I
De Dijk

About:

- Huub van der Lubbe: 3 April 1953
- Hans van der Lubbe: 8 February 1952

De Dijk was formed by Huub van der Lubbe, who also is an actor and poet, his brother Hans van der Lubbe and Daniel Derks. The first band formed by the Van der Lubbe brothers is Tenderfoot, a country rock group. Other members are Bert and Dirk Stelder. Following this band the Van Der Lubbe brothers form Dutch-language band Stampei. Then, in 1981, they and drummer Daniel Derks, form De Dijk. De Dijk (translation: The Dike) is named after the Zeedijk, the (in)famous street in Amsterdam. Their music can be described as a mixture of soul, blues and rock 'n roll, with lyrics sung only in Dutch. In 1982 they release their debut single 'Bloedend hart' ('Bleeding heart') but it fails to enter the charts although their debut get’s some success. Their follow up 'Nooit meer Tarzan' ('Never again Tarzan') is even less succesfull and their record company ends the band's contract. At this point Huub starts concentrating on an acting career although the band does release a third album in 1985. Again without success.

Surprisingly Phonogram believes in the band and sign them in 1987. The single 'Mag het licht uit ('Can the light be turned off') is a first small succes. Steadily the albums 'Wakker in een vreemde wereld' ('Awake in a strange world') and 'Niemand in de stad' ('Nobody in town') become succesfull. The singles 'Ik kan het niet alleen' ('I can't do it on my own') and 'Nergens goed voor' ('Good for nothing') in fact are big hits. This results in a postponed success for single 'Bloedend hart' which is a hit in a live version.
  
In 1993 de Dijk teams up with fellow Dutch language rockers the Scene to record 'De wereld is van iedereen' ('The world belongs to everyone'). In 1995 several of Huub van der Lubbe's tracks written for Stampei, Kinderen Voor Kinderen and De Dijk, are published in 'Melkman met de blues' ('Milkman with the blues'), a collection of poems. In 1998 Huub writes the lyrics for 'Mijn hart kan dat niet aan' ('My heart can’t stand that') a song for the Dutch pre selection sung by Frederique Spigt. The song fails to enter the international Eurovision (ending third) but does mean the solo breakthrough for Spigt and becomes a big hit in the Netherlands.
  
1999 is a sabbatical year for the band. Huub van der Lubbe concentrates on his work as a poet and performs with Jan Robijns and Bart de Ruiter under the name Formatie Concordia. Drummer Antonie Broek produces the first English-language album released by Normaal frontman Bennie Jolink. After the sabbatical year De Dijk plays the Pinkpop festival for the first time in the band's career.  

In 2001 Huub performs solo (a first since years) with his poems and songs under the name Concordia. The lyrics for this project are bundled for a second book. He also has a role in the Dutch horror film 'Rest In peace'. Over the years de Dijk are one of the most constant factors in Dutch pop which is celebrated in 2006 with a 25th anniversary show at the Rotterdam Ahoy' arena in February. On stahe they are joined by Bob Fosko, Bløf 's Paskal Jakobsen, Acda & De Munnik, Alex Roeka and Rowwen Hèze. 'Het hart Van De Dijk' ('The heart of The Dyke') by Thomas Verbogt is a book about the band, its importance, its songs and the people around the band. In 2008 the band makes a strong return to the scene with the album 'Brussel' on which Solomon Burke gives a guest performance. The partnership with Burke continues in 2010 when the band translates a selection of their songs for his album 'Hold on tight'. In October, on his way to the show around the album in Amsterdam's Paradiso Theatre Burke dies at Amsterdam Airport. De Dijk decides to continue the show in honour of Burke. In 2013 singer Van der Lubbe releases a well received second solo album on which he gives some old songs and cover material a new acoustic approach.

On the web:

- De Dijks website: http://www.dedijk.nl

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Nicoletta (France)

What do we think:

DB: De Dijk has been around for a long time. De Dijk mixes the old 'kleinkunst' tradition with blues elements into what could be called the Dutch blues. I have to admit however that I do not own one of their albums, to me they always stayed a very strong singles band. But then I never really listened to a whole Dijk album so who knows. Thankfully good friends do have a Dijk collection. (PS with thanks to Edwin Wendt for making the recommended list.)

PR: Much of De Dijks long and succesful career in Holland is due to the sympathetic leadsinger, Huub van der Lubbe, and their endless touring en live performing throughout the Netherlands. They work hard, perform well and have released some of the most popular Dutch popsongs during the eighties and ninetees.

Recommended albums:

♪♪♪ - De Dijk - 1982

♪♪ - Nooit meer Tarzan (Never again Tarzan) - 1983

♪♪♪ - Elke dag een nieuwe hoed (Everyday a new hat) - 1985

♪♪♪♪ - Wakker in een vreemde wereld (Awake in a strange world) - 1987

♪♪♪♪ - Niemand in de stad (Nobody in town) - 1989

♪♪♪ - Zeven levens (Seven lives) - 1992

♪♪♪ - De blauwe schuit (The blue ship) - 1994

♪♪♪ - Zevende hemel (Seventh heaven) - 2000

♪♪ - Muzikanten dansen niet (Musicians don't dance) - 2002

♪♪♪♪ - Brussel - 2008

Further listening:

Live - 1990; Nooit genoeg - 1991; De stand van de maan - 1997; Voor de tover - 1998; Door - 2003; Later is nu - 2005; Zullen we dansen - 2006; We beginnen pas - 2006; Scherp op de zeis - 2011; Allemansplein - 2014

Huub van der Lubbe solo:

- Concordia - 2001

- Simpel Verlangen - 2013

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided