Diesel (Band)
Diesel is a rock band from the Netherlands, which was founded in 1979 by drummer Pim Koopman and the singer and guitarist Rob Vunderink. With " Sausalito Summer Nights " She succeeded in 1981 an international top hit.
History
Pim Koopman and Rob Vunderink had already published in 1978 a single under the name Concrete. In 1979, guitarist Mark Boon and bassist Frank Papendrecht joined the band, but it was decided to change the name. Diesel landed first Top 40 hit in the Netherlands as " Going Back To China" and " Down In The Silvermine ". However, the breakthrough came in 1981 with the song " Sausalito Summer Nights ", their fourth single. In this song, Mark Boon processed his experiences on a trip to America. Although this was initially only a mediocre hit in their homeland, it was played regularly on Canadian radio. As a result, the single reached number 1 in Canada and # 25 in the U.S.. The group changed its name to North America, however, under the name Dutch Diesel, to avoid confusion with another band.
In the following years, there was the case of diesel to several line-up changes. So rose singer Vunderink 1983, and went as a newspaper correspondent to Moscow. He was in diesel replaced by Henk Hager. In 1987 he was, however, reported there because he had to report critical of the Soviet regime and rose again on diesel. However, he left the band in 1989 and went back to Moscow. Also on other positions, there were changes, so included, among others André Versluys and Wijnand Ott ( bass), Bas Krumperman and Jan Loomans (guitar), Henk Hager and Kim Weemhoff (drums ) joined the band. Only in 2000 returned Vunderink Koopman and the band returned and the band released the album "Diesel On The Rocks ".
Diesel is in spite of all reshuffles until today and is still regularly on tour. Since 2007, the line-up Pim Koopman is ( drums), Rob Vunderink (vocals, guitar ), Mark Boon (guitar) and Werner Cornand ( bass). Koopman and Vunderink play at the same time also in the band Kayak.