Artist description They play remarkable songs that neglect the boundaries of modern as well as old styles of music, but instead, binds them together... and then the lyrics speak for themselves.

Music Style Melodic rock

Musical Influences Influences ranging from Dylan and Tom Waits to Jacques Brel and even the Guns And Roses

Similar Artists Stones? nah... You should hear it.

Artist History Dutch singer-songwriter Maarten Veldhuis rose to fame with his band GRIN in 1986 in Holland when their first hit-single 'You need a Gun to blow my mind' was hailed by the critics as 'Song of the year'. Sadly enough GRIN broke up soon after, but since then more than a few of the major Dutch bands, recognizing his unique talents, have recorded his songs and hit the charts, at home in Holland and in Sweden, Germany and France. In return, some of their finest musicians were playing on his solo-album which was released in 1993. It succeeded in producing two more hit-singles. This enabled him to form his own regular band that he named after the title of the album: The Blue Man Can. The band, touring extensively throughout Holland, was soon offered a deal by Sony Music to cut another album. They went into the studio on the very first day of 1995, to record the album "Family Fun" which was released in May and immediately recognized by the music-press as a "masterpiece".

Group Members Guitarist Arnold Smits, bassplayer Ronald de Jong, Maarten Veldhuis on vocals and guitar, and on drums, Edwin Plooijer.

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums and Vocals

Albums Blue Man Can (1993), Family Fun (1995)

Press Reviews "...These lads should be able to put Holland up front in international rock-music..." Frank in The Big Buzz -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "... records like 'Family Fun' are seldomly made, it should reach great heights..." Jan van der Plas in Music Maker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "...Maarten Veldhuis has written songs for a couple of the major Dutch bands for quite some time, but since the release of his surprising and well recieved solo album 'The Blue Man Can' he got his own band together, with great results! 'Family Fun' (The Blue Man Can's debut as a band) shows us that Maarten Veldhuis is an excellent songwriter and that the band serves him well. Perfect fun for the whole family!" Roberto Palombit in Music Maker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "...the songs are either good or excellent with highlights such as 'Happy and it scares me so', and 'Fairweather friends'. Over all the lyrics are witty and have a sense of humor to be compared to the likes of Dylan and Tom Waits..." Harry van Nieuwenhoven in Oor

Location Haarlem, NH - Netherlands

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