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You might have noticed it already, John Mendels’ whereabouts at the start of his career can be found in the ‘History of LAVA’ section of this website. Okay (apart from the LAVA reunion concert) nowadays he isn’t so much involved with hard rock anymore. But his post-LAVA life did not laps without any excitement. Not at all!
In fact, John still is a great performer today! When LAVA ceased to exist, he gave up being a Rock Musician and opted for a professional career switch. He became very active, in multiple disciplines, and a real star within the entertainment industry. Starting from scratch once again, he founded (with Martin de Vreede/Drums and Anton Camijn/Keyboards) the band Flame. Apart from playing the bass guitar and taking care of vocals, he alternately handled the lead guitar. Later female vocalist Joke de Knecht came on board in order to strengthen Flame.
This formation toured The Netherlands with numerous well known Dutch top-artists for many,many years. Like LAVA, also Flame had to deal with various line-up changes. Anton Camijn was firstly replaced by Aad Dijkhuisen and later by Jacques van Egmond. Martin de Vreede stayed for 23 years!
Progressing technology is another reason for the current cast; John and his daughter Mandy are now Flame and they still can be admired on a stage somewhere weekly!
In parallel with his musical aspirations John Mendels became a well-known and popular Guitar/Bass guitar teacher. For years, John had to maintain a weekly list of 40 to be guided and tutored talents! André Geldrop (Shocking Blue) and Johan Witt (Ready to Play) were once among them.
Writing songs, on behalf of whoever needed his support, turned out to be another talent belonging to him. John himself even had a couple of ‘football’ (soccer) CD’s released on the Disky label. His ‘Road to Wembley’ sold over 200.000 copies!
In the middle of the eighties John and his beloved wife Ilse (who sadly passed away in March 2004) put a totally different act together. Today tens of thousands children only know him as Johnny Mendola, the musical Clown performing fabulous magic tricks!
John Mendels developed into a versatile professional artist. If he has raised your interest furthermore now and keen to learn more about him, please, feel free to check his website here.
Leo Nagglas’ career was launched in Rotterdam. From 1967–1969 he was the central figure of a band named ‘Never Mind’. This band was regularly the support act of Cuby & The Blizzards when they visited the north-eastern part of The Netherlands. He also acted in the band Looking East.
This is what we've discovered, click here (at the 2nd photo Leo is at the far right side) and here. Credits and thanks to 'Beat in Rotterdam'.
When he moved to The Hague in 1969, Leo could be found in various line-ups. He impressed the scene for a pretty while with Green Lizard [Jacques Kouwenhoven (vocals) and brothers Chris (drums) and Peter van Dijk (bass)].
In 1971 Green Lizard split and prior to his LAVA activities, Leo was asked to write and play a couple guitar solo’s on behalf of Q65. Their Album ‘Afghanistan’ (in those days no one could think of the current topicality..) needed an upgrade. Please, click here then scroll down for Reünie (Reunion).
In his ‘post LAVA’ life, Leo could be seen performing with guys like Paul Heppener (bass), Iwan Leue (vocals) and English George Jackson on drums. This band 'Confrontation' even toured a couple of weeks in Austria. It was a short, but heavy, adventure.
After various hard rock and even heavy metal bands (Scimitar being one of them), Leo switched to another discipline at the end of the 70s. He turned into a highly appreciated Sound Engineer and toured with acts like Park Lane (Amsterdam), Bodine, Vengeance and Avalon (Maastricht).
From 1985 up to his retirement, June 2008, Leo Nagglas focussed on his social career successfully.
 
Leo and his favourite guitar builder Paul Reed Smith at the PRS Experience in Bunnik/NL on October 24th 2011.
Ger Crama started his musical career in 1967 with ‘Bobbey’s Children’. The band was born at the ‘The School of Economics’ in The Hague and ‘Blues’ was on the menu. Rehearsing was done at school and Dirk Alexander Bobbe - after whom the band was named – turned out to be an excellent manager. The youngsters were busy exploring their home country from North to South and from East to West more often then advisable regarding homework. Who cared?
Things turned already a bit heavier, early 1970, when Gerrit switched to ‘Wild Cherry’, a group formed by musicians from ‘The Scarlets’ and ‘Big Wheel’. ‘Solid rock and heavy blues’, could have been the style label of Wild Cherry.After his Wild Cherry period, Gerrit, like John Mendels, shared the complete LAVA history.Early 80s, Gerrit was approached by a successful producing Duo and asked whether he fancied to use his vocal talents in Dutch! For various reasons, the released single didn’t reach the charts. This part of his career ended before it really had started.Once the blood vessels contain music, music will always be streaming. From 1985-1990 Gerrit was the manager of Livin’ Blues. In this period the LP (1987) ‘Now’ and the CD (1989) ‘Snakedance’ were released.
