Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnette, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Vince Taylor, Johnny Kidd And The Pirates, Bo Diddley, Johnny Cash, Crazy Cavan 'N' The Rhythm Rockers, Shotgun, Wild Angels.
The “original” Wildcats started in 1982 as a Rock..n..Roll Trio, with different Line-Up, playing gigs around their area in Rotterdam, Netherlands. To make their favourite sound, the British Revival Style (like Crazy Cavan, Shotgun etc.), they searched for a second guitar player. In 1984 Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel, a very young enthusiastic guitar player, joined the band.
The line up in those days was: Roel Hazelhof on bass, Kees “Spider” Jan Dekker on leadvocals & guitar, Peter Schenk on drums & vocals and Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel on guitar & vocals. The band got very popular, played at many Festivals in several countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and on the big weekenders in Great Britain).
In 1986 they recorded the legendary EP “Behind Bars” on Go Cat Go Records containing the smash hit “I Found A Friend In Alcohol”. They also did two great tracks (You bring me down & The boys are here) for the sampler called “Good Rockin Tonight” on Disky Records.
The Wildcats created exactly that powerful sound the European Teddy girls & boys wanted to hear. “I found a friend in alcohol” became more than a club hit! So Big Beat Records (one of the biggest R..n..R record companies in that time) was very interested to sign them. But in 1987 Spider tried other things, the band took another guitar player and Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel started singing the lead vocals continuously from now on.
Unfortunately, in 1989 the band had to quit, Bass player and founder of the first Wildcats Roel Hazelhoff had a tragic accident and lost one finger and parts of his thumb and other fingers. Going through the feeling at that moment the band didn’t want to replace Roel, so started a new band named “Hot Rock”. Several years later this band was renamed into “Tear It Up” and still playing.
In ’98 Kees van Bemmel also started the Dicemen, a modern Rock/Rockabilly band on Crazy Love- and Suburban Records.
In June 2001 Kees was booked in the states as guitar player for, the most influential Rockabilly band in history, The Johnny Burnette Trio (with Paul Burlison & Rocky Burnette) and in February 2002 they toured through Europe together. As a singer, he also played and recorded with the guitar legend James Burton (Elvis Presley Band form 1969 to 1977, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more).
Around the turn of 2000, the “new” Wildcats story began...
By accident, some associates of Lou Cifer & The Hellions from Oberhausen (Germany) got the phone number of the first Wildcats singer Kees “Spider” Dekker, who lived in Brittany (France) for years. Mikel Mueller and Stefan Pfeifer (members of that well known Band Lou Cifer & The Hellions) loved and played this style for years and were totally into the “classic” Wildcats. So they asked Spider about a project of a band playing the Wildcats-style. He was very interested and came for a few rehearsals & recording session (four tracks).
The project got the name Black Leather and the line up was: Kees “Spider“ Dekker on vocals & guitar, Mikel Mueller on guitar, Andy Rohling on bass and Stefan Pfeifer on drums.
Because Andy started his “Evil Eyes Tattoo Studio”, Mikel took his place as the bass man and Lele Lugosi (from Frank Popp Ensemble, Lele’s Rock..n..Roll Radio Show, Hickory Cats, Ex-Clay Wheels) reinforced the band playing rhythm guitar.
A new name was found in Wildcat Rock and a three-gig tour was arranged in April 2001, including headliner appearance on the Rockabilly Race Festival near Ulm/Germany. Wildcat Rock started getting busy. But the band couldn’t have a real future. Spider lived too far away for rehearsal, gigs and touring. Not to mention having a wife and two children at home.
Then there was this other Wildcats singer ... By positive contact with Mr. Kees van Bemmel and after a few rehearsals everybody was sure: This is the real BAND & ready for touring !!!!
So they did. In August 2001 with gigs in Germany, including the remembering flashy appearance on the Brandenburg Festival which could be seen as a Rock and Roll breakthrough for the band. After that, they got a very successful tour in “Suomi” Finland, where they played as headliner and co-headliner on different festivals. Also a big article was made for the, over 200 pages hardcover book, Rockin’ Annual of Jari Eklund. During the following time the band was booked for shows all over Europe like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Holland, England and of course Germany. Now things where going that well and the atmosphere was that right, that they decided to turn the band name back into:
The Wildcats
In 2003 the band released their first album “Wild Romance” on CD which is nearly sold out yet. After a scandinavian tour Stefan had new plans for life and left the band. The idea was growing to get the original Wildcats drummer and founder member Peet Schenk. After one call, he was ready to rock again!
Peet Schenk has besides the Wildcats a history that started in the mid seventies with bands like: Rocky Road (featuring Kees “Spider” Dekker singing and guitar playing), Gene Savane and his Tennessee Ducktails and the Blazing Aces (later on the legendary band with Jur Scherpenzeel from Maloe Melo). He also played alongside Kees van Bemmel and his brother in Hot Rock. The man has earned his spurs …
During the year 2004 the band had a creative break and took time out. After a short while they decided to re-start The Wildcats as a trio.
Soon after first rehearsals and gigs they found out there is this special chemistry in the band. Most fans mentioned “This sounds really like the old days”! and “You even don’t miss a second guitar”. So the Wildcats decided to keep it this way and they are now, running through 2005, stronger than ever and working out some very demanded new material for the shows and the next CD. Wherever they roll through, playing these old Wildcats-Hits, Revival Rock..n..Roll, Classics and their fantastic own new material, there’s magic in the air and a hell of a “wild party going on”.
A good friend and great R'n'R musician is gone! UDE ROCKS - R.I.P.
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For bookings please contact 0049 (0)208 640527 or HellskitchenRec@aol.com
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