Doe Maar

Biography

Doe Maar (Dutch pronunciation: [du ˈmaːr]; transl. "go ahead" or "just do it") was a Dutch pop band that combined punk, ska, and reggae influences. Formed in 1978, they broke up in 1984, reunited in 2000, and remained sporadically active from then until 2021, when their frontman, Henny Vrienten, died. Throughout their career, the band released five studio albums, four live albums, ten compilations, and numerous singles.

Formation, first albums, and breakthrough

Doe Maar was formed in 1978 by keyboardist and vocalist Ernst Jansz, bassist Piet Dekker (they had previously played in several projects together, including Boudewijn de Groot's backing band), guitarist Jan Hendriks, and drummer Carel Copier. They released their debut, self-titled album a year later, and Dekker departed in 1980.
At the end of their first tour, Jansz invited Henny Vrienten, a professional musician and composer, to join the band as their bassist. They began work on the group's second album, Skunk×Skunk1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Sinds 1 dag of 2 (32 jaar)3:182Te laat2:023Bella Donna3:134Smoorverliefd3:155Nederwiet6:526Nix voor jou4:077Mis2:538Ruma saja4:049De laatste x4:5510Dansen met Alice2:45, which was released in March 1981.
In 1982, Carel Copier suffered a career-ending injury, forcing him to depart the band. René van Collem was recruited in time to record Doe Maar's third album, Doris Day en andere Stukken×Doris Day en andere stukken1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Is dit alles5:24A2Belle Hélène2:50A3Vergeet me2:53A4Situatie4:25A5Okee3:07A6Winnetoe3:20B1Doris Day3:52B2Radeloos4:08B3De eerste X2:29B4Tijd genoeg4:08B5Liever dan lief3:18B6Nachtmerrie (op hol)3:56, whose title track, "Doris Day×Doris Day1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksADoris Day3:48BWinnetoe3:16", proved a hit. The album was a success and gained the band prominence among Dutch audiences. A dub version of the record, titled Doe De Dub, mixed by Vrienten and producer Peter Vincent, came out the same year, and the band won a Zilveren Harp award from Buma Cultuur. In May 1982, they were the opening act at Pinkpop. Van Collem left shortly after (he joined Spargo the following year) and was replaced by Jan Pijnenburg.

4us, touring, and breakup

In March 1983, Doe Maar issued their fourth album, titled 4us (a creative spelling of "virus"). In September, the band embarked on their first tour of Belgium. They also released their first live album, titled Lijf aan lijf×Lijf aan lijf1983 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Doe maar net alsof5:33A2Zoek het zelf maar uit4:19A3O.K.3:45A4Heroïne3:16A5Is dit alles5:12B1Radeloos5:32B2Nooit meer slapen5:13B3Alles gaat voorbij4:06B4Je loopt je lul achterna7:30Disc 2C1Dansen met Alice3:12C2Pa5:42C3De bom2:45C41 nacht alleen5:27C5Smoorverliefd3:56D1Tijd genoeg4:18D2Stukken uit 'Doris Day en andere stukken' en andere stukken11:48D3Sinds 1 dag of 2 (32 jaar)4:41.
Jansz published his debut novel, Gideon's droom, while Vrienten recorded his first Dutch-language solo album, Geen ballade, having previously released the English-language record Paul Santos, in 1977. The last track on Geen ballade, the instrumental "Amstel Hotel 13:00", features all Doe Maar members playing their instruments.
In February 1984, Doe Maar went into the studio to record their fifth album. However, they made little headway, and after releasing the single "Macho×Macho1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMacho3:15BGrote broer4:39", they decided to split up. The band played two farewell concerts at Maaspoort in Den Bosch, the recordings of which were released in 1995. They also released their first compilation album, titled 5 Jaar – Het complete overzicht, which included two new tracks. In the following years, the band played several reunion shows and released five more compilations.

