Zipps.0                               Zipps.1                               Zipps.2                               Zipps.3                               Zipps.4                               Zipps.5                  

 

The Zipps formations:

Zipps.0; September 1965 – November 1965 with Philip Elzerman, Peter Nuijten, Jan Bek, Theo Verschoor and John Santoro (l to r)

Zipps.1; December 1965 – March 1967 with Philip Elzerman, John Santoro, Theo Verschoor and Peter Nuijten (l to r)

Zipps.2; April 1967 – June 1968 with Philip Elzerman, Peter Nuijten, Wim Klein and Theo Verschoor (l to r)

Zipps.3; July 1968 – May 1969 with Philip Elzerman, John Santoro, Dick Visschers* and Ruud van Seventer (l to r)

*replaced by Nico Martens from October 1968 – December 1968

Zipps.4; June 1969 – July 1970 with John Noce Santoro, Philip Elzerman, Ruud van Seventer, Jan Bek and Janko Barut (l to r)

Zipps.5; November 1970 – August 1971 with Philip Elzerman, Nico Martens, John Noce Santoro, Frits Bos* (l to r)

*replaced in March 1971 by Peter de Haas

 

The band's historic survey from the archives of the bandmembers and from Ron de Bruyn, former roadie and the ultimate Zipps fan up till today!

Link to "The Zipps – 45 years" for a pictureshow and original Dolhuys Recordings!  

 

1965, June – The Beat Town Skifflers with Philip Elzerman (voc, gt), Han Elzerman (voc) and Jan Bek (voc) split up after their Phonogram recordcontract ends

 

1965, July – The Moving Strings with Dick van der Werff* (voc), Peter Nuijten (gt), Hans Breet (bgt), Karel Raven (pi) and Johnny Santoro (drs) split up after their Bovema-Delta recordcontract is ended. * Ad Bruynzeel took over as vocalist in January 1965

 

1965, August – Johnny Santoro and Peter Nuijten start a disco-club in the Dolhuys, in Dordrecht, named Hillie Billie Soos (from Society). It is the first 'culture-club' in the area, exclusively for young people who 'joined' together every Sunday afternoon to listen to the most recent single-records being announced by disc-jockey John Santoro. The clubtune is the french Stones' cover Un Verre de Whiskey (Can I get a witness) by Monty

 

1965, August 15 – A new beatgroup is formed by Peter Nuijten (gt), Philip Elzerman (voc, gt), Jan Bek (voc), Johnny Santoro (drs) and Theo Verschoor (bgt) with the preliminary name the Zippers. As chosen because of the 'zipping' of the two former bands

 

1965, September – The 'Zippers' start rehearsing as house-band in the Hillie Billie Soos in the Dolhuys and on the Sunday afternoon of the 26th they appear for the first time with the name The Zipp's (shortcut of Zippers) in the Zipps0 formation as the picture shows

 

1965, October 1, 2 – The band performs on the Poly Club's talent contest in the Statenhof house in Dordrecht and becomes the winner of the 1st price as 'new talent'. At the time, the band is playing mainly  coversongs from Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks.

 

1965, November 8 – Dordrecht's biggest newspaper De Dordtenaar reports: "Zipp's are winning the Poly Club's talent contest with their new sound"

 

1965, November – The information about the Zipp's winning the contest comes under attention of talent scouts of record companies like Eddy Ouwens (a regular visitor of Dordrecht's music clubs) and Bert van Rheenen (artist name: Chiel Montagne)

 

1965, December 1 – The band signs the first title contract with company CNR for the release of a single record, including the option for a 2nd single. The CNR company plans to start a special label for Dutch Beat-music with Bert van Rheenen becoming the producer for the new label

 

1965, December 3 – The local newspaper Zwijndrechts Nieuwsblad reports: "The Zipp's  introduce a specific new sound" and informs their readers proudly that two members of the band (Peter Nuijten and John Noce Santoro) originate from Zwijndrecht

 

1965, December 4 – Singer Jan Bek is leaves the Zipp's because of other interests like DJ'ing in the increasing number of new Beatclubs. The band continues as The Zipps in the formation of Zipps1

 

1965, December 12 – The one-day recording of the songs Roll the cotton down and Highway Gambler for the first single under production of Bert van Rheenen. The recording takes place in the Bavohuis located in Amsterdam and sound-engineer is Luc Ludolph.The band hasn't created own repertoire yet, because of their quick start off, and records two arranged folksongs from the Beat Town Skifflers, with a strong beat added to to it. The soundstyle is called 'folk-beat' whereby the acoustic 'skiffle' instruments are replaced by electric ones (note: Burns-Baldwin guitar, Fender Jazz bass, Electro-acoustic 12-string guitar)

 

