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Herman Brood

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

Herman Brood was a Dutch singer, pianist, painter and actor, born in 1946 in Zwolle. He had piano lessons at a young age and from 1964 played in the beat group The Moans. He was then allowed to play with Cuby and the Blizzards, but the record company had him thrown out of the band when it emerged that he used drugs. Years of short-lived jobs followed, including with Vitesse, and periods in prison.

Music and breakthrough

In 1976 Brood started his own group, Herman Brood & His Wild Romance. The band first played in cafés and clubs in Groningen and in 1977 released the album Street. The breakthrough came with Shpritsz (1978), with songs such as Dope Sucks, Rock & Roll Junkie and the hit Saturday Night. It was raw rock 'n' roll with piano, guitars and saxophone, and Brood sang in English. In 1979 he starred with Nina Hagen in the film Cha Cha and tried to conquer America. A new recording of Saturday Night entered the Billboard Hot 100, but the big breakthrough failed to come. Later he had another hit with Als je wint, together with Henny Vrienten.

Influence

Brood became as well known for his candid statements about sex and drugs as for his music. He was regarded as the only true Dutch rock 'n' roll star. Later he became a successful painter of colourful pop art. In 2001 he took his own life in Amsterdam. His version of My Way then spent three weeks at number 1.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Saturday Night (1978) by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance. Notice Brood's rolling piano playing and how the band sounds like a rock 'n' roll group from the pub, with English lyrics.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: Artists