The Scene

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

The Scene is a Dutch rock band from Amsterdam built around the singer, guitarist, composer and producer Thé Lau. Lau played in groups such as Music Garden and the Neerlands Hoop Express in the 1970s and founded The Scene in 1979. The line-up changed almost monthly at first, but the sound remained recognisable thanks to Lau's raw, husky voice. In 1980 the music magazine OOR declared The Scene the best Dutch band without a record. The debut album The Scene was almost entirely in English and received good reviews, but sold little.

Music and breakthrough

For years the band released records on its own. The breakthrough came with Rij rij rij (1988), produced by Rick de Leeuw of the Tröckener Kecks. After a contract with Phonogram, the fully Dutch-language album Blauw appeared in 1990, with the singles Rigoreus and Iedereen is van de wereld. The title song became a hit first in Flanders and then in the Netherlands too, and the band played at Torhout-Werchter. Open (1992) was received as a masterpiece, and in early 1993 The Scene received the Popprijs, the Dutch pop award. That same year Iedereen is van de wereld appeared again, on a joint single with De Dijk, for Doctors Without Borders. Avenue de la Scene (1993) and Arena (1996) followed, among others.

Influence

The Scene made robust guitar rock with soul influences. OOR called Open a passionate soul record with compelling rock, and the Popprijs jury praised the poetic Dutch-language lyrics in sober arrangements. The band was active until 2014 and announced a return in 2025, with Syb van der Ploeg as singer.

Listening

• 
  Iedereen is van de wereld · The Scene, 1990
  Apple Music ↗

Discography

Studio albums

• 1980The Scene
• 1988Rij rij rij
• 1990Blauw
• 1992Open
• 1993Avenue de la Scene
• 1996Arena
• 1996Open / Blauw
• 1998Arena
• 1998Marlene
• 20072007
• 2009Liefde op doorreis
• 2012Code

In School of Rock

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

• Mixtape 11: Nederpop^NL Reader

Mentioned in other articles

• Rock in Dutch GenreThe Frank Boeijen Groep made new wave in their own language, De Dijk soul and rhythm and blues with horns, The Scene solid guitar rock and the Heideroosjes punk.
• Iedereen is van de wereld SongIn 1990 Iedereen is van de wereld was released by The Scene, the band of singer Thé Lau.

See also

• Rock in Dutch