1966, January – Following the succes of John and Peter's Hillie Billie Soos, another culture club starts in the Dolhuys, named Milord Soos, where Dordrecht's poetry writers Cees Boender and Ben Katerberg perform on Friday evenings. Soon after, the Zipps join these so called write-in's and begin to accompany musically both writers under the name Beat and Poetry

 

1966, February 15 – Release of the Highway Gambler/Roll the Cotton Down single ME 1007 on CNR's new Op-Art Sound '66 label that is exploited and promoted by Paul Acket's organisation Muziek Expres. Among the promotion material is a very distinctive black-white picture of the bandmembers in over-contrast technique by  Dordrecht's newspaper journalist-photographer Ton de Zeeuw. The single release causes directly a crowded concert agenda.

 

1966, February 27 – concert in 'Instuif Zuid' in Rotterdam

1966, March 5 – concert in 'Ricky Ticky Club' in De Drie Stoepen in The Haque

1966, March 19 – concert in 'De Fransoos' in Rotterdam

1966, April 2 – concert in 'Palace Club' in Rotterdam

1966, April 8 – concert with Beat & Poetry in 'Het Dolhuys' in Dordrecht

1966, April 9 - concert in 'Ricky Ticky Club' in De Drie Stoepen in The Haque

1966, April 11 – car accident after a concert in Kloosterzande; drummer John Santoro is transported to a hospital for medical treatment. During his recovery period he is replaced for several weeks by Wim Klein

 

1966, April – The single Highway Gambler reaches no. 35 in the Muziek Expres Top 50 hitparade

 

1966, April – Copywriter Ben Katerberg starts writing 'beat generation' lyrics for the Zipps that inspire Peter Nuijten to compose the heavy-beat song Alice D-25 (LSD-25), the group's favourite stage-act, and the Dylan-inspired ballad Hipsterism. The lyrics of LSD-25 are causing a controversial attitude in the music press: "Are the Zipps using dope or not?". The band's answer to this is: "maybe yes, maybe not" and starts to exploit a 'psychedelic' image by handing out purple stickers with the slogan "Be stoned! Dig the psychedelic sound"

 

1966, April 22 – A title contract is signed with music publisher Altona/Lumina for the release of a 2nd  single record with the songs Alice D-25 en Hipsterism. It is agreed that also this record will be distributed and promoted by the label Muziek Expres

 

1966, April 24 – Session Club 66 organises it's first Beat-party in a large citybus garage in Dordrecht.

The  Zipps perform a.o with The Golden Earrings from The Haque. Drummer Wim Klein replaces the unfortunate  Johnny Santoro and Peter Nuijten plays on a new Guild Starfire guitar to get a more distinctive sound

 

1966, April 25 – concert in the Clubgebouw in Sneek

1966, May – The single Highway Gambler drops to no. 49 in the Muziek Expres Top 50 hitparade

 

1966, May 5 – Second Beat-party in the citybus garage in Dordrecht by Session Club 66.

The Zipps  perform a.o with Q65 from The Haque and play a new song from Katerberg/Nuijten: Kicks & Chicks. Drummer John Santoro is recovered and plays with the band again

 

1966, May 7 – concert in the Stadsschouwburg in Lochem

1966, May 11 – beatfestival concert with a.o The Golden Earrings and Les Baroques in Emmen

1966, May 21 – concert in the Stadsschouwburg in Emmen

1966, May 22 – concert in Club Art ‘66 in Utrecht

1966, May 25 – Dutch newspaper Het Vrije Volk reports: 'Beat in Utrecht becoming popular?'

1966, May 26 – Dordrecht's newspaper Merwesteyn reports: 'Will Dordrecht be the no.2 Beat-town after The Haque?'

 

1966, June – The single Highway Gambler climbs back to no. 40 in the ME Top 50 hitparade after extensive  promotion activities in Paul Acket's Muziek Expres Magazine. A higher poll-position is however not reached and a second single plan is cancelled. Also the option to continue the recordcontract is postponed after the 'dope' image that the band has developed. The 'psychedelic' song Alice D-25 and the ballad Hipsterism don't match with the more commercial style of ME's label and will not be recorded.

 

1966, June11 – concert in disco-club St. Malo in Hotel Boshek in Breda

 

1966, June 12 – Third Beat-party in the citybus garage in Dordrecht where the Zipps play a.o with The Motions from The Hague. The new Zipps song 'Holy Dope' equals LSD-25 as exciting stage-act and the Beat&Poetry project is performed here for the first time before a large audience. For this, the Zipps construct, together with local soundtechnician Jef Schippers, a powerful sound system with 24 loudspeakers that amplified the voices

 

1966, June 12 – eveningconcert in beat-society Tenny Twenny in the Korenbeurs in Bergen op Zoom

 

1966, June 16 – local newspaper Merwesteyn reports 'Big success for the 3rd beatfestival' that reaches Job Maarse, musician and upcoming producer who's interest is alternative music. He works on a Jazz and Poetry project with Simon Vinkenoog in Amsterdam

 

1966, June 24 – concert of the Zipps, playing improvised beatmusic at the Beat&Poetry project, with Cees Boender and Ben Katerberg as poetry performers in Dordrecht's Dolhuys

 

1966, July – Willem O'Duys, a famous TV personality starts his own recordcompany Iramac and gives Job Maarse the opportunity to start as producer for his new label Relax. One of the first artists on the label is Martine Bijl (Relax 45012) who just won the Belgian Knokke Songfestival.

 

1966, July 9 – concert at the first fashion+live music show Beat Fashion in Dordrecht

1966, July 11 – Dordrecht's newspaper De Dordtenaar reports 'Zipps are attraction for fashionable dandy's at Beat 'n Fashion show'

1966, July 15 – Dutch progressive magazine Hitweek reports 'Beat & Poetry in Dordrecht's Dolhuys'

 

1966, August – Job Maarse is convinced of the band's growing popularity in Holland and approaches Philip Elzerman about cotracting the band for Iramac's new Relax label. He is interested in the Beat 'n Poetry project after visiting a performance in the Dolhuys. Further discussions follow and actions are taken in the preamble to a new labelcontract, such as the start of an official fanclub and an internal bandcontract to 'tie' the bandmembers together for at least 6 months

 

1966, September – To make the sound of the band on stage more powerfull, Philip Elzerman replaces his 12-string acoustic guitar by an electric Welson guitar type DC3/V (Italian 'Gibson 335 copy') and Theo Verschoor starts playing on a semi-acoustc Hδgstrom Concord bassguitar. It results in a distinctive 'live-sound', very well-suited for the bigger locations the Zipps are playing in

 

1966, September 3 – Beat&Poetry performance in the pre-program of The Kinks from GB in the Houtrusthallen te Den Haag. The concert is organised by Radio Veronica with a.o Ferre Gringard from Belgium. Job Maarse is also present and invites the Zipps for a studio recording the next week in the The Haque's based GTB studio (GeluidsTechniek Bakker). Also agreed is a live-recording of the Beat&Poetry project to be planned soon in a suitable location

 

1966, September 10,11 – recording and editing of the songs Kicks and Chicks, Hipsterism in the GTB studio in The Hague. Producer is Job Maarse and Erik Bakker is the soundengineer.

 

1966, September 17 – concert in disco-club Saint Tropez in Het Haar in Sittard

1966, September 18 – The fourth Beat-party in the citybus garage in Dordrecht. The Zipps perform with a.o The Bintangs from Beverwijk in the pre-program of The Kinks from GB

1966, September 24 – concert in the Kennemer Theatre in Beverwijk

 

 

1966, October 1 – microphone rehearsal in the Dolhuys for the live recording of a Beat & Poetry EP that will be released in November

1966, October 5 – recording of the Beat&Poetry EP for a live audience in the Dolhuys in Dordrecht. Peter Nuijten performs in his military uniform (see photo) because of the refusal of his leave-request (as usual) for the recording and must return to the barracks before midnight. The recording therefore must be done in one take and possible mistakes can't be corrected in the available time

1966, October 7 – release of the second Zipps single Kicks and Chicks/Hipsterism (Relax 45015)

 

1966, October 9 – concert in beatcentrum De Schuur in Breda

1966, October 14 – concert with a.o The Bintangs in Club Flamingo in Rotterdam

1966, October 15 – concert in the pre-program of The Kinks in the Houtrusthallen in The Hague

 

1966, October 28 – recording for television by the Christian broadcaster NCRV in Studio Bellevue in Amsterdam. Fans from the Zipps fanclub travel to the studio by bus to attend the TV recording of the songs Kicks and Chicks, Walking on this Road and Beerhall Song with a live audience. The recording will be broadcasted later in the youngster's beat-program Twien III

 

1966, October 29 – live concert and TV recording by the Catholic broadcaster KRO in Club Casino in Scheveningen. The recording will be broadcasted later in the newsprogram Brandpunt

 

1966, November 4 – Broadcast by the NCRV of the three songs recorded in studio Bellevue for Twien's TV program

1966, November 5 – concert in dancing-hall Zeelandia in Roosendaal

1966, November 6 – concert with The Outsiders from Amsterdam in the Victoria Theatre in Made

 

1966, November 10 – release of the third extended-single Beat&Poetry EP (Relax 45019). The photos on the sleeve show the bandmembers in action, except Peter Nuijten, who isn't pictured by mistake. Fortunately, this mistake prevented possible negative consequences after his public performance in military uniform, while playing music to the controversial lyrics about the army and the Queen's majesty

 

1966, November 11 – TV broadcast of the songs LSD-25 and Kicks and Chicks from the Zipps concert in the Casino in Scheveningen by KRO's Brandpunt. The newsprogram reports about the usage of drugs by young people and the bandmembers are interviewed about the topic. After the broadcast, the psychedelic image of the band becomes famous nationwide, despite the fact that the Zipps report that instead of psychedelica, the listening to their music is 'mindblowing'

 

1966, November – demo recording of new songs like Benzedrine Bassplayer, Marie-Juana and Holy Dope/Singer was stoned by soundtechnician Jef Schippers. Also present in the Dolhuys session is producer Job Maarse who wants to release another single in February 1967

 

1966, November 19 – The Zipps play in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam at a non-public demo-performance of a lightbeam organ, designed by Livinus van der Bunt (light-artist and director at the Vrije Academie in The Haque). The rhythmic lightbeam organ is activated by a drumset and demonstrated by mr van der Bunt's son Julius (nickname 'Jeep') who wants to perform with it in beatclubs under the name Jeep and the Beams

 

1966, November 26, 27 – recording in GTB studio of the songs Marie-Juana and The Struggle for Icecold Milk of Benzi the Bassplayer (Relax 45024), with Philip playing both songs on his Weston guitar and Theo on Fender Jazzbass. Originally, producer Job Maarse played on Hammond organ in Marie-Juana, but also tried a harpsichord that accidentally was present in the studio. This sounded more 'baroque' and gave the song an 'enlighted' atmosphere. Also different from the Marie-Juana demo version is the added 'psychedelic' intro with a waltzing beat on piano; this beat-change was originally the end of the song on stage

 

1966, December 2 – continued recording in GTB studio of Marie-Juana. Peter Nuijten plays a new solo to the song on Philip's 12-string acoustic guitar to replace the original, somewhat jazzy, chordsolo on electric guitar. The new 'acoustic' solo fits better to the sound of the harpsichord then the 'electric' one. After this, there is some spare studiotime, which brings Job Maarse to play more harpsichord at another song that he's working on. The title is Avec de L'Italie, a recording of the french singer Philippe Salerne who also is contracted by Iramac's Relax label. Peter is asked to play the accompaniment on the 12-string guitar and Philip improvises a solo on his flute, which is heard by monsieur Claouι, the A&R manager of Relax-France. He is surprised by the result and invites the Zipps to record another song for Philippe Salerne, called Venez voire comme on s'Aime.

 

1966, December 18 – recording in the GTB studio of Philip Salerne's song Venez voire comme on s'Aime. It takes more time then the first song because of the many rhythm breaks and the tight beat, but the result is found satisfactory, seen the short time available before the single is released. The Zipps don't know at the time, that they are asked for the recording also because of a french strike of studio musicians. The single records of Philippe Salerne were released in January and February 1967 by Iramac-France on Relax 45026 and 45027

 

1966, December – At the end of the year, the band works on the construction of their own lightshow, inspired by the 'Beams Light-organ'. Three-colour powerlamps, activated by pushbuttons, are mounted into a portable set that is planned to travel with them on the first promotion tour to Paris, organised in the weekend of 21, 22 January

 

1967, January – The year 1967 starts with an advertisement in the newspaper "The Zipps wishes all their fans a happy purple coloured New Year" and on new Relax promotion material the slogan appears for the first time: Be Stoned, dig The Zipps Psychedelic Sound. Plans are made for a promotion tour to Paris, France

 

1967, January 7 – concert in dancehall De Standaard in Standaardbuiten

1967, January 14 – concert in hotel De Posthoorn in Dongen

 

1967, January 21 – The band travels to Parijs for a radio-interview and live performance at french broadcaster RTF and three concerts in discoclub La Locomotive to promote the single Kicks and Chicks that is released in France at the same time. The promotiontrip is organised by Iramac and is accompanied for publicity by producer Job Maarse, Ben Katerberg and Annemiek Veldman (journalist, photographer). During the trip, a french fanclub is setup by Gilbert Buisson and it is agreed with them to return soon for another concert in La Locomotive, the hippest beatclub situated aside of the famous nightclub La Moulin Rouge.

 

1967, January 22 – Afternoon concert in La Locomotive for the 600 new Zipps fans, called Zippers. On the way home after the succesfull visit to Paris, the band decides to continue their efforts to construct a 'psychedelic' lightshow with more priority so that the installation will be ready for the next performances in Paris. Ben Katerberg is asked to become the 'light-technician' and to control the 1500 Watt lightshow at the next tour.

