Nederpunk: The Early Years 1977-1982 (Red Vinyl)

Nederpunk: The Early Years 1977-1982 (Red Vinyl)

“As I have previously documented in my book series, De Paradiso Punkjaren, this compilation can be seen as a kind of audio-based history of Nederpunk, or Dutch punk. Only Two of the 20 artists on this record never played at Paradiso: Snifters and Schmucks 44, which makes this compilation a fitting soundtrack to the book series, especially volumes 1, 2, and 4. 

The First Generation of Dutch punk bands were often established acts that switched to punk music, like PANIC, Whizz Guy, and The Flyin’ Spiderz. The latter was part of the pub rock movement, which had taken off in the UK with bands like Dr. Feelgood and Tyla Gang, paving the way for faster punk music. When punk firmly established itself in the Netherlands in the fall of 1977, it inspired many youngsters to start bands, such as The Dummies, Helmets, Jesus and the Gospelfuckers, and Schmucks 44. Around 1980, a new wave of bands popped up that included Eton Crop, The Squids and Bugs. Nederpunk expressed itself in several ways. Bands such as Paul Tornado, The Dummies, Helmets, and Snifters performed a kind of pop punk, fun punk, or pretpunk. There were also hardcore bands, such as the Squits and Workmates. The punk movement has always been inherently opposed to the establishment, including big business and the police. Songs like Kill The Police, Government, To Hell With Shell, and Death To Disco are perfect exemples of that spirit, as are the two tracks about the then Dutch Minister of Justice, Dries van Agt. Tändstickorshocks and Rondos were part of Red Rock, a collective with anarchist and communist sympathies. Even then, Dutch-language punk already existed, thanks to Paul Tornado, Snifters, Tedje & de Flikkers, and Ketchup. The Amsterdam band Bugs perfectly illustrates how punk can evolve. Even British bands such as The Slits and The Clash embraced reggae and dub influences after their early years of raw punk. 

Most tracks on this record have never been released before. For many of the bands, this release is even their first time appearing on vinyl. Although five of the songs have been previously released, I’ve included them here as well because the records were never reissued and are now extremely hard to find.”

 – Oscar Smit