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Henny Vrienten

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Henny Vrienten was born on 27 July 1948 in Hilvarenbeek and grew up in Tilburg, where he had guitar lessons. In the 1960s he played in beat groups such as Les Cruches. In the 1970s he wrote for others and tried his luck as a solo artist, including as Paul Santos, without much success. In Boudewijn de Groot's backing band he met the keyboard player Ernst Jansz, with whom he started the reggae band The Rumbones in 1977.

Music and breakthrough

Jansz then asked him to join his band Doe Maar. Vrienten doubted whether a Dutch-language group could make it, but in 1980 he joined anyway. He became singer and bass player, wrote most of the songs with Jansz and helped design the green and pink sleeve of Skunk (1981), after which those colours became the band's hallmark. In 1982 Doe Maar broke through massively with Doris Day and the group became the face of the new Dutch-language pop wave. In 1984 the band said farewell, and in 1999 a reunion followed.

Influence

After Doe Maar, Vrienten chose other work. He wrote music for television and film, including for Sesamstraat and for films such as Abeltje, Kruimeltje and Left Luggage, and he produced other artists. He even collaborated with the rap group Osdorp Posse. With George Kooymans and Boudewijn de Groot he later formed the trio Vreemde Kostgangers. Vrienten died on 25 April 2022.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Doris Day (1982) by Doe Maar, the song with which the band broke through. Notice the bouncy ska rhythm, with the emphasis on the offbeat, and Vrienten's bass, which makes the song dance.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists