Ekseption
| Company type | Rock ensemble / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Rein van den Broek |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands |
Area served | Netherlands |
Key people | Rein van den Broek (band leader), Rick van der Linden (keyboardist and band leader 1969–1973, 1978–1981) |
| Products | Instrumental progressive rock and classical rock music |
Ekseption was a rock ensemble from the Netherlands, active between 1967 and 1989, primarily recognized for their instrumental progressive rock and classical rock styles. The band was consistently led by Rein van den Broek (1945–2015), a trumpeter trained at a conservatory. During the 1970s, they enjoyed commercial acclaim in the Netherlands with top ten hits that reinterpreted classical masterpieces such as Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony" and Bach's "Air". Their sophomore album, Beggar Julia's Time Trip (1969), earned the prestigious Dutch Edison Award for album of the year, and their initial five records all achieved gold certification.
History
Ekseption evolved from The Jokers, a high school band formed by van den Broek in 1958. After a brief period performing under the name The Incrowd, they adopted the name Ekseption in 1967. Initially, their repertoire consisted of jazz, pop, and R&B covers. However, with the addition of keyboardist Rick van der Linden in 1969, the group’s musical focus shifted dramatically. Inspired by seeing The Nice perform, van der Linden guided Ekseption toward classical rock—a fusion genre that reimagined classical compositions through a rock lens. Their albums typically featured a blend of original pieces alongside adaptations of classical works.
Van der Linden quickly took on the role of band leader, a fact he publicly confirmed in a 1972 statement accompanying Ekseption 5. Following the release of Trinity in 1973, van der Linden parted ways with Ekseption and went on to establish the band Trace. His successor on keyboards was Dutch musician Hans Jansen, who directed Ekseption toward jazz-influenced original material. Despite this new direction, declining sales resulted in the band's dissolution in 1976. A spin-off group called Spin produced two albums but did not achieve commercial success. In 1978, Trace and Spin combined forces to resurrect Ekseption. The band underwent several intermittent reunions with varying lineups until van der Linden’s passing in 2006.
Personnel
- Rein van den Broek - trumpet, flugelhorn (1967–1989)
- Rick van der Linden - keyboards (1969–1973, 1978–1981)
- Cor Dekker - bass guitar (1969–1975)
- Peter de Leeuwe - drums, vocals (1969, 1971–1972)
- Rob Kruisman - saxophones, flute, vocals (1969)
- Huib van Kampen - solo guitar, tenor saxophone (1969)
- Dennis Whitbread (born Dennis Witbraad) - drums (1970)
- Dick Remelink - saxophones, flutes (1970–1972)
- Michel van Dijk - vocals (1970) (later joined Alquin)
- Linda van Dyck - vocals (1970)
- Erik van Lier - trombone, tuba (1970)
- Tony Vos - saxophones, production (1969–1971)
- Steve Allet (real name Koen Merkelbach) - vocals (1970)
- Jan Vennik - saxophones, flute (1973–1979)
- Pieter Voogt - drums (1973–1975)
- Hans Jansen (Johannes J. Jansen) - keyboards (1974–1977)
- Hans Hollestelle - guitar (1974–1976)
- Max Werner - drums (1981)
- Johan Slager - bass, guitar (1981)
- Jan Hollestelle - bass, synthesizers, cello (1976)
- Frans Muys van de Moer - bass (1989–1993)
- Cees Kranenburg - drums, percussion (1976)
- Inez van der Linden - vocals (2003)
- Mark Inneo - drums (2003)
- Bob Shields - guitar (2003)
- Meredith Nelson - bass guitar (2003)
- Peter Tong - keyboards (2003)
- Spin (1976–1977)
- Rein van den Broek – trumpet
- Jan Vennik – saxophone, flute
- Hans Jansen – keyboards
- Hans Hollestelle – guitar
- Kees Kranenburg – drums
- Jan Hollestelle – bass
Discography
| Album Title and Information | Remarks |
|---|---|
Ekseption
|
|
Beggar Julia's Time Trip
|
Template:Track listing ... [Discography continues in same format] ... |
- Note: The album Back to the Classics stands out as the sole Ekseption release without detailed personnel information; liner notes reveal that the recordings include musicians from the years 1969 to 1975 along with prominent Dutch session artists, attributed to contractual complications during members' commitments with Trace or Spin.
Compilations, Live Recordings, Reunion Albums
- Ekseptional Classics - the Best of Ekseption (1973)
- Ekseption Witte Album
- Motive
- Greatest Hits - Classics (1975)
- Best of Ekseption
- Classic in Pop
- Pop Lions
- Reflection (1976)
- Ekseption Live at Idssteiner Schloss (1978)
- Past and Present (1983)
- Ekseption Plays Bach (1989)
- Greatest Hits (1990)
- With Love From Ekseption (1993)
- The 5th: Greatest Hits (1998)
- The Reunion (1994, live)
- Selected Ekseption (1999)
- With a smile (2000)
- Air (2001)
- The Best from Classics (2001)
- The Best of Ekseption (2002)
- The Universal Master Collection (2003)
- Live in Germany (2003)
- 3 Originals (2004)
- Rick van der Linden: An Ekseptional Trace (2007)
- The Last Live Concert Tapes (2009)
- Hollands Glorie (2009)
Videography
- The Story of Ekseption (DVD, released in PAL format, 2010)