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Caesar (band)
Encyclopedia
Caesar was an indie rock trio from Amsterdam consisting of Roald van Oosten, Marit de Loos and Sem Bakker. The band was founded in 1994. Caesar released four studio albums, plus one retrospective release in 2006, Before My Band Explodes.
The band was stopped in 2008. They were named for Julius Caesar
who is famous for being a Roman Dictator.
The following year three more demos followed. The band was swiftly improving and Excelsior Recordings (then still known as (Nothing sucks like) Electrolux) noticed. It is for this label that the band recorded its first single Goodbye To Barruschna, it was released on vinyl in the fall of ’95.
was released in May 1996. It was the first official album release of the Excelsior Recordings label. Upon its release in June, Clean was received enthusiastically by the press, even appearing in the Moordlijst, the chart of music magazine OOR. The positive response towards the album translates into a slot at the Lowlands festival in August.
Caesar also played alongside Daryll-Ann
on a tour in the Netherlands. The tour was a great success as audience turn-outs were consistently strong. The band also played other select dates with label mates Johan
, Benjamin B
and Scram C Baby
.
, a prestigious Dutch award. In March the band’s second album No Rest for the Alonely was released in the Netherlands . It was a success and its first single Situations Complications receives a lot of airplay. Later that year the album was also released in the United Kingdom
with a slightly different title, No Rest for the Lonely. Following this release the band toured the UK under the banner of British music magazine Melody Maker
.
. A year later the fictional rockumentary Shooting Stars is released. Two years earlier the band had participated in a 12 day shoot, playing a famous Dutch pop group. This pop group is the main focus of this feature film directed by Ronen Abas and Guy Mel.
Marien Dorleijn leaves Caesar in December to focus more on his main band Nimbus. He does play on the band’s fourth album released in the following year. This self-titled album marks a return to the raucous and energetic sound of the band’s debut album. In March and October the band visits the US, respectively playing at South By South West and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
on drums during their October tour in the US.
During a self-proclaimed ‘sabbatical year’ the band actively pursues more side projects in 2005. Roald van Oosten starts Ghost Trucker
with members of Alamo Race Track
, Zoppo
and Kopna Kopna. In January this band records a 3VOOR12
-session at the Noorderslag
festival.
Van Oosten also writes and produces the music for short film Brommermeisje by Janneke van Heesch. The film opens at the Dutch Film Festival in October. Van Oosten also produces music for Based on a True Story, a movie by W. Stokman.
The band was stopped in 2008. They were named for Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
who is famous for being a Roman Dictator.
The Early Days
In 1994 Roald van Oosten and Marit de Loos thought of starting a band together. Later that year Van Oosten met Sem Bakker. They discussed the idea that De Loos and Van Oosten have and Bakker agreed to join on bass. The fact that Bakker didn't play bass yet was seemingly not a problem. Thus Caesar’s line up was complete. After a mere month of playing together the trio released their first demo.The following year three more demos followed. The band was swiftly improving and Excelsior Recordings (then still known as (Nothing sucks like) Electrolux) noticed. It is for this label that the band recorded its first single Goodbye To Barruschna, it was released on vinyl in the fall of ’95.
Clean
Caesar’s debut album CleanClean (album)
Clean is the second full-length studio album from industrial band Deitiphobia, released in 1994 by Myx Records. It is the earliest Deitiphobia album not to feature Brent Stackhouse, who left in 1992, and was also the band's debut for the Myx label...
was released in May 1996. It was the first official album release of the Excelsior Recordings label. Upon its release in June, Clean was received enthusiastically by the press, even appearing in the Moordlijst, the chart of music magazine OOR. The positive response towards the album translates into a slot at the Lowlands festival in August.
Caesar also played alongside Daryll-Ann
Daryll-Ann
Daryll-Ann was a Dutch rock band stemming from Ermelo, a small rural village in the east of the Netherlands. Between 1992 and 2004 the band released six studio albums, plus one live album. Daryll-Ann was the first signing of Dutch label Excelsior Recordings...
on a tour in the Netherlands. The tour was a great success as audience turn-outs were consistently strong. The band also played other select dates with label mates Johan
Johan (band)
Johan was a Dutch band based around singer/guitarist Jacco de Greeuw. Their music has been primarily influenced by bands such as The Beatles, Crowded House, and The Byrds.-Biography:...
, Benjamin B
Benjamin B
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.-The Early Days:...
and Scram C Baby
Scram C Baby
Scram C Baby is a Dutch band, founded in the late eighties. Line-up in 2010: Geert de Groot, John Cees Smit, Marit de Loos en Frank van Praag. John Cees Smit participated in TAP and De Zwarte Hand Scram C Baby is a Dutch band, founded in the late eighties. Line-up in 2010: Geert de Groot, John Cees...
