Zen (Dutch band)
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Siegfried 'Siebe' de Jong, Dirk van der Ploeg |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam , Netherlands |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Zen was a rock group originating from the Netherlands, established in 1965 by Siegfried 'Siebe' de Jong, who handled vocals and saxophone, alongside Dirk van der Ploeg, responsible for guitar and vocals. Van der Ploeg was the chief composer for the ensemble. The band, recognized for their hippie-influenced sound, gained notable commercial acclaim with their 1969 rendition of the musical Hair theme, which reached the top position on the Dutch Top 40 chart.
Career
The band was formed in Amsterdam with an initial roster comprising Siegfried 'Siebe' de Jong, Dirk van der Ploeg, Cees Visser (vocals, guitar), Valentijn Geverts (drums), and Bart Bos (bass). Their early releases, including "You Better Start Running Away From Me" (1967) and "Don't Try Reincarnation" (1968), did not achieve significant chart success. Subsequent personnel changes introduced Duco de Rijk, John Brands, and Wim Taarling as replacements for Visser and Geverts.
In January 1969, Zen’s interpretation of "Hair" climbed to number one on the Dutch charts, coinciding with the release of their album titled Hair. Later that year, their follow-up single "Get Me Down" attained position 26 on the charts. Additional lineup adjustments occurred as Harry Rijnbergen and Bennie Groen succeeded Brands, De Rijk, and Taarling prior to the group’s disbandment in 1970 when members embarked on solo careers.
De Jong revived Zen in 1972 with a fresh lineup featuring Dave Vreeland (vocals, saxophone, organ), Ruud Klokgieter (vocals, guitar), Ed Postema (bass, guitar), Johan van der Meer (vocals, bass), and Floris van Manen (drums). In 1973, Peter Huijing took over from Postema. That same year saw the release of their album Zen Again, which did not match their previous commercial achievements. After further changes in membership, Zen ceased operations in 1977. The original members reunited for several performances during the 1980s.
Albums
- Hair (1969)
- Zen Again (1973)
Singles
- "You Better Start Running Away From Me" (1967)
- "Don't Try Reincarnation" (1968)
- "Hair" (1968) (No. 1 NL)
- "Get Me Down" (1969) (No. 26 NL)