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Kayak (band)

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Kayak (band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025
Kayak
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1972 in Hilversum, Netherlands
FounderTon Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman
Headquarters
Hilversum
,
Netherlands
ProductsStudio albums, live albums, singles

Kayak originated as a Dutch rock ensemble founded by Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman in Hilversum in 1972. Their debut album See See the Sun released in 1973 featured three successful singles. While their popularity was largely concentrated in the Netherlands, their most notable single, "Ruthless Queen," reached number 6 on Dutch charts in March 1979. The band dissolved in 1982 after producing nine albums.

Following a performance on De Vrienden van Amstel Live in 1999, Kayak reunited and subsequently released an additional nine studio albums along with three live recordings.

Early period until 1982

Ton Scherpenzeel, a founding member, remains the sole musician to appear on every Kayak album. Alongside his primary role on keyboards, he also plays accordion, occasional bass guitar (notably on Nostradamus), and double bass, while contributing backing and occasional lead vocals.

Max Werner, who served as both singer and drummer, was the lead vocalist for the first five albums before transitioning exclusively to drums until the band's initial disbandment in 1982. He returned to lead vocals for the 1999 album Close to the Fire and participated briefly in touring before departing again. Werner also pursued a solo career with four albums and achieved a European hit with "Rain in May" in 1981.

Guitarist Johan Slager contributed to every album up to 1982 and occasionally performed live during the 1990s but did not partake in the 1999 reunion. His role was later filled by Rob Winter and subsequently Joost Vergoossen.

Co-founder and drummer Pim Koopman left after the release of The Last Encore (1976) to concentrate on producing Dutch artists such as Maywood and Valensia. He resumed drumming duties upon the band's reformation in 1999 until his death in 2009. Koopman also played keyboards, guitar, and provided vocals. Following his passing, Hans Eijkenaar assumed drumming responsibilities.

Original bassist Cees van Leeuwen departed in 1975 to pursue legal studies and eventually served as Dutch State Secretary of Culture and Media from 2002. His replacement was Bert Veldkamp (1975–76), who rejoined for the 1999 reunion but exited again after Merlin – Bard of the Unseen (2003) due to professional obligations.

Peter Scherpenzeel, younger brother of Ton and an early roadie for the band, became bassist in 1978 following Theo de Jong's departure. He played on Kayak's best-selling album Phantom of the Night as well as two subsequent releases.

Edward Reekers, a longtime admirer of Kayak, took over lead vocal duties in 1978 when Werner switched back to drums; his initial recording was "Ruthless Queen," which became the band’s biggest hit. Reekers remained until 1982, released two solo albums, worked as a backing vocalist, returned for Merlin concerts in 2003, and led vocals on Nostradamus (2005). After Bert Heerink left following Nostradamus, Reekers resumed his position as sole male lead singer.

Between 1978 and 1981, Kayak featured two female backing vocalists: Katherine Lapthorn (wife of bassist Peter Scherpenzeel), who appeared on three studio albums before retiring from music after the band's breakup; and Irene Linders, spouse of Ton Scherpenzeel, who also served as primary lyricist and became band manager upon their reunion in 1999.

Post-1999 reunion

Bert Heerink (formerly of Vandenberg) joined Kayak for their 2000 tour initially to perform songs originally sung by Edward Reekers, allowing Max Werner to concentrate on his own material and percussion work. After Werner's departure, Heerink assumed lead vocal duties, contributing to three studio albums and one live album before embarking on a solo career.

In 2001, guitarist and vocalist Rob Vunderink joined the lineup. An experienced musician since the 1960s, Vunderink had previously collaborated with Pim Koopman in the band Diesel, which reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Sausalito Summernight."

Female vocalist Cindy Oudshoorn joined Kayak in 2003 for the Merlin album and tour and decided to remain with the band thereafter. In 2005, Jan van Olffen became bassist, bringing experience from working with Sister Sledge and Dutch stage musicals. That same year Monique van der Ster briefly joined as a vocalist.

On January 4, 2008, Kayak released Coming Up for Air, coinciding with their 35th anniversary tour which culminated at Amsterdam’s Paradiso on October 7. The final concert was issued as The Anniversary Box, a CD/DVD package released that December.

In October 2009, Kayak toured throughout the Netherlands but announced an intention to move away from traditional album-tour cycles in favor of focusing on new material. The sudden death of Pim Koopman during that tour in November cast doubt over the band's future.

A tribute concert honoring Koopman took place on November 22, 2010 at Paradiso featuring Kayak alongside other artists connected to him. Hans Eijkenaar filled in on drums during this event and was later confirmed as Kayak’s permanent drummer. With Eijkenaar onboard, they released Anywhere But Here in September 2011.

Eijkenaar also handled mixing duties for both Anywhere But Here and Cleopatra – The Crown of Isis. When unavailable for live shows, drummer Sjoerd Rutten served as substitute.

On September 21, 2012—marking four decades since adopting their name—Kayak launched the Journey Through Time tour performing selections from every studio album along with previews from their upcoming release Cleopatra – The Crown of Isis, which came out in November 2014.

In October 2014, lead vocalists Edward Reekers and Cindy Oudshoorn announced their departure following live performances of Cleopatra. For a one-off concert held on Texel island in March 2015, Oudshoorn was replaced by Marjolein Teepen; male vocals were covered by Martin van der Starre, Alexander van Breemen, and Rolf Koster.

By mid-2017, Kayak’s touring lineup consisted of keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Marcel Singor, vocalist Bart Schwertmann, bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw (featured on the album Seventeen), and drummer Collin Leijenaar. However, Leijenaar left during their European tour in early 2018; Hans Eijkenaar returned for its remainder.

In November 2021, Kayak announced plans for a final tour scheduled for April/May 2022.

Recordings from these farewell shows were released as "Back To Shore" in 2025 accompanied by a launch event held at De Meern (The Netherlands) on March 2 that year.

Seven months following their last performance, former vocalist Edward Reekers passed away from cancer on October 7, 2025 at age sixty-eight.

Personnel

Current members

  • Ton Scherpenzeel – keyboards, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals, bass (1972-1982, 1999–2025)
  • Hans Eijkenaar – drums (2009-2016, 2018–2025)
  • Bart Schwertmann – lead vocals (2017–2025)
  • Marcel Singor – guitars, vocals (2017–2025)
  • Kristoffer Gildenlöw – bass guitar (2017–2025)

Past members

  • Max Werner – vocals and percussion (1972-1982, 1999-2000), drums (1978-1982)
  • Johan Slager – guitars, backing vocals (1972-1982)
  • Pim Koopman – drums and vocals (1972-1976, 1999–2009; deceased)
  • Cees van Leeuwen – bass guitar (1972-1975)
  • Bert Veldkamp – bass and backing vocals (1975-1976, 1999-2005)
  • Theo de Jong – bass (1976-1978)
  • Edward Reekers – lead vocals (1978-1982, 2003, 2005-2014)
  • Charles Schouten – drums (1976-1978)
  • Peter Scherpenzeel – bass guitar (1978-1982)
  • Irene Linders – backing vocals and lyricist (1978-1981)
  • Katherine Lapthorn – backing vocals (1978-1981)
  • Rob Winter – guitars (1999-2003)
  • Bert Heerink – lead vocals (2000-2005)
  • Cindy Oudshoorn – lead vocals (2003-2014)
  • Monique van der Ster – lead vocals (2005)
  • Rob Vunderink – guitars and vocals (2001-2016)
  • Joost Vergoossen – guitars (2003-2016)
  • Jan van Olffen – bass guitar (2005-2016)
  • Collin Leijenaar – drums (2017)

Timeline


Studio albums

Compilation releases

  • "Ruthless Queen"/ "Keep the Change" (limited edition vinyl singles) (2020)

Live recordings

  • Chance for a Livetime (2001) (double CD)
  • Kayakoustic (2007)
  • The Anniversary Concert (2008) (double CD plus 'Highlights' DVD)
  • Live 2019 (2020) (double CD)
  • Back To Shore - The 2022 Farewell Tour (2025) (double CD and DVD)

Box sets

  • The Anniversary Collection (2008) (4 CDs plus DVD)
  • A Journey Through Time (2017)

Singles Released in the UK and North America

  • "Wintertime" / "Serenades" (UK, 1974)
  • "We Are Not Amused" / "Give It a Name" (UK, 1974)
  • "I Want You To Be Mine" / "Irene" (North America, 1978) (#63 Canada)
  • "Keep the Change" / "Ivory Dance" (North America, 1979)
  • "Periscope Life" / "Stop That Song" (United States, 1980)
  • "Seagull" / "The Sword In The Stone" (excerpt from Merlin) (UK, 1981)
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