Years active 1964 (1964)–1979 | ||
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Also known as The Mystic FourThe Blue Cats Past members Arnold MuhrenJaap SchilderCees VeermanPiet VeermanTheo KlouwerPiet Keizer Albums Vaya con Dios, The Cats Greatest Hits, Cats as Cats Can, Like the Old Days, Aglow | ||
The Cats is a former rock band from Volendam, Netherlands.
Contents
It existed (with a few interruptions) from 1964 until 1985 and had its most successful period from 1968 until 1975.
Of the many hits the band had at home and abroad the biggest one is "One way wind", which was released in 38 countries and a top ten number in several of them, of which a number one in Switzerland. In Germany for instance it sold more than a million copies. Also it has been covered by some 150 other artists. The number was composed by bass player Arnold Muhren, who also composed most other songs of the band.
Further band members were the two singers and guitar players Cees Veerman and Piet Veerman, drummer Theo Klouwer, and guitar players Jaap Schilder and Piet Keizer (for three years).
1960s
The band began life as two separate duos: Cees Veerman (6 October 1943 - 15 March 2014) and Arnold Muhren (born 28 January 1944) who started in a skiffle band; and cousins Piet Veerman (born 1 March 1943) and Jaap Schilder (born 9 January 1943) who modelled themselves after the Everly Brothers. The duos merged and became The Mystic Four, with Cees and Piet Veerman on vocals and guitar, Schilder on guitar (and piano), and Muhren on bass. By 1965 they changed their name to The Blue Cats, a reference to the colour of their suits and Cees' nickname, Poes (Dutch for 'cat'). Dropping the 'Blue' from their name in 1966 they recruited drummer Theo Klouwer (30 June 1947 – 8 February 2001).
The Cats borrowed money from Jan Buys, who was later to become their manager, and recorded their first singles that immediately entered the charts. Singing in English thanks to a songwriting duo from England, the group sounded British. Cees initially performed the majority of the lead vocals but that was to change by 1968 when the band recorded "Times Were When"; Piet decided that this song (the original version is by the Scottish band Studio Six), suited his voice better and Cees agreed on giving him a go. Arnold's lyrics and Piet's sad voice appeared to be a match made in heaven, spawning five Top 10 hits in the next two years including "Lea" (dedicated to a faithful fan who died in a car accident), "Why?", "Scarlet Ribbons" and "Marian".
1970s
Their international popularity began to grow. By spring 1970 the Cats toured Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles and played one show on 4 April 1970 in Guyana. http://sepakgol.com/
Early in 1971 The Cats were touring Indonesia. They were rebuked for meeting with the expatriate Dutch political dissident Poncke Princen whom some in the Netherlands viewed as a traitor.
"Don't Waste Your Time" broke a string of Top 10 chart dominations, but the next single, "One Way Wind", became The Cats' biggest ever hit. In Germany it reached Number One chart position and in 1972 the band responded by releasing Katzenspiele (Cat's Play), featuring their hits rerecorded in German.
By now, the band were so popular they had become part of the popular consciousness. But the busy schedule had begun to take its toll as Cees contracted voice problems. Roadcrew member Piet Keizer replaced him temporarily. Not having played on their own albums in six years, The Cats entered 1974 by flying to Los Angeles's Larrabee Studios to record Love in Our Eyes; or rather to add their voices to songs written for them on the spot. Not everyone enjoyed it. Cees was quoted of saying about the session: "'Be My Day' topped the charts, which was a great thing, but the rest of that pre-baked stuff should've been chucked into the ocean near Malibu".
Their Malibu sojourn did not stop The Cats from going back to record Hard To Be Friends of which "Come Sunday" and the title track charted in late 1974 and early 1975. Cees had left by then but he returned a year later. Although the hits continued they didn't recapture past glories.
In 1978 The Cats were booked to appear on chart-show to playback "She Was Too Young". It was, however, a thinly-disguised solo-performance by Cees. Late in 1979 members of The Cats decided to disband. A farewell-single (a reissue of the 1972 track "End of the Show") charted as late as April 1980.
Solo careers
In 1976, Cees Veerman released a solo album called "Another Side Of Me", which spawned the single "Sailor, Sail On (Dreamer, Dream On)".
In 1987, Piet Veerman had a solo-hit with "Sailing Home". Subsequent singles did reasonably well and he kept touring with a set of solo material and Cats classics, often using backing tapes. In 1995, Piet guested on a bilingual duet version of "One Way Wind" with Flemish singer Dana Winner titled "Westenwind". Piet sang in English and Winner sang in Dutch.
2000s
On 23 March 2006, The Cats were made Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The same year the group made a reunion to record a single for inclusion on a best of album. It went gold.
Cees Veerman performed with the Cats Aglow Band as support act of Willy De Ville's Amsterdam Carré show on 7 July 2008.
Cees Veerman died at the age of 70, on 15 March 2014.
Songs
One Way WindLove In Your Eyes · 1974
Where Have I Been WrongTake Me With You · 1970
Scarlet RibbonsColour Us Gold · 1969