Bobbey’s Children:
Frank v.d.Kloot - Lead Guitar
Aldert v.Wijk - Guitar
Hans Segers - Bass Guitar
Jay Quee - Drums
Gerrit Crama - Vocals / Harmonica
Wild Cherry:
Henk Kicken - Lead Guitar
Bram v.Aarsen - Bass Guitar (quickly succeeded by Leen Alleblas)
Karel Koeleman - Keyboards
John Groen - Drums
Gerrit Crama - Vocals / Harmonica
Livin’ Blues:
Niko Christiansen - Vocals / Saxophones
John Lagrand - Harmonica’s
Aad van Pijlen - Bass Guitar / Vocals
Art Bausch - Drums
Joop van Nimwegen - Lead Guitar
Willem v.d. Wal - Slide GuitarLivin' Blues Wikipedia link here
Remy Kueter is, in fact, the very First ‘New Face’ in LAVA since 1976! No one speaks this out loud, however, Remy was not even near to conception in the early stages of LAVA!
The name of the multi-talented musician certainly isn’t a black hole in the History of the Dutch Hardrock scene. He had a fair share of name and fame in the 90’s of last century when he prowled around The Netherlands with ‘Little Bo Peep’ and, later, being part of ‘Touch Me I’m Dick’. All this came with failing record deals and hysterical teeny-boppers. A kind of 'LAVA 25 Years After' though.
It already has been a while since he dusted off his drumming tools after a fatherhood sabbatical. With his sense of humor and his cheerful character, Remy fits the Team perfectly.
Yesterday:
Mutiny In The Orphanage (Thrashmetal) – Drums
Little Bo Peep (Hardrock) – Drums
Pillow Talk (Poprock) – Drums
Touch Me I’m Dick (Ska) – Drums
Moviescar (Close Harmony) – Guitar & Vocals
Today:
Act of Self (Punkrock) – Guitar & Vocals
Las Hormigas Gigantes (Punkrock) – Bass & Vocals
LAVA (Hardrock) - Drums
It really isn't a wonder that Frank de Vries opted for a professional career as a musician. Why? Simply because music is in his genes! Like his grandfather, also his father was already a musician. His Granddad accompanied silent movies while playing the piano and his Dad was a great drummer and bass player.
At the age of seven, little Frankie rehearsed solos from the repertoire of his father's jazz band. On his very first guitar, that was. Still a 'Franky' he founded 'The Clarks' together with Bert Ouwehand and Ferry Sinds. This band had and has nothing to do with 'The Clarks' which are still roaring today.
When he turned 17, Frank committed himself to 'She'. The leading role of that band was for singer Loes Hess. He furthermore lined-up with Ton van de Meer (Bass) and Cor Oosterhout (drums). Somewhat later this 'She' turned into 'The Nice Unlimited' and featured Johan Tillema (drums), Bert Visker (vocals), a guy named Coen (keyboards) and Harrij Klein (bass).
Like John Mendels, also Frank de Vries developed into an often sought guitar teacher during all his various band activities. One of his students in those days was the youngster Japie Jonckheere. This lad would conquer the World with 'Urban Heroes' later in his career.
The next move for Frank became the early stages of 'Galaxy Lin' and 'Smile'. Then he started, together with Smile's keyboard player Charles de Leeuw, 'Lincoln'. The Foursome was completed with Poalo Grobbe (Bass) and Gerard Haitsma (yes, that's the one) on Drums. This formation had a kind of breakthrough as in the years 1971/1972, until the voluntarily chosen ceasing.
In the summer of 1973 Frank joined LAVA.
At the final stages of LAVA and at the very beginning of this band, he combined this with 'Himalaya'. A formation formed from the remains of 'Livin Blues'. However, when LAVA really stopped existing, Frank found a new love.
In this post-LAVA life, Frank started to play the Flamenco. He continued focusing on this style with sheer passion for almost two decades. He guided various dance companies. Something he enjoyed doing very much.
From 1990 onwards, Frank is currently a driving force within theater company 'Briza'. Composing, producing, rehearsing, playing and perform its pieces is currently his profession. Briza has issued 12 CDs in the meantime and this explains why Frank de Vries is still a very busy man, who really enjoys to perform with LAVA too!
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