Batmobile
Groupe de musique Psychobilly Punk de Pays-Bas
Membres du groupe : Jeroen Haamers, Johnny Zuidhof, Eric Haamers
Batmobile is a Dutch psychobilly band from Rotterdam and Breda, formed in 1983. They were the first band not from the United Kingdom to perform at the influential psychobilly club, Klub Foot and are considered the seminal Dutch psychobilly band.
History
Early history
Batmobile was formed as a hobby in 1983. The band continues today with the founding lineup of Jeroen Haamers on vocals and guitar, Eric Haamers on bass, and Johnny Zuidhof on drums. The band played only covers of early rockabilly and rock and roll by Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, and Johnny Burnette. The band is named after the Batmobile, the car driven by Batman. The name was suggested by Zuidhof who presented the idea for the name during band practice. The band began playing various gigs at bars and one time, while playing a bar in a rural area, the band received a bad response from farmers who were at the bar. The band began playing covers extra fast, in a punk rock style to get everyone's attention. Bar staff and some patrons enjoyed the music and the band started playing psychobilly shows. Their debut self-titled EP was released in 1985 on Rockhouse/Kix4U.
Breakthrough at Klub Foot
The band's first major gig outside of the Netherlands was at Klub Foot in London in 1986. They were the first band not from the United Kingdom to play at the club. They played with Demented Are Go and Torment. That same year, Zuidhof and the band's sound engineer, Eddie, created Count Orlok records after a lawsuit with their then current label, Rockhouse/Kix4U. That label failed to pay the band royalties and Batmobile ended up suing the label. They won in court and their contract ended, hence the founding of Court Orlok. Count Orlok released the band's first full-length album, Bambooland in 1987. The band toured Switzerland, West Germany, England and Austria.In 1988, Batmobile released Buried Alive!, a collection of concert and demo recordings. That same year, they released Bail Was Set at $6,000,000 on Nervous Records. The album featured a cover of "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead. They returned to their own label, Count Orlok, to release Amazons from Outer Space in 1989. In 1990, they released an EP, Batmobile is Dynamite!, and the following year, their sixth full-length album, Sex Starved. The band went on hiatus in 1993 and re-emerged in 1995 for a tour of Japan. They released a live album from the tour in 1996. The following year, they released Welcome to Planet Cheese, in which the band abandoned their signature psychobilly style to perform songs in a style influenced by B movies. This is the only album where Eric Haamers does not play an upright bass.
2000s and today
In 2000, the band went on a hiatus due to personal reasons. Their last concert, before their hiatus, was in New York City. A tribute album for the band was produced in Japan. The tribute featured 33 international bands and a song contributed by Batmobile, titled "Baby Go Back Home." They performed live again in 2003 after an invitation to play the Satanic Stomp festival in Speyer, Germany. They performed at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, California, in 2005. In 2007, a second tribute to Batmobile was released in Japan. In 2008, Batmobile did a split album with Peter Pan Speedrock, in which Speedrock covered Batmobile songs and Batmobile covered Speedrock songs. The idea of the album was spawned at a party by the band and Speedrock. The band no longer does major tours, but, continues to perform at least once a month and at special events. On October 2, 2020 "Big Bat" Was released.
Side projects and collaborations
During the band's hiatus in the early 2000s, bassist Eric Haamers continued to perform. He played in The Gecko Brothers and Cactus Cowboy. In 2004, Jeroen Haamers started an Elvis Presley cover band called Triple Dynamite.
Music style and influences
"We didn't get into psychobilly, but that got into us." – Jeroen Haamers, Batmobile lead singer and guitar
The band originally started out playing covers of early American rockabilly and rock n' roll. The band wasn't originally interested in playing psychobilly music. The band was disinterested in rockabilly given the "boring and corny rockabilly bands" that were performing in the Netherlands in the 1980s. Eventually, the band took their love for early American rockabilly and blended with punk after experimenting at a concert.Singer and guitarist Jeroen Haamers is the lead songwriter. It takes him between "two minutes..to two days," to write a song, and that "Inspiration comes at the weirdest times..in bed, on the toilet, or in the shower." The band attempts to bring a new sound to each album they record. They often produce their own albums, with each band member producing a certain number of songs on each record.
Members
Jeroen Haamers – lead vocals, guitar
Eric Haamers – double bass
Johnny Zuidhof – drums, vocals
History
Early history
Batmobile was formed as a hobby in 1983. The band continues today with the founding lineup of Jeroen Haamers on vocals and guitar, Eric Haamers on bass, and Johnny Zuidhof on drums. The band played only covers of early rockabilly and rock and roll by Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, and Johnny Burnette. The band is named after the Batmobile, the car driven by Batman. The name was suggested by Zuidhof who presented the idea for the name during band practice. The band began playing various gigs at bars and one time, while playing a bar in a rural area, the band received a bad response from farmers who were at the bar. The band began playing covers extra fast, in a punk rock style to get everyone's attention. Bar staff and some patrons enjoyed the music and the band started playing psychobilly shows. Their debut self-titled EP was released in 1985 on Rockhouse/Kix4U.
Breakthrough at Klub Foot
The band's first major gig outside of the Netherlands was at Klub Foot in London in 1986. They were the first band not from the United Kingdom to play at the club. They played with Demented Are Go and Torment. That same year, Zuidhof and the band's sound engineer, Eddie, created Count Orlok records after a lawsuit with their then current label, Rockhouse/Kix4U. That label failed to pay the band royalties and Batmobile ended up suing the label. They won in court and their contract ended, hence the founding of Court Orlok. Count Orlok released the band's first full-length album, Bambooland in 1987. The band toured Switzerland, West Germany, England and Austria.In 1988, Batmobile released Buried Alive!, a collection of concert and demo recordings. That same year, they released Bail Was Set at $6,000,000 on Nervous Records. The album featured a cover of "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead. They returned to their own label, Count Orlok, to release Amazons from Outer Space in 1989. In 1990, they released an EP, Batmobile is Dynamite!, and the following year, their sixth full-length album, Sex Starved. The band went on hiatus in 1993 and re-emerged in 1995 for a tour of Japan. They released a live album from the tour in 1996. The following year, they released Welcome to Planet Cheese, in which the band abandoned their signature psychobilly style to perform songs in a style influenced by B movies. This is the only album where Eric Haamers does not play an upright bass.
2000s and today
In 2000, the band went on a hiatus due to personal reasons. Their last concert, before their hiatus, was in New York City. A tribute album for the band was produced in Japan. The tribute featured 33 international bands and a song contributed by Batmobile, titled "Baby Go Back Home." They performed live again in 2003 after an invitation to play the Satanic Stomp festival in Speyer, Germany. They performed at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, California, in 2005. In 2007, a second tribute to Batmobile was released in Japan. In 2008, Batmobile did a split album with Peter Pan Speedrock, in which Speedrock covered Batmobile songs and Batmobile covered Speedrock songs. The idea of the album was spawned at a party by the band and Speedrock. The band no longer does major tours, but, continues to perform at least once a month and at special events. On October 2, 2020 "Big Bat" Was released.
Side projects and collaborations
During the band's hiatus in the early 2000s, bassist Eric Haamers continued to perform. He played in The Gecko Brothers and Cactus Cowboy. In 2004, Jeroen Haamers started an Elvis Presley cover band called Triple Dynamite.
Music style and influences
"We didn't get into psychobilly, but that got into us." – Jeroen Haamers, Batmobile lead singer and guitar
The band originally started out playing covers of early American rockabilly and rock n' roll. The band wasn't originally interested in playing psychobilly music. The band was disinterested in rockabilly given the "boring and corny rockabilly bands" that were performing in the Netherlands in the 1980s. Eventually, the band took their love for early American rockabilly and blended with punk after experimenting at a concert.Singer and guitarist Jeroen Haamers is the lead songwriter. It takes him between "two minutes..to two days," to write a song, and that "Inspiration comes at the weirdest times..in bed, on the toilet, or in the shower." The band attempts to bring a new sound to each album they record. They often produce their own albums, with each band member producing a certain number of songs on each record.
Members
Jeroen Haamers – lead vocals, guitar
Eric Haamers – double bass
Johnny Zuidhof – drums, vocals
Lire la suite de la biographie
Membres du groupe : Jeroen Haamers, Johnny Zuidhof, Eric Haamers
- Discographie -
30 albums