Reunions, new music, and Vrienten's death

In November 1999, Doe Maar announced a one-time reunion. In February 2000, they issued two singles on the same day: Vrienten's "Als niet als×Als niet als2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Als niet als4:142Aan de bewoners van dit pand5:17", featuring rapper Brainpower, and Jansz' "Watje×Watje2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Watje2:582Klaar3:43". In April, a new album from the band came out, titled Klaar×Klaar14 April 2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Alles doet 't nog3:302Aan de bewoners van dit pand4:593Watje2:544Een droom4:405Oorlog3:166Hetzelfde meisje3:017Overspel4:228Leven met een zeven4:219Tijd4:3710Het verschrikkelijke jaar5:0811Het beste3:2112De kater3:5713Als niet als4:3314Bij elkaar3:5315Niet nodig3:2016Dansmuziek4:1317Silhouet3:0418Klaar4:13. They played several concerts at Rotterdam Ahoy, a recording of which was released the same year, under the title Hees van Ahoy.
In December 2000, a tribute album, titled TriLLend Op M'n Benen (Doe Maar Door Anderen), consisting of 14 Doe Maar songs recorded by various artists, was released. Contributors to the record included Bløf, Postmen feat. Def Rhymz, Rowwen Hèze, Skik, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Caesar, the Prodigal Sons, Grof Geschut, Daryll-Ann, Abel, Heideroosjes, Marcel de Groot, Bob Fosko, and Osdorp Posse.
At the end of October 2005, reports appeared in the media that Doe Maar was working with V&V Entertainment on a musical theatre production set to their music. Doe Maar!, subtitled De popmusical, premiered in Tilburg on 28 January 2007 and was attended by the full band. It was nominated for five John Kraaijkamp Music Awards and won four, including best male lead (Daniël Boissevain), best male supporting role (Jan Elbertse), best female supporting role (Annick Boer), as well as the audience award. Written by Pieter van de Waterbeemd, the production's cast also included Kim-Lian and Jan Rot.
In May 2012, Vrienten announced on the television program De Wereld Draait Door that Doe Maar was working on new material, in collaboration with the record label TopNotch. Released in September of that year, Versies/Limmen Tapes was a double album that consisted of new versions of the band's classic songs on the first disc, Limmen Tapes, and rap covers of Doe Maar tracks on Versies, produced by the Anonymous Mis, by such artists as Gers Pardoel, Kempi, Kraantje Pappie, the Opposites, Winne, Extince, Postmen, Def Rhymz, and Spinvis.
Later that year, the band received the Edison Award, and they held a charity concert for War Child.
In early 2013, Doe Maar embarked on the Glad ijs tour. Later that year, the television documentary Doe Maar: Dit is Alles was broadcast. In 2016, they celebrated the 32nd anniversary of their breakup and released a Dutch version of Toots and the Maytals' "54-46 That's My Number" with Surinamese reggae singer Kenny B.
In 2018, Doe Maar celebrated their 40th anniversary with the club tour Er verandert NIX. In 2021, the band was set to perform at Down the Rabbit Hole, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A farewell tour for the group, which was to start at the end of 2021, was also cancelled, owing to Vrienten's illness.
On 25 April 2022, Henny Vrienten died of lung cancer, at the age of 73.
On 31 May 2024, the band's original drummer, Carel Copier, died of cancer, at the age of 72.

Trivia

Doe Maar have a tile on the Walk of Fame outside GelreDome stadium, in Arnhem, for four sold-out shows of Symphonica in Rosso they performed there in 2012.

Final lineup

Ernst Jansz – vocals, keyboards (1978–1984, 2000, 2008, 2011–2013, 2016–2018, 2021)
Jan Hendriks – guitar, backing vocals (1978–1984, 2000, 2008, 2011–2013, 2016–2018, 2021)
Henny Vrienten – vocals, bass (1980–1984, 2000, 2008, 2011–2013, 2016–2018, 2021; died 2022)
René van Collem – drums (1981–1982, 2011–2013, 2016–2018, 2021; touring 1982)

Past members

Piet Dekker – vocals, bass (1978–1980)
Carel Copier – drums, vocals (1978–1981; died 2024)
Jan Pijnenburg – drums (1982–1984, 2000, 2008)