Maarten Veldhuis

Maarten Veldhuis (Goes, 17 June 1956) is a Dutch singer-songwriter and musician.

Biography

Veldhuis is raised in Deventer. In 1976 he moves to Amsterdam to read History and English at the University of Amsterdam. In Amsterdam he meets Dolf Planteijdt and gets involved with Joke's Koeienverhuurbedrijf. The studio, (it’s name translates from Dutch as “Jenny’s Cow Rentals Ltd.”) in a former rural constable’s home in Schellingwoude, is a refuge for the Dutch punk scene flourishing at the time. (Bands such as The Ex (band) record their albums here.)

Veldhuis is bass player and then drummer in Planteijdt’s “ ‘t Oorlogspad” (Warpath) and contributes to several music productions that are released by the anarchist magazine “Gramschap.” (Wrath).

Veldhuis moves to Haarlem in 1982 where he starts the band called ZOG together with Wouter Planteijdt and Steven van de Broecke. (ZOG translates from Dutch as Wake). In that same year the album "Do Ze Funky Wiz Me" is issued. All compositions come forth from rehearsal room improvisations. In 1984 Veldhuis forms the band Grin, and for the first time he establishes himself as the frontman, writing and singing all the material for the band. Dutch radio stations immediately acknowledge the band’s potential and the song "You Need A Gun (To Blow My Mind)" becomes a cult hit. In 1986 the band falls apart.

Veldhuis is back behind the drums with [http://www.morzelpronk.nl Morzelpronk] , Amsterdam's avant-garde guitar collective that is led by Dolf Planteijdt.

From 1991 on Veldhuis works as the lyricist for the popular Dutch rock band The Pilgrims. The collaboration results in two major hit singles for the band (“White Man” and “I can’t resist”).

Meanwhile he works on a solo project called The Blue Man Can. He invites renown musicians such as Roland Brunt (saxophone/flute), Gert-Jan Blom and Thijs Vermeulen (bass guitars), Wouter Planteijdt and Arnold Smits (electric guitars), and Martijn Bosman (drums). Veldhuis signs with Bananas/Sony Music and forms the band The Blue Man Can. Two albums are released: "The Blue Man Can" (1993) and "Family Fun" (1997).

In 1997/98 Veldhuis performs in Carina Molier's music theatre production Chelsea Girl, that is based on the life of Velvet Underground singer Nico. Chelsea Girl opens the Salzburg Theatre Festival that year. The music is also released on CD.

From 1997 on, Veldhuis works closely with the young singer Bloem de Ligny. The resulting album called "Zink" is recorded at the Townhouse Studios in London and produced by ex-Boomtown Rats bass player Pete Briquette. The release of the album is followed by an intensive tour throughout the Benelux.

From 1999 onward Veldhuis works for Dutch cinema. He is script editor for the film Van God Los/Godforsaken (2003) that wins the years Golden Calf (award) for Best Script by Paul Jan Nelissen and Pieter Kuijpers.

Since 2003 Maarten Veldhuis performs under the pseudonym Larry Cook. Cook's first album "Greetings from Promiseville" (2003) is home-taped on an analogue 4-track and he wrote, played and produced all songs himself. The second album called "The Love Interest" (2008) is recorded at Studio Grasland in Haarlem. Larry Cook is accompanied by some of the finest musicians in Holland.

Music

Albums

* (1982) ZOG: "Do ze funky wiz me"
* (1986) Grin: "View from the valley"
* (1993) The Blue Man Can: "The Blue Man Can" Bananas 997-0502
* (1997) The Blue Man Can: "Family Fun"
* (2003) Larry Cook: "Greetings from Promiseville" Idol Media 8-71360691023-0
* (2008) Larry Cook: "The Love Interest" Promiseville Records/Sonic Rendezvous 9-789081277815

ingles

* (1993) "Listen to the bodies fall". Bananas 9970523
* (1993) "Funkin' with the enemy". Bananas 9970523
* (1993) "Hedgehog". Bananas 9970503
* (1995) "Fairweather friends". Sony Music 662427-1
* (1996) "Temporary Madness". Sony Music 662092

Artwork on all album covers is by [http://www.renedehaan.net René de Haan] , excepting "Greetings from Promiseville" (Vincent de Vries), "View from the Valley", "Do Ze Funky Wiz Me" (Steven van de Broecke) and "talking talking/the exercise".

Guest appearances

Instrumental

Morzelpronk (drums & gitaar):(2001) "K'lompenzorro". CD ADM-disc [Live in Amsterdam/Paradiso] :(1991) "Tirade". CD ADM-disc:(1989) "Racket naar de Maan". 12" ADM-disc:(1988) "Tien Toffe Gitaarmelodieën". LP Konkurrel

The Rhinestones & Kathenka (drums & basgitaar):(1998) "Chelsea Girl". CD ADM-disc

Bloem de Ligny (gitaar, basgitaar, drums):(1998) "Zink". Sony Music

Lyricist / Composer

The Pilgrims (albums):(1993) "Red". Columbia/Sony 473534-2:(1991) "Once to Everything". Columbia/Sony 468054-2

The Pilgrims (singles):(1995) "Can't Resist". VAN 256922:(1991) "White Men". Sony

References

* [http://www.popinstituut.nl/Encyclopedia/Biography.aspx?id=15210&name=Maarten+Veldhuis Biography on Dutch Pop Institute] nl

External links

* [http://www.promiseville.com Promiseville Records]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/promisevillerecords Promiseville Tube]
* [http://www.larrycook.net Larry Cook]
* [http://www.lyriki.com/Larry_Cook Lyrics Maarten Veldhuis/Larry Cook]
* [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=maarten+veldhuis&search_type=&aq=f Maarten Veldhuis/Larry Cook on YouTube]
* [http://www.idolmedia.com Idol Media B.V.] nl Dutch record company