.
No Rest For the Alonely
In 1998 the band played at Noorderslag, Pinkpop and Lowlands, three of the biggest Dutch festivals. The band was also judged as most promising new act of the year and received a Zilveren HarpZilveren Harp
The Zilveren Harp is a Dutch award given annually to promising musical talent. The award is very prestigious and winners are chosen by a different jury each year...
, a prestigious Dutch award. In March the band’s second album No Rest for the Alonely was released in the Netherlands . It was a success and its first single Situations Complications receives a lot of airplay. Later that year the album was also released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with a slightly different title, No Rest for the Lonely. Following this release the band toured the UK under the banner of British music magazine Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
.
Leaving Sparks
Caesar played Noorderslag again in 1999 and received an Edison nomination for No Rest for the Alonely. For the Marlboro Flashback Tour the band played a set of Motown covers. In September Caesar flew to Chicago to work with infamous producer Steve Albini to record their third album, Leaving Sparks. In the meantime an acoustic version of Before My Head Explodes was included on the collection cd Twee Meter Sessie NL 1. The band also plays a set on the accompanying TV show. Leaving Sparks is released in March 2000.Caesar
In early 2001, after a break of a six months, Caesar starts recording demo tracks for their upcoming self-titled album. In May the band plays as support act for US musician Stephen MalkmusStephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
. A year later the fictional rockumentary Shooting Stars is released. Two years earlier the band had participated in a 12 day shoot, playing a famous Dutch pop group. This pop group is the main focus of this feature film directed by Ronen Abas and Guy Mel.
Marien Dorleijn leaves Caesar in December to focus more on his main band Nimbus. He does play on the band’s fourth album released in the following year. This self-titled album marks a return to the raucous and energetic sound of the band’s debut album. In March and October the band visits the US, respectively playing at South By South West and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
Side Projects
Caesar plays some shows in France in March 2004. Van Oosten composes music for Zoenen of Schoppen (‘Kissing or Kicking’), a movie directed by Janice Pierre. The picture premieres at the Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht in September. Marit de Loos joins SolexSolex (band)
Solex is the solo performing name of Elisabeth Esselink, born in Delft, but based in Amsterdam. Her music is a light-hearted amalgamation of pop music, electronica and sampling.-Overview:...
on drums during their October tour in the US.
During a self-proclaimed ‘sabbatical year’ the band actively pursues more side projects in 2005. Roald van Oosten starts Ghost Trucker
Ghost Trucker (band)
Ghost Trucker plays alternative rock music with electronic flourishes. The band consists of Roald van Oosten , Asta Kat, Ralph Mulder , Rik Elstgeest and Jelte van Andel. The band released one album, The Grand Mystique in 2006.-History:In 2004 Van Oosten had already worked on numerous soundtrack...
with members of Alamo Race Track
Alamo Race Track
Alamo Race Track is a rock band from Amsterdam, Netherlands. They have released three full-length albums. Their current effort, Unicorn Loves Deer, was released on March 21, 2011 in their native country.-Early days :...
, Zoppo
Zoppo
-People:* Paolo Zoppo, painter of 16th century Brescia, Italy;* Zoppo di Lungano, Italian painter of the 17th century.-Other:* Zoppo , Dutch indierock band, see Yuri Landman...
and Kopna Kopna. In January this band records a 3VOOR12
3VOOR12
3VOOR12 is a multimedia platform of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting VPRO for alternative pop.3VOOR12 has 2 digital television channels , different radio channels ranging from punk, Roots and Alternative rock to metal), radioprograms on 3FM, a website and a weekly live event...
-session at the Noorderslag
Noorderslag
Noorderslag is a one-day annual pop music festival that takes place in January in the cultural center of Oosterpoort in Groningen. Noorderslag is part of The European Music Conference and Showcase Festival Eurosonic Noorderslag. The festival takes place on the Saturday after Eurosonic.Over 50 Dutch...
festival.
Van Oosten also writes and produces the music for short film Brommermeisje by Janneke van Heesch. The film opens at the Dutch Film Festival in October. Van Oosten also produces music for Based on a True Story, a movie by W. Stokman.
Before My Band Explodes
In November Caesar reconvenes for two try-out concerts for an oncoming tour in January and February. This tour coincides with the release of Before My Band Explodes. This retrospective album gives an overview of ten years of Caesar.Discography
- Clean (1996)
- No Rest for the Alonely (1998)
- Leaving Sparks (2000)
- Caesar (2003)
- Before My Band Explodes (2006)