Picture

Picture are a Dutch heavy metal band from Hilversum, formed in 1979 and active from then to the present. They are regarded as the first real Dutch heavy metal band and build a following in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy through live performances. They also keep an audience in South America, Mexico and Japan.

Early line-up and recording

Rinus Vreugdenhil and Laurens Bakker begin working together in 1977, then start jamming with various musicians. The classic line-up comes together in 1979 with Vreugdenhil on bass, Bakker on drums, Jan Bechtum on guitar and Ronald van Prooijen on vocals. Ronald joins after the others audition singers and decide he fits the band. Early in their career they work with manager Henk van Antwerpen and sign to Warner Bros. Records, but leave when they feel the label pushes them towards a pop direction. They then sign to Backdoor Records, a subsidiary of Phonogram Records.

The original line-up records the debut album Picture I and the follow-up Heavy Metal Ears. Jan Bechtum usually brings in the riffs, with the rest of the band developing the songs together. The group starts out touring the Netherlands and nearby Germany, and gradually builds its own material and reputation.

Line-up changes and later albums

After Heavy Metal Ears, Ronald van Prooijen leaves for personal reasons and is replaced by Israeli singer Shmoulik Avigal. Around this period the band’s studio sound improves on Diamond Dreamer. Avigal later suggests adding a second guitarist for a fuller live sound, and Chriz van Jaarsveld joins. Jan Bechtum then leaves, and the band recruits Pete Lovell as singer and Henry van Manen as guitarist. This line-up records a later album with a slicker sound and a more technical groove.

Laurens Bakker eventually leaves because of the demands of touring, management problems and family responsibilities, leaving Vreugdenhil as the remaining original member. Vreugdenhil continues with the band for three more albums: Traitor, Marathon and Every Story Needs Another Picture. Other musicians linked to the group include Jacques van Oefelen, Rob van Enkhuizen, Bert Heerink, Ronald de Grauw, Jos Adema, Mark Maas, Michel Zandbergen, Peter Bourbon, Gert Nijboer, Mike Ferguson, Len Ruygrok, Andre Wullems and Appie de Gelder.

Tours and reunions

During their career, Picture support AC/DC, Ted Nugent and Saxon in the Netherlands. They tour Europe with Saxon in 1981, and later tour with Rose Tattoo in Germany. They also headline tours in Italy and Israel. The band develops a strong live reputation, and one reunion concert is followed by further attempts to revive the classic line-up. Ronald van Prooijen helps with later rehearsals, while Pete Lovell serves as the established singer and Rob van Enkhuizen joins to strengthen the live line-up.