..................... HOME
..................... TOUR
..................... IMAGES
..................... BIOGRAPHY
..................... DISCOGRAPHY
..................... CONTACT
..................... GUESTBOOK
.....................
BIOGRAPHY
The first signs of Journeys End in the open was back in 1989. Bored with the regularities of the gray city-life of Rotterdam four friends decided to express there feelings on this drag with music.
Paul Kalis, Steven Zwinkels, Martijn Zwinkels and Jan Oosterhof came together whilst still at school. Influenced by the new wave and punk generations before them, they started rehearsing in garages and greenhouses, developing their own very expressive and direct, guitar based, style. This style, or ‘the feel’, is perhaps best described by Dutch TV & radio producer, Leo Blokhuis, who stated: "Powerful, sharp and meaningful rock ‘n’ roll. Raw frustration mixed with beautiful melodies, anger mixed with love. Journeys End sound like a pert kid with a black eye. Young, dynamic, direct and persuasive."
Over the years life has indeed turned out to be bigger than daily routine. Gigs started to take off and venues and audiences continued to grow. In one way or another feelings and thoughts expressed by Journeys End seem to be shared by many people, turning them into fans.
So what is the Journeys End connection with the UK? Well the story goes that some years ago, on a ferry to England, some of the band met the bass player of Gloucester band, ‘Raz Rez Bezoomy’. During the crossing they discussed the Dutch and English music scene, got drunk, became friends and decided to swap gigs. Since then they’ve had many UK tours and Gloucestershire has become their second home.
In the summer of '97, following the appointment of Peter Lay as their manager, they recorded an eight track CD promo, 'anarchy within', engineered and produced in the Netherlands by Paul Ledbury of CPA mobile studios (UK). Paul has since become Journeys End live sound engineer.
In the summer of '97, bass player Jan, no longer able to continue his commitment to the band, was replaced by another old friend, Frans Bruens.
On 11th December '97 they played a sensational Showcase gig for Twin City Music (CTI Group, Bristol) at Fiddlers, Bristol. This resulted in a growing relationship with the Bristol Company, leading to the band playing at the Paradiso, Amsterdam on the 16th July 1998 to much critical aclaim.
November 1998 saw the band recording, a single promo CD of 'YOU', backed up by 'WANKER' & 'SHAME', at the BULLET SOUND STUDIO'S, near Hilversum in Holland.
The end of June '99 saw the guy's take to the stage at Glastonbury, for a knockout set!
During 1999 discussions began with fast rising north american independent, Attack Records & Filmworks of Canada. These early discussions culminated in Peter flying down to Cannes to meet with legendary producuer & Attack president, Mark Berry, together with Attack vice president, Jay Thomas, at 'Midem 2000'. Following this meeting, which agreed a deal in principal, and many trans-atlantic emails, faxes & phone calls the band signed to Attack. May 2000 found them in Phase One Studios, Toronto for a month recording their debut album!
This album, 'Rage of the Common Sense' is being released across North America around April 2002. And discussions are currently underway about the european release!
In the meantime, as always, Journeys End continue to do what they have always done, search for ‘the feel’ and share this with others through music.
So what is the Journeys End connection with the UK? Well the story goes that some years ago, on a ferry to England, some of the band met the bass player of Gloucester band, ‘Raz Rez Bezoomy’. During the crossing they discussed the Dutch and English music scene, got drunk, became friends and decided to swap gigs. Since then they’ve had many UK tours and Gloucestershire has become their second home.