The 1987 Demos: Gorilla Rock - 100 Pounds Of Trouble
2019 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Music On Vinyl

Teenage Lobotomy
2018 - Pays-BasRock & Roll, Psychobilly, Rockabilly
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Music On Vinyl

BatmoManiacs
2017 - Pays-BasRock & Roll, Psychobilly, Rockabilly
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Music On Vinyl

Brand New Blisters
2017 - Pays-BasRockabilly, Psychobilly, Rock & Roll
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 15 Pistes
Music On Vinyl

Spitting & Screaming On Stage
2016 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
DVD Album DVD-Video ⎯ 28 Pistes
Ldk-tv

The First Demo Tape
2015 - Pays-BasPsychobilly, Rockabilly
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 5 Pistes
Migraine Records

Live At The Klubfoot 1986 - The Clarendon Ballroom Blitz
2008 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Album CD ⎯ 13 Pistes
Anagram Records, Cherry Red Records Ltd.

Cross Contamination
2008 - Pays-BasPunk, Rock & Roll, Psychobilly
Album CD ⎯ 10 Pistes
Suburban Records

Welcome To Planet Cheese
1997 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Album CD ⎯ 13 Pistes
Count Orlok Music

Bambooland / Kiss Me Now
1995 - Pays-BasPsychobilly, Rockabilly
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Count Orlok Music

Blast From The Past, The Worst And The Best
1993 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Album CD ⎯ 23 Pistes
Count Orlok Music

Live In Japan
1991 - Pays-BasPsychobilly, Rockabilly
VHS PAL ⎯ 29 Pistes
Count Orlok Music

Go Psycho With Batmobile And Other Dutch Acts
1990 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 28 Pistes
Kix 4 U Records

Amazons From Outer Space
1989 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Album CD ⎯ 13 Pistes
Count Orlok Music

Bail Was Set At $6,000,000
1988 - Pays-BasPsychobilly
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 12 Pistes
Nervous Records
- Vidéos Batmobile -
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Batmobile
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Dernière mise à jour : 01 Janvier 2023
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