Q65: So high we've been so down we must fall"

Here's the complet guide and story on a smashing band from The Hague, consisting of simple facts without any extra's. Scroll down for their discography. Search eBay for their records!

Once upon a time in The Hague in Holland (or Den Haag, as it's spelled in Dutch), two lads called Jay Baar and Peter Vink played in a band called "The North Stars". They played mainly instrumentals. Times changed and R&B and beat took over the globe. So in 1964 they founded a blues, R&B group called "Leadbelly's Limited". The band included: Paul Verstraten vocals and guitar, Harry Schublin on guitar, Jay Baar on drums and Peter Vink on bass guitar. In May 1965 "Leadbelly's Limited" was changed into "Q65". By now they played strictly R&B and their sound was comparable with bands like The Animals and The Yardbirds. Verstraten and Schublin left and the new line-up was: Wim Bieler (1947) vocals and harmonica, Frank Nuyens vocals and guitar, Peter Vink (1949) on bass guitar, Jay Baar (1948) on drums and Joop Roelofs on guitar. Peter Vink: "I couldn't play at all but the others didn't seem to notice". Because of their onorthodox style of playing they immediately got a large crowd of hardcore followers. Their fans would call them plainly "De Kjoe" (The Q). A bloke called Peter Koelewijn, who already was famous in Holland as a singer of crap songs, must have had dollar signs in front of his eyes when he saw these guys. If you know Peter Koelewijn you know he loves money, you see. Besides his love for money Peter also felt for a career as a producer. So in Februari 1966 he got them a contract with Decca, and produced the band's first single. I'm revering to that nasty basher "You're the victor", with on the B-side "And your kind" on the Decca label. Both songs are written by Nuyens, Bieler and Baar. Myself I prefer "And your kind"  but it's "You're the victor" that proved to be worthy to be a hit. The single entered the charts on the 5th of March 1966. The highest entry was 11 and it stayed in the charts for 13 weeks. As a publicity stunt The Q sets sail for England at Scheveningen in a rubber dinghy. Their next single, released in May, included "The life I live" and on the B-side the legendary "Cry in the night". Again on the Decca label. It entered the charts on the 11th of June 1966. The highest entry was 5, and it remained in the charts for 14 weeks. This was their biggest hit. The lyrics shocked a lot of decent folk. It said: "Sunday we played in a dancing, the public was very down, but it didn't bore us a thing, 'cos we smoked ourselves a kick." Later that year an LP was released. It was the "Revolution" LP, which is now a very expensive collectors item. It included: "The life I live", "I got nightmares", "Middle-age talk", "Summer thoughts", "In a field of weed", "Down in a bottom", "Get out of my life, woman". Aswell as their own songs, songs by Otis Redding, Willie Dixon and Allen Toussaint. Another single was released in September '66. It's the absolutely brilliant "I despise you" with on the B-side that tear-jerker "Ann". It entered the charts on the 29th of October 1966. The highest entry was 19, and it remained in the charts for 7 weeks. By that time they were so popular that they had gigs every day. Sometimes even three or four on one day. They easely made 800 to a 1000 guilders a week. The Q65 and The Outsiders were at this period in time the roughest bands in Holland. But they were not on friendly terms with each other. There's was very competitive attitude between The Hague's beat scene and Amsterdam's beat scene. Both bands were drawn into this mutual repugnance (go get your dictionary). Wim Bieler about Amsterdam: "The Amsterdammers spit at you when you play over there. There a dumb audience." Wally Tax of The Outsiders about The Hague: "The Hague? The Motions for the lads, The Golden Earrings for the girls and The Kick for the feeble-minded!". In December yet another single was released. It was "From above" with a trashing "I was young" on the B-side. The record entered the charts on the 28th of Januari '67. The highest entry was 13 and it remained in the charts for 7 weeks. The recordings were produced by Hans van Hemert who is now a big dude in Dutch showbizz. The drawing on the sleeve was done by Sonja v/d Ent. By this time a fanclub presented itself in The Hague. The band was getting rougher and rougher. Living up to the standard  of outmost roughness was their next single "World of birds" with on the B-side "It came to me". It entered the charts on the 22nd of April '67. The highest entry was 8 and it remained in the charts for 9 weeks. Another production of Hans van Hemert. The sound engineer during the recordings was Jan Audier. The sleeve contained a fancy collage by Ling Vang Mihn. Times were changing and The Q's succes was declining. Problably because everybody insisted on wearing tulips in their hair, all of a sudden. Instead of "rough" and "kick their behinds" there was now "love"  and "cuddles". So, while everybody was dancing in the public parks, picking the daisy's, The Q released another single. It was "Where is the key" with on the B-side "So high I've been so down I must fall". On the 11th of November DJ's tried to plug it but failed. Their next record is an absolute must for every serious R&B collector. Released on the 9th of June '67, Wim Bieler's birthday, was the EP "Kjoe blues" which contained: "Ain't that loving you baby", "Rambling on my mind", "No place to go" and "80% O". Absolutely smashing stuff! Not long after this Jay Baar gets cought in possesion of soft drugs (In Holland we make a difference between soft drugs and hard drugs). In those days that meant prison for several days and a large fine. Later in '67 The Q helped a blues duo with some recordings. The duo was called "Indiscrimination" and was formed by John Lagrand on harmonica and Nicko Christiansen vocals and guitar. They came from Voorburg and existed as a duo from 1966 till 1967. Later they went to play with "Living Blues". With The Q they recorded "So sad" which was released on the "Ark" label. On the B-side there were two other band: "Surfin' Co" and "The Rhythm Singers". In Januari 1968 it was Peter Vink's turn to get cought with soft drugs. We're speaking prison and huge fine again. Served them right, because us Dutch don't do drugs! (Except hashies, uppers, downers, coke, speed and acid. But that's all harmless!) Another disaster: Wim Bieler joined the army (not willingly, drafted). On the 6th of Januari 1968 the band ceased to exist. Peter Vink joined the group "Big Wheel" for a short while after which he started his own band called "Finch". Frank Nuyens, Jay Baar and Joop Roelofs started a new band called "Circus" with Frank Verhoef. They released a single called "Medusa" with on the B-side "Mother Motha's great sundance" without any succes. Still, they keep recording. They changed their name back to Q65 and another single was released to try and regain that lost succes. It was "Ann" with on the B-side "Sour Wine". 25.000 guilders were spent on new equipment and they started practicing hard at "Popcentrum Marathon" in order to build a new repertoire. Another single in 1969 called "Sundance" with on the B-side "World of birds" was released. Why were they still bothering, you might ask. Their next creation was an LP which is now a big collectors item. It was named "Revival" and included tracks of "Circus": "Voluntary peacemaker", "Riding on a slow train" and "Fairytales of truth". Producer Hans van Hemert did vocals on one song. Jay Baar left the band to join "Living Blues" and was replaced by Beer Klaasse who came from "Groep 1850". On the 20th of Februari 1970 recordings were made at The Soundpush studio for a new record. It was released in March 1970 with "Don't let me fall" on the A-side and "Crumblin'" on the B-side. But with their next single "Sexy legs" they really picked up their act. The B-side contained "There was a day". The Q produced both track themselves. It entered the charts on the 3rd of October 1970. The highest entry was 40, and it stayed in the charts for 2 weeks. "Sexy legs" is a good track, considering it's been recorded in 1970. This song got them back on the TV and newspaper headlines announced their comeback. Meanwhile they were busy recording for their next LP. This LP was called "Afganistan" and was released in September 1970. It had a "live" side which contained "I gotta move". The studio side contained tracks like "Don't let me fall", "Baby don't worry", "Injection", "Please come back to me". In 1971 they released a few singles that weren't very good and weren't very succesfull: "Love is such a good thing", "Night"; "I just can't wait", "We're gonna make it"; "Fighting is easy", "Country girl". Also an LP was released called "We're gonna make it". Which they didn't. Frank Nuyens was more succesfull as a solo artist calling himself "Rainman" with a single called "The bird", "Money means nothing at all". It's been plugged by several radio stations. He also released an LP called "Rainman" in this very same year. After this project he went to join the group "Lynx". And after that Cuby and The Bizzards. Singer Wim Bieler left The Q65. He was replaced by John Frederiksz who came from "Temple". Now the line-up was John, Peter, Beer, Joop. In May 1972 they made a single as "Kjoe" instead of Q65: "Hoonana", "Troubles". This time on the Polydor label. Again it's been plugged, but no entry in the charts followed. In 1974 new members were added to the band. They were Ron Meyes on guitar and Joop van Nimwegen on guitar. But the band fell apart anyway. Ron Meyes went to "Living Blues". Joop van Nimwegen went to join "Finch". Joop Roelofs became manager of "Big Wheel" and "Finch". Frank Verhoef joined "The Living Kick Formation" and later he went solo as "The Electric One Man Band". Beer Klaasse joins "Finch".  Wim Bieler released a single on the Polydor label in '74 with a band called "Dambuster". The single was called "Lady of love", "Fighting is easy". In 1977 the Q65 LP "Revolution" was re-issued and sold well. In 1980 The Q65 rejoined for a gig at the "Haagse Beatnach" (The Hague Beat Night) on the 13th of June. The line-up was Wim Bieler vocals, Joop Roelofs on guitar, Peter Vink on drums, Fred van Vloten on drums and Joop van Nimwegen on guitar. The recordings of this night ended up on a compilation LP. Due to massive succes they did a tour later that year. I've seen them play at The Patronaat in Haarlem when a band of friends of mine, "The Other Side", did the support act. The Q seemed very nice blokes but they tried too hard to sound eighties-like. While they were playing "The Others Side" found out there were no free drinks, so we emptied The Q's 4 krates of beer. Then we had to get out of there fast, as you can imagine. In this period Vink started a band called "Boxx" and hits the charts with a song called "I need a love". Due to succes all over Europe with this single, Boxx was active as support-act for Joe Cocker together with Meat Loaf and Wet Wet Wet. Old records of The Q65 sold terribly well in the mid 8ties. Especially to Psychedelics and Mods all over the world. Still, people who went to see The Q as they were then were very disappointed with the way they wrecked those old songs. Do the words 'Hard' and 'Rock' mean anything to you? They tried to keep The Q65 together, but failed to do so in '87. Vink started a record label called "Boxx" and I'm told he's doing well for himself. Bieler kept playing and started a new Q65 with a bunch of young musicians. Jay Baar died due to his rough life style. The Q-members appeared in Classic Albums!

