Jerome Blanes’ Outsiders by Insiders
Originally published in Dutch in 1997 and later updated and translated
for republishing in English in 2009 by Misty Lane Books,
Outsiders by Insiders is a timeless look behind the scenes at one of
the best bands to be shrouded in rock ‘n’ roll obscurity. The Outsiders
basically existed from 1965-69, with the band’s earliest Dutch chart success
experienced during their first couple of years. They released thirteen
charting singles during this period, as well as three full-length albums – one
a collection of their singles (Songbook) – and their self-titled 1967
LP featuring a studio side and a live side, which was perfect as the Outsiders
were known across the Netherlands as a dynamic and electrifying live act.
The band’s de facto swansong was their third album, 1968’s
C.Q., which initially sold little or nothing but has since garnered
status as a classic psych-garage-rock album that deserves space in your
collection. Whereas most European bands were falling over their amps in an
attempt to mimic the Beatles, the Outsiders drew inspiration from the
R&B-influenced bad-boys in the Pretty Things and the Rolling Stones, even
opening for the Stones for one of their 1966 Dutch appearances. The best-known
Outsiders line-up was comprised of singer/songwriter Wally Tax, guitarists
Ronnie Splinter and Tom Krabbendam, bassist Appie Rammers, and drummer
Leendert Busch, with Frank Beek taking Rammers’ place from 1968-69.
Blanes
does a wonderful job with the book, Outsiders by Insiders providing an
oral history of not only the band, but the Dutch rock ‘n’ roll scene
altogether, going into exhaustive detail about the musical and cultural
evolution experienced by the Netherlands during the 1960s (societal growing
pains that were similar to those in both the U.K. and the U.S.). Years of
interviews are compiled into a coherent and succinct narrative that crams a
lot of life and energy into roughly 170 pages. Blanes conducted extensive
interviews with the band members, friends and hangers-on, and managers and
promoters, and has outlined a fantastic story about starry-eyed teens
searching for fame and fortune.
|
| Wally Tax of The Outsiders |
Sadly, it was never meant to be for the Outsiders, whose most effective
manager was also unable to take them to a higher level of success. Although
the band made a few performances in France, they never received an opportunity
to play in England, which may have been more receptive to their harder-edged
R&B-tinged garage-rock sound. Blanes mentions but a little of the friction
that occurred between the band members and, by all accounts, the original
Outsiders stayed relatively tight throughout their lives, and many continued
playing music well into the new millennium. Short-sighted management was slow
to recognize changes in the musical currents that were occurring
internationally circa 1968 or so, and a lone U.S. visit by the Outsiders did
little to advance their careers while less creative Dutch contemporaries like
Tee Set and Shocking Blue enjoyed massive late ‘60s U.S. radio hits.
Blanes
work on Outsiders by Insiders is impressive, the book an easy read
providing a comprehensive history of the band. Although I haven’t seen the
original Dutch version of the book, Misty Lane’s edition is as swanky as the
aforementioned Greg Prevost book, with heavy glossy paper and a wealth of
B&W photos of the band, memorabilia, and other rock ‘n’ roll ephemera sure
to please any hardcore collector. The final chapter includes sections on each
band member and what they did after the Outsiders, while an extensive
discography and session notes provide those with a love of minutiae with the
cheap thrills they crave. Overall, Outsiders by Insiders is a solid
rock biography that has flown under the radar for far too long, as have the
Outsiders themselves. My curiosity piqued by the story told within these
pages, I sought out the Outsiders albums on CD and have not been
disappointed.
Misty Lane Magazine
Along with the Outsiders book, Misty Lane head man Massimo del Pozzo
also sent the most recent copy of their Misty Lane magazine. Although
the cover date on issue #21 is 2007, the music that del Pozzo and his
contributors write about is timeless, so the zine offers a great read despite
its vintage! Features in this issue cover 1960s and ‘70s-era artists like the
Jefferson Airplane, Blues Magoos, The Choir/Raspberries, Blues Project, Crabby
Appleton, and Leaf Hound, vinyl from all of which is heavily traded on the
collectors’ market. The issue also includes coverage of some bona fide
obscurities known only to the most dedicated of crate-diggers, bands like
Rising Storm, Sir Lord Baltimore, Chosen Few, and Third World War.
The
zine also includes an interview with Ugly Things publisher Mike Stax,
currently of the band the Loons and previously of the Tell-Tale Hearts, which
goes a long way towards outlining the artist’s musical obsessions. I’m a Neil
Merryweather fan, but even I didn’t know about his early albums with the band
Merryweather, a situation quickly fixed by a moderately-expensive sojourn to
Discogs. The zine’s writing is enthusiastic and informative, and the
contributors track down original band members when available to get their
stories directly. There’s the usual bunch of record reviews and other pop
culture material, presented in a somewhat old-school graphic format, on glossy
paper with lots of color photos. The best thing is that Massimo has told me
that he’ll be resurrecting the zine sometime later this year, which is good
news, indeed! Check out the
Misty Lane website
for more details on all the books, zines, and groovy records they have
available…
Wally Tax photo by A. Vente / A. & F. van Geelen - Beeld en Geluidwiki
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