 

1967, January 27 – Release of the single Marie Juana/The Struggle for ice-cold milk of Benzi the bassplayer or how to promote original  Dutch Milk on Relax 45024

 

1967, January 29 – concert in the Victoria Theater in Zundert

1967, February 4 – concert in the Blue Room of the Beursgebouw in Rotterdam using the psychedelic lightshow for the first time. The new installation performs well and is ready for the upcoming tour to Paris

 

1967, February 9 – The band travels to France again in 2 Volkswagen vans because of the extra place needed for Ben Katerberg and the lightshow. For promotional support the trip is accompanied by Arne Zuidhoek, writer of the music journal Kink, and photographer Wouter de Cocq. Unfortunately, producer Job Maarse cannot join the trip because other duties

 

1967, February 10 – A planned concert for the french 'Zippers' in La Locomotive is cancelled due to a misunderstanding about date/time and is replaced by a rehearsal with french singer Philippe Salerne in the house of mr Claouι, Iramac's artistic manager. In the night a concert is given in the famous and exclusive Palais d’Orsay where Philipe Salerne is also performing.

Because of the overflow of light from the many ancient chandeliers present in the Palais, the band's lightshow is not able to create the psychedelic hallucinating athmosphere that is wanted.

 

1967, February 11 – Evening performance at the radioprogram Popclub of french broadcaster RTF for the Zippers of the french fanclub. On the way back to Holland, the band performs in another exclusive beatclub, the Eden Ranch in Lens (nearby Lille)

 

1967, February 12 – After the Paris trip the band is invited by Willem de Ridder of music journal Hitweek to take part in his 'Honk-honk-het-is-de-bonk' show. A so called freak-out plan to combine Beat&Poetry and the Zipps lightshow together with the Beams lightorgan of Julius van der Bunt ('Jeep') and hip dancing beatgirls.

 

1967, February 18 – concert in dance-hall De Schuur in Breda

1967, February 19 – radiobroadcast by french station Europe I of the Zipps interview and live concert in Paris on February 11

1967, February 25 – concert in beatclub Las Vegas in Roosendaal

1967, February 26 – benefit performance in Nanking in Dordrecht (for Schoolbus Mytylschool)

 

1967, March – Beat&Poetry partners Ben katerberg and Cees Boender decide to stop participation in the Honk-honk-het-is-de-Bonk freak-out show from Willem de Ridder en Koos Zwart (Hitweek) and concentrate on the realisation of a new youngster's podium in Dordrecht named De Sleutel.

 

1967, March 4 – concert in the Birdland Soos in Breda

1967, March 11 – concert in the Maturata Soos in Kruisland

1967, March 18 – concert in the Soos Royal in Zevenbergen

1967, March 25 – concert in the Technical University in Delft

 

1967, end of March – Relax producer Job Maarse transfers to recordcompany CNR in Rijswijk to produce a.o the Amsterdam based band The Clungels. Because the labelcontract is still present, Iramac will search another producer for the band. Johnny Santoro leaves the band because of it's overloaded agenda of concerts and is replaced by Wim Klein. Also Ben Katerberg, the Zipps' textwriter and lightshow controller, finds a career job in Brussels and leaves the band's collective. His lightshow activities are taken over by Han Elzerman who expands the installation with the projection of fluid images.

 

1967, April 8 – Demo recordings with producer Freddie Haayen in the GTB studio for a possible third single for label Relax. Two songs are recorded without vocals because the lyrics are not finished yet. The preliminary titles are The singer was stoned and Lotus Love, and Freddy Haayen prefers Lotus Love for it's strong drumbeat by the heavy sounding floortom and the 'vibrating sound' of Peter's sologuitar. This is recorded through the Lesley loudspeaker of the Hammond organ in the studio. The recording sessions are not finished, due to the unfinished lyrics and the lack of a recognisable chorus in the songs as is present in the earlier released titles Marie-Juana and Kicks and Chicks.

 

1967, May 27 – concert in Beatclub De Spin in Hoogvliet

1967, July 5 – open-air concert at the Bagijnhof in Dordrecht (unfortunately ended by the local police)

1967, July 8 – concert in Hotel Geerts in Stampersgat

 

1967, August – The planning for the third single release is postponed for various reasons. The Beatles project LP Sgt.Pepper is released recently and the reactions are overwhelming. The Dutch record companies are hesitating to release local repertoire now and the preliminary songtext for Lotus Love resembles too much the lyrics of the Beatles'song Lucy in the sky (..In the land of Lucy I am no stranger..). The Zipps decide to take a short time-out for new inspiration and to write new arrangements and lyrics for Lotus Love and other songs. Philip gets a new large tenorflute for Lotus Love, Peter buys an Indian sitar for a solo in The Singer was stoned and Han Elzerman gets an extreme large-angle projectionlens for its fluid-projections.

 

1967, September 14 – Bassplayer Theo reports that the Dordrecht based graphic designer Bouke IJlstra is requested to design the sleeve for the new Zipps single. Bouke IJIstra designed large colourfull paper flowers that were sold in art shops at the time.

 

1967, October 6 – concert in beatclub Ricky Ticky in Rotterdam

1967, October 14 – concert in Hotel Geerts in Stampersgat

1967, October 21 – concert in beatclub Sopla in Amersfoort

1967, October 28 – concert in discoclub Montmartre in Heerjansdam

 

1967, November 3 – final perfromance in the Honker-de-Bonk freak-out show in Felix Meritis club Provadya? in Amsterdam

1967, November 10 – perfromance at Dordrecht's Popgala I in Kunstmin with a.o. The Golden Earrings and Dordrecht's Heatwave

1967, November 24 – performance at the first Flight to Lowlands Paradise in Utrecht's Jaarbeurs-Margriethal with a.o. The San Fransisco Lightship (USA)

 

1967, December 10 – performing as opening-act for the concerts of the British band Soft Machine and the American group The Electric Prunes in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam

Due to bad weather-circumstances, the Electric Prunes arrive late at the airport. The Zipps are thereby requested to continue their performance untill the band arrives in the Concertgebouw. After arrival it appears that the 'Prunes' are treated by the security guards as visitors and that their sound equipment did not arrive in time. Having seen and heard The Zipps and their lightshow, the Prunes ask permission to play and use the Zipps sound installation and perform finally. The audience in the meantime, is quite irritated by waiting and starts yelling and shouting to the band "Yankees, go home" and "Stop the war" referring to the Vietnam war at the time. This results in an unfortunate and short performance of the group and it happened finally in the year 2000 that James Lowe of the Prunes told Peter Nuijten personally that they felt ashamed for the concert then and that they didn't know about the anti-american feelings by the Vietnam war in Holland. Because the 'Prunes' perform in Sweden the next day, James Lowe prepared a small speech for their concert to tell the audience that they are absolutely 'anti-war' themselves and that they shame to be an American at the time. This short speech can be heard on their famous live recording of the concert in Stockholm on December 14th 1967 by the Swedish radio and is also printed in the Liner Notes of the respective album Stockholm 67.

 

 

1968,  January 13 – concert in dancehall Groenendaal in Doetinchem

1968, January 26 – concert for the official opening of club Provadya? – De Drie Stoepen in The Hague with the band Supersister

1968, February 10 – concert in R&B Club B15 in Rotterdam together with the band Heatwave from Dordrecht

1968, February 17 – concert in Verzamelgebouw Krevelsweg in Rotterdam

 

1968, March 1 – concert in culture club De Sleutel in Dordrecht

1968, March 15 – The Zipps are chosen Dutch 2nd best Underground&Avant-Garde group in Hitweek magazine's popularity-poll

1968, March 29 – concert in culture club Provady? Fantasio at the Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam

1968, March 30 – night concert at the first popfestival Colourful Dream in Happiness in club Tivoli in Utrecht

 

1968, April – Uncertainty about Iramac's labelcontract makes the band to decide to stop performing at the end of May. This gives Philip, who wants to continue, the opportunity to form a new band during the summer. Sologuitarist Dick Visschers from the Dordrecht based band Blues Incorporated is informed about the Zipps decision and asked to think about replacing Peter Nuijten in June.

 

1968, May – To give the new Zipps formation a promotion start, the song Lotus Love is finished by dubbing in Philip's vocals and flute solo on the original studiotape. This is done in the Dordrecht based studio of Jef Schippers using the original GTB-recording from April 1967 and with the original lyrics. The result of this dub-in session is however not released as planned by Relax and the recording stayes in the Zipps archives untill 1988!

After a few try-outs with the band as solo guitarist and by while also on bassguitar, Dick Visschers replaces Peter Nuijten who takes a professional job at a record company in Baarn.

 

1968, June 13 – Soon after Dick Visschers transfer to the Zipps, also Ruud van Seventer transfers from Blues Inc. to the Zipps as electric bassplayer which leads quickly to the end of the bluesband. Finally, the former Zipps drummer John Santoro is asked by Philip to join the group again and the local newspapers are informed about the continuation of the Zipps in the new formation.

 

1968, June 21/22 – First appearance of the new formation at the flower-power festival ‘The First Holyness Kitschgarden For The Liberation Of Love And Peace in Colours’. This music happening is located in the Houtrusthallen in The Hague where many foreign bands perform like the Pink Floyd, Cream, Moody Blues, Traffic, Small Faces a.o.

