, released in June 1979. It was released in the UK as a stand-alone single, and was included as the title track on Boys Don't Cry, the American equivalent to Three Imaginary Boys....
from The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. In September Scholten’s Stad project reached the semi finals of De Grote Prijs van Nederland.
In 2003 the band finally recorded their third album, but it took another year for the album to be released. Excelsior Recordings were not willing to release the version that the band recorded on its own account. The label offered the band the opportunity to re-record the album to improve its sound quality. After a lengthy period of deliberation the band opted to stick to the album in its initial form.
Living Room Records
In the meantime Benjamin B. had transformed into a six-piece band: Eddy Scholtens played guitar and keys, Rene Asschert handled the drums. In March this new line-up played shows in several Dutch venues.With Living Room Records Benjamin B. found a new home for their album Tired of the Moon, which was released in the fall of 2004. Former member Barbara B. also made a return as she joined in on the track Drive.
In 2005 the band submitted the song Yolk to compilation record Schaamte En Woede. The profits of this charity album were for the benefit of a refugee support organisation.
Discography
- The Comfort of Replay (1997)
- Instant Art (1999)
- Tired of the Moon (2003)