Discography:
1966 You're the victor / And your kind / Decca AT 10189 / Charts: entry 5-3-66 highest entry: 11 weeks: 13 - 1966 The life I live / Cry in the night / Decca AT 10210 / Charts: entry: 11-6-66 highest entry: 5 weeks: 14 - 1966 I despise you / Ann / Decca AT 10224 / Charts: entry: 29-10-66 highest entry: 19 weeks: 7 - 1966 From above / I was young / Decca AT 10248 / Charts: entry: 28-1-67 highest entry: 13 weeks: 7 - 1966 LP Revolution / Decca QL 625363 - 1967 World of birds / It came to me / Decca AT 10263 / Charts: entry: 22-4-67 highest entry: 8 weeks: 9 - 1967 Where is the key / So high I've been so down I must fall / Decca AT 10286 / Charts: entry: 11-11-67 as a tip - 1967 EP Kjoe blues: Ain't that loving you baby / Rambling on my mind / No place to go / 80% O / Decca BU 70025 - 1967 So sad (with bluesduo "Indiscrimination") / (tracks by "Surfin' Co" and "Rhythm Singers") / De Ark 1 - 1967 Compilation LP "Beat Here" World of birds / Ain't that loving you baby / You're the victor / Philips DS 011 - 1967 Compilation LP "For collectors only" The life I live / Ann / Modern Records 110891 - 1967 Compilation LP "Nederbiet" Ain't that lovin' you baby / 80 % O / Decca DQL 662507 - 1968 Medusa / Mother Motha 's great sundance / Decca AT 10329 (as Circus) - 1968 Ann / Sour Wine / Decca AT 10336 - 1969 Sundance / World of birds / Decca AT 10383 - 1969 LP Revival / Decca XBY 846515 With tracks of Circus: Voluntary peacemaker, Riding on a slow  train, Fairytales of truth. Producer Hans van Hemert did vocals on one song. - 1970 Don't let me fall / Crumblin' / Negram NG 172 - 1970 Sexy legs / There was a day / Negram NG 196 / Charts: entry: 3-10-70 highest entry: 40 weeks: 2 - 1970 LP Afganistan / Negram NLP 075 - 1971 Love is such a good thing / Night / Negram NG 220 - 1971 I just can't wait / We're gonna make it / Negram NG 230 - 1971 Fighting is easy / Country girl / Polydor 2050130 - 1971 LP We're gonna make it / Negram ELS 914 - 1971 LP Greatest hits / Decca 6454409 - 1971 Frank Nuyens as Rainman: The bird / Money means nothing at all / Negram NG 256 / Charts: entry: 4-12-71 as a tip - 1971 Frank Nuyens as Rainman: LP Rainman / Negram NQ 20038 - 1972 The Q65 make a single as "Kjoe": Hoonana / Troubles / Polydor 2050181 / Charts: entry: 27-5-72 as a tip - 1972 Compilation LP "12 jaar Radio Veronica" The life I live / Radio Veronica - 1974 Wim Bieler and Dambuster: Lady of love / Fighting is easy / Polydor - 1977 LP Revolution (reissued) / Decca 6440675 - 1980 You're the victor / The life I live / On compilation LP "Haagse beatnach" CNR 772005/06 - 1980 Peter Vink with "Boxx" I need a love / ? / Mercury / Charts: entry: 18-4-87 highest entry: 34 weeks: 3 - 1989 EP Injection / Baby don't worry / I'm glad / Please come back to me / Sexy legs / Monkey business - 1994/5 CD re-issues of 1966 LP Revolution / Pseudonym CDP ? DD, and the 1970 LP Afganistan / Pseudonym CDP 1002 DD - 1995 Compilation CD "Pseudonym Sampler Vol. 1" track of Q65 /  Pseudonym CDP  1020