 

1968, June 30 – concert in dancehall in Stampersgat

1968, August 31 – concert in dancehall De Kraan in Dordrecht

1968, September 15 - concert in dancehall De Zaal in Nieuw Lekkerland

1968, September 19 – Sologuitarist Dick Visschers takes a temporary leave abroad untill the end of the year and is replaced by guitarist Nico Martens from Dordrecht.

 

1968, October 12 – opening-concert in the new Club Kasieno in Utrecht

1968, October 26 – concert in dancehall Het Anker in Capelle a/d IJssel

1968, October 27 – concert in cluture club Monopoly in Het Dolhuys in Dordrecht

 

1968, November 3 – concert in Parkhotel Zeven in Wehldorf in W-Germany

1968, November 15 – performance at the 2nd Popgala in schouwburg Kunstmin in Dordrecht

1968, November 23 – concert in culture club Paradiso in Amsterdam

1968, December 22 – concert in Club Flashlight in Rheydt, Mόnchen-Gladbach in W-Germany

1968, December 28 – performance at the 2nd Flight to Lowlands Paradise in the Margriethal in Utrecht

 

1969, January 1 – Sologuitarist Dick Visschers returns after the temporary time-out and takes over from Nico Martens in the band

1969, January 3 – First appearance of Dick Visschers again by a concert at the Christelijk Lyceum in Dordrecht

1969, February 15 – concert in club De Eendracht in Rotterdam

1969, February 22 – concert in culture club Hob Nob in Almelo

 

1969, February 26 – recording of the song When You tell it, tell it well in the GTB studio in The Hague. The song is produced by Job Maarse and Marian de Garriga (picture) for the 29th Congress of the Dutch Advertising Association to ask attention for the potential power of music-commercials to promote products on radio broadcasting in addition to the established paper advertisements.

 

1969, March 1 – concert in theatre De Schuur in Steenbergen

1969, March 20 – release of the single When You tell it, tell it Well (MG Jingles 113 431F) at the 29th Advertisers Congress in the Congresgebouw in The Hague

 

1969, March 22 – concert at the Expo exhibition in Dordrecht

1969, April 7 – concert at the Kermis and Music festival in Wernhout, Belgium

1969, April 26 – concert in Winkelcentrum Crabbehof together with the group Zen in Dordrecht

1969, April 30 – Queensday concert in Schouwburg Kunstmin in Dordrecht with Dick Visschers final appearance with the group

 

 

 

1969, May 1 - Sologuitarist Janko Barut takes over from Dick Visschers and leaves his Dordrecht based band Heatwave

1969, May 17 – first appearance of guitarist/vocalist Janko Barut at a concert in club Het Anker in Capelle a/d IJssel

1969, July 1 – After Janko Barut's farewell, also the singer Jan Bek decides to leave the band Heatwave and joins the Zipps as well. It results in the breakup of Heatwave and the start of a new Zipps formation. With both Jan and Janko as added vocals to solosinger Philip, the band is focussing more on vocals.

 

1969, August 8 – first appearance of the new 'vocal' formation at the Artisjop Festival in 'sGravendeel

1969, August 10 – concert in club Spes in Rotterdam

1969, September 6 – concert in club Cultura in Papendrecht

1969, September 13 – concert in culture club Free Village in Eerbeek

1969, September 20 – concert in danceclub De Posthoorn in Puttershoek (unfinished by police interruption)

1969, September 27 – concert in soos De Eendracht in Rotterdam

 

1969, October 4 – concert in soos Revolver in Helmond

1969, October 11 – concert in soos Het trefpunt in Maasland

1969, October 18 – concert in soos Pop Scene in Dordrecht

1969, October 25 – concert in school-cellar of the LTS in Oss

 

1969, November 1– concert in dancehall Zaal Nationaal in Venlo

1969, November 5 – concert in the factory-hall Electrozaal in Slikkerveer

1969, November 14 – performing with other bands at the Popgala-Kunstmin in Dordrecht

1969, November 15 – concert in soos De Pas in Heesch

1969, November 30 – concert in soos De Linden in Etten-Leur

 

1969, December 6 – concert in culture club Cultura in Papendrecht

1969, December 14 – concert in soos De Stoof in Dordrecht

1969, December 28 – concert at the X-mas party in club Saint-Malo in Breda

 

1970, January 9 – New Year's concert in the Dorpshuis in Alblasserdam

1970, January 10 – New Year's concert in club De Stoof in Dordrecht

1970, January 17 – popconcert in club Cultura in Papendrecht

1970, January 31 – concert in beatclub Het Anker in Capelle a/d Ijssel

 

1970, February 7 – concert in beatclub Revolver in Helmond

1970, February 14 – concert in the society Het Gemeenschapshuis in Bilthoven

 

1970, February 21 – concert in jeugdsoos Beltzicht in Leerdam. In most of the smaller regional towns, the 'jeugdsoos' was the meeting point and 'place to be' for young people. Every weekend live music is organised here specially for the beat generation and The Zipps are prominently present in these culture clubs where the smell of marihuana is often not unknown. After 38 years, the Beltzicht Club organised a great reunion for their former members and they were present to join both The Zipps, The Bintangs, Armand and others in 2008 again.

