Kayak is Holland's most succesful and long lasting "symphonical" rock band (or progressive, or art rock), starting out in 1972 with early Yes en Genesis influences, after which the band soon developed their own, unique sound. Kayak's music is difficult to label: while many songs have been hit singles in Holland (Ruthless Queen, Wintertime, Starlight Dancer), almost every album also features several grand epics of mythical proportions like 'Daphne', 'Merlin' and 'Icarus'.
The first album, 'See See the Sun', was released in 1973. Though the band could hardly claim anything else than having a stubborn and original musical mind of their own, it did not keep the media from calling Kayak a new 'super group', that was bound to break through internationally soon. The album contained a few hit singles ('Lyrics' and 'Mammoth'), but that certainly wasn't about to happen yet. If ever, one might add. The second album (simply called 'Kayak' but usually referred to as 'Kayak II') was also blessed with a hit single ('Wintertime'), and so within two years the band had firmly established their name in the top of Holland's pop/rock scene. The third album 'Royal Bed Bouncer', with new bassplayer Bert Veldkamp instead of Cees van Leeuwen (whose carreer as a lawyer even landed him a place in the Dutch government around 2003) was released in 1975, and got the attention of an American record company, Janus. Though the LP received favorable reviews in the States, it didn't really break the band there. Its follow-up, 'The Last Encore' (1976) was an artistic step up but a commercial one down the ladder for Kayak in their home country. Soon after its release composer/drummer Pim Koopman left the band, to work as a record producer for other acts. Later on he started his own band, called Diesel. A few months later Bert Veldkamp also decided to call it a day, which meant that within a very short period the complete Kayak rhythm section had to be replaced. The new names were Charles Schouten (drums) and Theo de Jong (bass).
In 1978 Janus tried again with an unbalanced combination of songs from the new album called 'Starlight Dancer' and some others from its predecessor. The (demo-version! of the) song 'Want You to be Mine' hit the US singles charts and even climbed to number 55. It could have been the start of Kayak's long-awaited break through, but again another, unexpected change in the line up kept the band firmly grounded behind the Dutch dikes: singer Max Werner suddenly announced that he wanted to withdraw as Kayak's leadsinger and would only stay if he could be their drummer. He got his way. A new vocalist was found (Edward Reekers), while Werner was not totally lost for the band yet, as his place behind the drum kit did not prevent him from singing some old songs. Peter Scherpenzeel, Ton's younger brother became the new bassplayer which meant that now only Ton and guitarist Johan Slager were left from the original line up- not taking in account Max Werner, who had of course moved to the drum kit.
Although an international career seemed still a long way to go, with Reekers now up front and the addition of two female backing singers (with Irene Linders, Ton Scherpenzeel's wife and co-lyricist of many songs and Katherine Lapthorn) the band suddenly hit the jack pot in Holland with their first top-5 hit 'Ruthless Queen', from the album 'Phantom of the Night' which even went platinum. Many old fans thought the new material too commercial and pop-oriented, but a much wider audience received the "new" Kayak with open arms. The next album, 'Periscope Life' was recorded in Los Angeles (Village Recorders), in a last effort to break the band in the States. Again- for some reason it did not happen, and Kayak simply concentrated (as they basically had always done) on their home market, Europe, especially Holland and Belgium with an album, that many consider to be the band's best: "Merlin" (1981) took Kayak back to their symphonical roots with the beginning of what would later turn out the group's first rock opera. Then, with the decreasing success of the albums after 'Phantom of the Night', slowly but surely artistical, personal and financial problems within the band and their manager emerged, and the band finally collapsed under its own weight: to fulfill their contract, one semi-live album was recorded ('Eyewitness'), but after that Kayak disbanded at the end of 1981.
