Vanderbuyst Interview

Artist: Vanderbuyst

Label: Ván Records

Genre: Hardrock

Band members:

Vocals & Bass– Jochen Jonkman
Guitar – Willem Verbuyst
Drums – Barry Van Esbroek

Time For Metal / Ric1452:
Well met Vanderbuyst! Thank you for participating in this little interview. I guess your time is quite limited. A new album, a giant tour and some gigs with Saxon, too. Your schedule looks really good! How are you thinking about your kick start?

Vanderbuyst
Hi there, I’m Willem, the guitarist of Vanderbuyst and doing an interview in between is no problem at all; you’re welcome to peep in Vanderbuyst’s kitchen.
What can I say? It really is a dream come true. Since the release of our first album in October 2010, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Of course you dream of stuff like playing on big festivals, going on tour and be the support of a band like Saxon. And it’s not that it just happened, we really worked hard because we believe in this band. But when it becomes reality it is amazing. We feel lucky but we know it’s not a free ride. What’s more: it seems that is not ending because upcoming year looks promising as well.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
In Dutch is only your second album to come out, but you three sound like guys, who’ve played together for many years. Why is your teamwork that good?

Vanderbuyst
Thank you very much. I think it helps that we play a lot. I just heard that we did 110 shows in 10 months, I don’t think many young bands, especially in this genre can say this. Even if we have three shows in the weekend we try to rehearse two times. And during the tour with Saxon on the days off we rehearsed, but soon we realized that was a little over the top, haha. On a tour like that, you need some time to rest as well. On top of that, everybody in the band knows what is expected of him and makes sure he delivers, that makes us a good team I guess.

 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
And what do you think about the review we wrote?

Vanderbuyst
That’s a killer review! As Barry (our drummer) said: we’re getting better grades with the band than we did at school, haha. Thank you!

 

Time For Metal / Ric1452:
What are your plans for the next year? You have a lot of gigs on big festivals, but can we count on another record coming out or anything special?

Vanderbuyst
Next year starts with a small tour in January with Grand Magus, Steel Wing, Bullet and Skullfist. So that’s a kick ass start. I hope we can do some more touring later in the year. Actually I wouldn’t mind being on the road all the time. Further, we’ll try to play on the festivals we missed last year. Hellfest is confirmed, so that’s totally cool. Also we will be present at the German Headbanger Open Air. We really would like to release a third album in 2012. I have a lot of the material written already. But let us focus on in In Dutch first. Since we do more and more headliner shows, we have to play a longer set, so the news songs are very welcome. We can’t wait to play and promote them live.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
If you look back in the past three years, what do you think about the great progress you made as a band?

Vanderbuyst
We’re happy that things keep improving and we’re proud on the stuff we achieved. But every time you reach a goal you have to set a new one. We know that if we want to play with the big boys, working hard is not good enough: you have to work harder. In that way I believe we became better musicians. Things like a tour with Saxon were a big lesson. Every night I went out there to watch their gig. These guys have been rocking for over thirty year; they really understand what it takes to set up a great show. We learned a lot from them. I don’t think that there will come a time when we will sit back and relax, there is so much you can do more if you want.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
How did you get the idea to „revive“ the Hardrock of the 80’s? It was never dead, but it’s not that spread anymore, as it was for ten years ago.

Vanderbuyst
We never had the plan to revive it. As you say: it was not dead, and certainly not to us. We wanted to play this music because we really like it. The three of us have a passion for 80’s hard rock and heavy metal. That people would embrace it that much was quite a surprise. Of course I knew from touring with my previous band that there was still a big scene for this music out there. But that that the response would be this good was unexpected. Also in the Netherlands people are welcoming us, even the non-metal heads. Somehow this old school music sounds fresh again.

 

Time For Metal / Ric1452:
You really make the sound of the 80’s look like something modern. Do you have any secrets or are you just that fresh?

Vanderbuyst
Haha, it almost sounds like a contradiction. Old school is modern again. Something like: neo-old school or new-retro. As I said, we don’t think of it too much, I feel this music has to come from the heart. I believe that 80’s hard rock is timeless. It has all the ingredients that people can relate to when listening to heavier rock. Maybe it’s due to music of today, where you have this enormous wall of sound, and in the end you don’t hear a thing. Hard rock as we play is more dynamic. I guess people realize they’ve been missing something and they might feel honest hard rock is just that.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
How do you balance hard work at the studio and your tour together with your private life?

Vanderbuyst
That’s not easy I can tell. We all have part time jobs and have to beg on our knees to get a day or week off, again, haha. Also we had to say goodbye to our social lives. Every weekend is booked with shows, so you can forget about the birthday parties of your sister’s kids. But who cares, they were boring anyway. We don’t complain, if this is what it takes, we’re glad to sacrifice.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
A question just for fun: What’s your favorite drink on stage? And in your free-time?

Vanderbuyst
Before the show we don’t drink any alcohol at all. We believe we have a job to do, and that is: rock as hard as we can. You can’t deliver if you’re drunk. We’ve seen so many bands fuck up their show, because they were drunk, it’s a pity. People buy a ticket for a good show, not for a drunken ego-circus. On stage however I like a beer, it makes you realize the party is on. Together with the crowd you can drink to heavy rock. But mostly I don’t have any time at all to drink, because we like to play our songs with as less breaks as possible. Free time? We don’t have that, haha.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
How do you prepare for concerts? Some do video games, others play some card games, what are your (un-/)exciting activities?

Vanderbuyst
Just a little bit of relaxing. Often we try to warm up backstage, even do some stretching. It may sound silly, but that’s something we’ve learned from touring as well. If you want to go crazy from the first minute you better be ready. Mostly it’s waiting to get on. If we have a support band I like to check them out as well.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
What do you do after a show? Party or chilling?

Vanderbuyst
After the show I need five minutes to catch my breath but then it is party time together with our fans!!!!

 

Time For Metal / Ric1452:
If you had free choice, which one would be your favorite band to do a show with?

Vanderbuyst
We already supported some of our heroes like Saxon and Michael Schenker. I’m listening to Eartshaker from Y&T right now, and I definitely would like to share the stage with those guys. I’ve seen them a few times and it is always good. Or the Scorpions!!!! A pity they quit.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
And what’s your favorite music to listen to in your free-time? As an inspiration or at BBQ?

Vanderbuyst
We listen to a lot of different music, from classical music to early rock’n roll, but even Abba. Sometimes I listen to music as a musician and study it. In the van it is mostly hard rock and metal. At the BBQ I would listen to ZZtop. Last three weeks I’ve listened a lot to Accept’s first two albums.
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
Some nostalgic stuff: What’s your best memory in the “short” band history?

Vanderbuyst
I think the tour with Saxon; that was really special. Doing the support of one of my favorite bands was awesome, but doing it a whole month crossing Europe, that’s something I will never forget. But also the summer festivals were great, like the Rock Hard festival – such a great audience. And our first headliner club-show in Köln was great as well. Many highlights!!!

 

Time For Metal / Ric1452:
So what’s the worst (if you want to answer)?

Vanderbuyst
I can’t think of any bad thing that happened, I guess so far we’ve been spared embarrassments. I hope we stay this lucky!
 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
Last but not least: Is there anything you want to tell our readers?

Vanderbuyst
I hope we will see you at one of our shows and do some good old school headbanging! Cheers! And René: thank you very much for this interview, and keep up the good work at Time For Metal!!!

 
Time For Metal / Ric1452:
Thank you very much for taking part in this interview! I hope, I’ll have the chance for another interview with you or review about a new album another time. We wish you all the best!