Earth and Fire

Earth and Fire were a Dutch progressive and symphonic rock band who over time evolved into a pop group. Formed in the Netherlands by twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts, and most popular in the 1970s when fronted by singer Jerney Kaagman, Earth and Fire had many chart topping hits in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, though they never gained much popularity in the United Kingdom or the Americas. Their biggest international hit was "Weekend", a number one single in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Portugal.

Earth and Fire
Earth and Fire in 1971
Background information
OriginNetherlands
GenresProgressive rock, symphonic rock, pop
Years active1968 (1968)–1983, 1987–1990
Past membersGerard Koerts
Chris Koerts
Hans Ziech
Cees Kalis
Manuela Berloth
Jerney Kaagman
Ton van der Kleij
Theo Hurts
Bert Ruiter
Ab Tamboer
Johan Slager
Ronnie Meyjes
Age Kat
Jons Pistoor
Ton Scherpenzeel
Mark Stoop

History

Early history: The Singing Twins and The Swinging Strings

Earth and Fire originated with the brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts from Voorschoten. As "The Singing Twins" they made music for family and friends since 1960, achieving a breakthrough of sorts at a talent show in 1962, at which future bass player Hans Ziech was present--Ziech, at the time, was already interested in rock and roll and thought The Singing Twins a bit on the mild side, Jan & Kjeld-like. In 1963, influenced by beat music, they joined a local beat band, playing mostly instrumental music until early 1965; the Koerts brothers were remembered as musical perfectionists even at an early age. They changed their name to The Swinging Strings in 1965 and began singing, covering hits by the Beatles, the Byrds, and others. They played regularly and saved enough money to buy equipment and add three female dancers. While they played all over the provinces of North and South Holland, they rarely performed in their own area as The Hague had its own scene of beat bands.[1] By the end of 1966, however, they had won a few talent shows near their home town, had a fan club with over 250 members, and had drawn the attention of radio DJ Willem van Kooten.[2]

Opus Gainfull, transition to Earth and Fire

By 1967 the Koerts brothers were dissatisfied with playing cover music and were looking to increase the technical level of their music. Somewhat abruptly, according to the other members, they broke up the Strings and renamed the band Opus Gainfull, and were looking for a rhythm section. They found a bass player in Hans Ziech (born 1943) of the local band The Soul, and also picked up that band's drummer, Cees Kalis. The Soul's guitar player, Eric Wenink, also joined, for a couple of years. Throughout 1968 and 1969 the band practiced new music, while listening to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane. The decision was made to look for a singer, and Manuela Berloth joined them. Meanwhile, their music continued to evolve, with ideas for concept albums brought in from the US West Coast and improvisational practice sessions. In 1968, before a show in Beverwijk, the band's name was changed to Earth and Fire. The band recorded two songs as the prize for winning a talent show in 1969, but were not offered a record contract; by the end of the year, Berloth, who in Gerard Koerts' words "was not a rock 'n roll woman", left. The Koerts brothers, who were graduating school at the time, took over on vocals, and the band continued touring, opening for established beat band Golden Earring. In September 1969, they met and hired Jerney Kaagman.[3]

The band's first album, Earth and Fire (1970), produced three hits: "Seasons" reached no. 2 in the Dutch charts, with an estimated 60,000 copies sold; the second single, "Ruby is the one" (later covered by the Claw Boys Claw for Hitkillers) reached no. 4 and sold 40,000 copies.[4]

By 1977, after four albums and nine hits, particularly songs such as "Memories" (Which became their first number one single) and "Maybe Tomorrow, Maybe Tonight", the band found the Dutch musical atmosphere had changed considerably: new bands, influenced by disco, punk, and new wave, threatened to render many of the previously popular Dutch groups obsolete. They therefore moved away from the heavier pop sound they had been making and moved to a more mainstream style, focusing on Disco. 1977's Gate to Infinity suffered a cool reception and the album's lead single, "78th Avenue", failed to break into the Dutch top 10. Drummer Ton van der Kleij left in August 1978, followed shortly thereafter by bass player Theo Hurts. Despite rumors that Kaagman would go solo or take a job at TopPop, a popular music television show, she stayed with the Koerts brothers, who quickly found another drummer, Ab Tamboer, and another bass player, Bert Ruiter (Kaagman's partner in life and formerly with Focus). In 1979 they achieved their second number one single "Weekend", but soon afterwards, Chris Koerts left, feeling that he had achieved everything he wanted with the band.[5]

The band split in 1983, with Kaagman moving onto a solo career, before a short lived reunion in 1987, though she was the only known member. Later, Kaagman became a judge on "Idols", the Dutch version of Pop Idol. Gerard Koerts died in 2019.