Then, after an eighteen year break, the band restarted in 1999 with original members/composers keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel and drummer Pim Koopman back in the line up. The second phase of Kayak's carreer is, although maybe less commercially succesful, at least as remarkable as their first nine years. The line up of 1999 included (to everyone's surprise) original singer Max Werner, but health related problems kept him from maintaining this position longer than a few months. Shortly after the release of 'Close to the Fire', another lead singer took over: Bert Heerink, of Vandenberg fame. A few months later guitarist/vocalist Rob Vunderink, who had once been playing with Pim in their band Diesel, joined the Kayak ranks. In 2001 Kayak released 'Night Vision' as well as their first ever real live album 'Chance for a LIVE Time'. After this tour guitarist Rob Winter (who had been involved with the new Kayak since 1999) left and was replaced by Joost Vergoossen- a former member of singer Ilse deLange's band along with ex-Kayak bass player Theo de Jong- yes, it's a small world. In 2003 Kayak's creative writing team of Ton, Pim and Irene completed the original 'Merlin'-suite and turned it into a full fledged rock opera, now called 'Merlin- Bard of the Unseen.' This time a female vocalist joined the band (Cindy Oudshoorn) to fulfill the role of Morgan LeFaye. Bert Heerink of course played Merlin, while guitarplayer Rob Vunderink performed as Mordred- all three important characters of the well known Arthurian legend.
In 2005 Kayak released their second rock opera 'Nostradamus- The Fate of Man', with even more vocalists and an elaborate stage show. Bass player Bert Veldkamp (who had returned to Kayak at their relaunch in 2000) retreated. His job was taken over by Jan van Olffen. Added to the main "cast" were singers Monique vd Ster and none other than former leadvocalist Edward Reekers. Another Dutch pop hero, Syb vd Ploeg, also performed a singing role. It meant that Kayak now "employed" no less than five lead singers (as well as several other backing vocalists/dancers). And although the band seemed to have found its new direction, the increased financial demands of productions like this put a (temporarily?) halt to the Kayak's theatrical ambitions as efforts to take the show abroad- at least until now- failed. At the end of 2005 singer Bert Heerink departed, leaving Edward and Cindy to share (most) lead vocals.
2006/2007 saw Kayak return to a line up of seven, doing 'regular' gigs all over Holland with Ton Scherpenzeel (keys) Pim Koopman (drums) Edward Reekers (vocals) Cindy Oudshoorn (vocals) Rob Vunderink (vocals, guitar), Joost Vergoossen (guitar) and Jan van Olffen (bass) in a special project called KAYAKoustic, with an acoustical first set. A few months after the end of the tour the 'KAYAKoustic' live album is released.
A new studio album from the same line up with Edward and Cindy up front, called 'Coming Up For Air' is released in January 2008, and the corresponding theatre & club tour also celebrated the band's 35th anniversary. The tour ended in the legendary Amsterdam Paradiso club, where recordings were made for a live DVD, that was released in December of 2008.
In the autumn of 2009 Kayak releases a new album- a double CD, in fact, called Letters From Utopia.
On November 23rd drummer Pim Koopman unexpectedly dies of cardiac arrest. All remaining concerts of the middle of the Letters from Utopia Tour, are cancelled. Kayak announces a period of silence while reconsidering the band's future.
KAYAK, ORIGINAL ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY
1973 SEE SEE THE SUN
1974 KAYAK II
1975 ROYAL BED BOUNCER
1976 THE LAST ENCORE
1978 STARLIGHT DANCER
1979 PHANTOM OF THE NIGHT
1980 PERISCOPE LIFE
1981 MERLIN
1981 EYEWITNESS (live)
2000 CLOSE TO THE FIRE
2001 NIGHT VISION
2001 CHANCE FOR A LIVE TIME (live)
2003 MERLIN- BARD OF THE UNSEEN
2005 NOSTRADAMUS- THE FATE OF MAN
2007 KAYAKOUSTIC LIVE (live)
2008 COMING UP FOR AIR
2008 THE 35th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (live in Paradiso) / BOX
2009 LETTERS FROM UTOPIA
