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ABOUT DI-RECT

After 4 successful albums and countless of energetic shows, these guys are hard to miss in the Dutch music scene. For the past years they performed at almost every club in the Netherlands as well as several Dutch festivals such as Pinkpop (60.000), Lowlands (50.000) and Parkpop (400.000 people). At big events like ‘Vrienden van Amstel Live’ and MTV’s TMF Awards they heave become a regular part of the line up over the years. With their appearance during The Night of the Proms in 2007 the band proved that they appeal to a very broad and divers audienceP> From their start in 1999 onwards, DI-RECT conquered the charts with several hits like ‘Just the Way I Do’, ‘Inside My Head’ (album 'Discover', 2001), 'She', 'Rollercoaster' (album 'Over the Moon', 2003), 'Hungry for Love', 'Cool Without You' (album 'All Systems Go!', 2005), 'A Good Thing', 'Johnny' and 'Bring Down Tomorrow' from their latest self-titled album that has been released in 2007.

Indonesia was one of the countries that immediately fell in love with the rock band. In no time they scored a number 1 hit with ‘Just the Way I do’ and did a fully sold out tour for their fans. In addition to Indonesia, the band also toured through Italy with the Italian band The Shandon. From one side of the world to the other, DI-RECT entered MTV’s Road Rally for three weeks of pure Rock & Roll. From San Francisco to New York, no money, no cell phones and no credit cards. With only one crappy van, some instruments and a lot of energy they made it to the Big Apple to play in the famous club “The Knitting Factory”.

Over a thousand shows, many awards and four albums later, the band has yet again another height in their career at the end of 2008. From November onwards Tim, Bas, Jamie and Spike literally transform themselves into the Dutch reincarnation of The Who, by doing over 90 shows of the famous rock opera Tommy. An unforgettable and unique experience, not only because of the great musical challenge, but also due to the fact that it’s for the first time in their careers that they do a Dutch show. The original lyrics are translated by Jan Rot.

At the beginning of 2009 their international tours begin to become successful when the band closes a deal with Moon World Records covering the territories Spain and Portugal.

After all these events it would be logic if the band would want to take a break for a short while. However, only less is true, for the summer of 2009 the recordings of a new album are already scheduled.

However, in February 2009 singer Tim Akkerman informs the band of the fact that he has decided to quit DI-RECT to start focussing on a solo career as a singer- songwriter. The other band members Spike van Zoest, Bas van Wageningen en Jamie Westland are surprised and shocked by this catastrophic decision. They respect his decision, however at the same time they are confronted with the fact that they no longer have a lead singer.

On the 10th of April DI-RECT has its last show with Tim in a complete sold out Oude Luxor in Rotterdam. A heavy and emotional closure of DI-RECT with Tim as a lead singer.

Bas, Spike and Jamie have however at that same time already decided that they want to continue, after giving it loads of thought and discussion, but they do not know how yet.

After 2 weeks of intensive discussions and going through all possibilities, they have come to the following decision: DI-RECT will continue and they will go and search for a new lead singer to finish this adventure!! This means that Spike, Bas and Jamie will check out every corner of The Netherlands in search for a new singer. They are being followed in their process by BNN!

For the past months the members of DI-RECT have been intensively searching a new lead singer. After many shared activities, sharing the stage, going out, jamming together and more, 2 singers made it until the end. In a fully packed Paard van Troje in The Hague, Marcel Veenendaal and Sven van Hees tried their best to fight their way to victory on November 8th 2009. During the finals, presented by Coen Swijnenburg and Sander Lantinga, it ws up to Jamie, Spike & Bas to make the heaviest decision in their careers. After a long time of insecurity the band finally is complete again and they can start with the next episode of their careers.

As well as Marcel, keyboard player Vince van Reeken also joined DI-RECT. After an intensive cooperation as a co-writer en keyboard player, Vince is now a fullworthy band member of DI-RECT and as of now DI-RECT consists out of 5 equal band members.