Personnel

Members

Line-ups

1968-1969 1969-1970 1970-1974 1974-1978
  • Manuela Berloth - vocals
  • Cees Kalis - drums
  • Chris Koerts - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Hans Ziech - bass
  • Cees Kalis - drums
  • Chris Koerts - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Hans Ziech - bass
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Chris Koerts - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Hans Ziech - bass
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Ton van der Kleij - drums
  • Chris Koerts - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Ton van der Kleij - drums
  • Theo Hurts - bass
1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1983 1983-1987
  • Chris Koerts - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Bert Ruiter - bass
  • Ab Tamboer - drums
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Bert Ruiter - bass
  • Ab Tamboer - drums
  • Johan Slager - guitars
  • Gerard Koerts - keyboards
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Bert Ruiter - bass
  • Ab Tamboer - drums
  • Ronnie Meyjes - guitars

Disbanded

1987-1990 1990
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Bert Ruiter - bass
  • Ab Tamboer - drums
  • Age Kat - guitars
  • Jons Pistoor - keyboards
  • Ton Scherpenzeel - keyboards
  • Jerney Kaagman - vocals
  • Bert Ruiter - bass
  • Age Kat - guitars
  • Jons Pistoor - keyboards
  • Ton Scherpenzeel - keyboards
  • Mark Stoop - drums

Discography

Albums

  • Earth and Fire (1970)
  • Song of the Marching Children (1971)
  • Atlantis (1973)
  • To the World of the Future (1975)
  • Rock Sensation (1975 COMPILATION)
  • Gate to Infinity (1977)
  • Reality Fills Fantasy (1979)
  • Andromeda Girl (1981)
  • In a State of Flux (1982)
  • Phoenix (1989)
  • Greatest Hits (CD) (1991)
  • Wild And Exciting (1999 compilation)
  • The Ultimate Collection (3CD) (2003)[8]

Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
NL
[9]
BEL
(Vl)

[10]
GER
1970 "Seasons" 2 4 Earth and Fire
"Ruby Is the One" 4 11
"Wild and Exciting" 5 21
1971 "Invitation" 5 Song of the Marching Children
"Storm and Thunder" 6
1972 "Memories" 1 2 31
1973 "Maybe Tomorrow, Maybe Tonight" 3 9 44 Atlantis
1974 "Love of Life" 2 20 To the World of the Future
1975 "Only Time Will Tell" 12
"Thanks for the Love" 8 28
1976 "What Difference Does It Make" 12
1977 "7 8th Avenue" 18 Gate to Infinity
1979 "Weekend" 1 1 1 Reality Fills Fantasy
1980 "Fire of Love" 23 13 29
1981 "Dream" 27 20 Andromeda Girl
"Tell Me Why"
1982 "Love Is an Ocean"
"Twenty Four Hours" 13 23 72 In a State of Flux
1983 "Jack Is Back" 29
"The Two of Us" 32
1989 "French Word for Love" 44 Phoenix
1990 "Keep on Missing You"
"Good Enough"

References

  1. Hermsen and Hermsen, 6-8.
  2. Hermsen and Hermsen, 9, 11.
  3. Hermsen and Hermsen, 14-17.
  4. Hermsen and Hermsen, 26.
  5. Hermsen and Hermsen, 4-6.
  6. "Earth and Fire keyboard player Gerard Koerts died at the age of 71". www.tellerreport.com.
  7. "Den Haag FM » Haagse drummer Ab Tamboer (Earth and Fire) overleden". Denhaagfm.nl. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  8. "Earth and Fire - De biografie 1969-1983". Eburon.nl. 2006-11-09. Archived from the original on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  9. Van Slooten, Johan, ed. (2005). Top 40 Hitdossier 1965-2005 (in Dutch) (9th, revised ed.). Haarlem: J.H. Gottmer / H.J.W. Becht BV. p. 103. ISBN 90-230-1144-9.
  10. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2016-08-29.

Bibliography

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