 

1970, February 27 – concert in club Het Pentagon in Venray

1970, February 28 – performance at manifestation Visio ’70 in the Dordrechts Museum

 

1970, March 14 – concert in jeugdsoos De Peulen in Hardinxveld-Giessendam

1970, March – Due to the busy concert agenda The Zipps encounter the departure of Jan Bek who decides to leave the band and to concentrate on his professional career. Singer Jan Bek is not replaced and the band continues with Philip acting as leadsinger.

 

1970, April 3 – concert at the MAVO School Groenendijk in club De Duiventil in Dordrecht

1970, April 4 – concert in danceclub Carascus in Rotterdam

1970, April 11 – popconcert in club Cultura in Papendrecht

1970, April 25 – concert in jeugdsoos De Lingewijk in Gorinchem

1970, April 30 – public performance for the Queen's Day celebration at the Beverwijcksplein in Dordrecht

 

1970, May 7 – concert at the culture club Provadya? Shiva in Dordrecht

1970, May 9 – concert at the Youth Society club in Gouda

1970, May 23 – concert in beatclub Het Anker in Capelle a/d IJssel

1970, May 24 – public performance for a popfestival at the Veemarkt in Gouda

 

1970, June 6 – concert in jeugdclub De Kraan in Dordrecht

1970, June 21 – concert for a public performance at the Openlucht Theater in Uden

1970, July 4 – concert in Summer Circus Sarasani in Den Burg on the island Texel

1970, July 25 – concert in a summer festival in Lage Zwaluwe

 

1970, end of July – After months of intense touring with performances in many youthclubs throughout the country, the bandmembers gradually loose the inspiration to create new music. All of the energy is needed for servicing the heavy sound and large light installation, setting up early and breaking down late all this gear themselves (roadies nor PA hiring is present) and coming home mostly just in time to prepare for the necessary daily job to earn money. Despite the band's busy agenda, it appears that the concert profits are insufficient to choose for a professional musician's career. The band therefore decides to end The Zipps officially after one year of intense touring and performing. Soon after the break-up however, the bandmembers Ruud van Seventer and Janko Barut start a new formation named Inca Bullet Joe that is quickly becoming succesfull in the region. The formation is contracted for a single that is released in november of the year.

 

1970, November – Since the official break-up in the summer, the two keymembers of The Zipps, Philip and John, don't undertake any musical activities. However, after a few month of silence, the inspiration gets back and together with lead guitarist Nico Martens and bassplayer Frits Bos, who comes from the Dordrecht based band Silence, a restart of The Zipps takes place.

 

1971, January 23 – concert in dancehall Het Anker in Capelle a/d IJssel

1971, February 6 – concert in beatclub Session in Dordrecht

1971, February – The bassplayer Frits Bos leaves the formation after the short restart and is replaced by new bassplayer Peter de Haas

 

1971, March 6 – concert in danceclub Het Wapen van Strijen in Strijen

1971, March 13 – concert in beatclub Fashion in Hengelo

1971, March 19 – performance in club Het Dolhuys in Dordrecht

 

1971, April 17 – concert in club the Key Soos in Roosendaal

1971, April 30 – public open-air concert with a.o. the Dickson Brothers at the Queen's Day Festival in Dordrecht

1971, May 29 – concert in danceclub Athena Zaal in Rotterdam

 

1971, August 27 – afternoon concert at the Summer Fair in Capelle a/d IJssel

1971, August 27 – concert at the popfestival Dynamite Dordt 71 in theatre Schouwburg Kunstmin in Dordrecht.

Without knowing it at the time, the concert is in fact the final performance of the band. As it appears later, because of a lack of further bookings and changing circumstances in the careers of the bandmembers. No official farewell concert has been taken place since then.

 

NOTE: During the 70's , The Zipps started their performances with a specific OPENING-TUNE (click for mp3 sample) which was an edited and shortened version of the song Conjuration of the LP Sacrifice from the band Black Widow that appeared in March 1970 (source: Ron de Bruyn).

 

END OF STORY*

*All historical information comes from personal archives of the Zipps. However, anyone that has more detailed information about performance dates, locations or other relevant data is requested to take contact with p.nuyten@zipps.nl