First time I met the guys in the ‘Scoundrels’ was probably at an ‘Indirekt’ gig in Antwerp (86-02-15). We had so much fun together there that I invited them for a gig in my hometown (86-05-24). We (Smurfpunx) also offered them a stage a few times (87-12-12 & 88-04-02).
Around ’85/’86 the band consisted of Patrick Delabie (guitar/vocals; later ‘The Acorns’, ‘Betty Ford Clinic’, etc.), Frank ‘Zappa’ de Hoon (bass/vocals) & Guus Goossens (drums). They had a few singers before that… Later ‘Bootsie’ Geert Budts (ex ‘Skunk’) replaced Guus and Luc Proost (ex ‘Wulpse Varkens’) joined to play guitar.
This tape was recorded 21-22-23 March 1985 in the band’s rehearsal-space. For some reason I didn’t review it for my fanzine. (I did an interview in Tilt! #1 with Pat though.) I still dig their fresh melodic (hardcore)punk(rock) and easily hum along to the tunes. Doesn’t sound outdated at all!
On an old blog, Niels de Wit mentions a (demo)tape (4 tracks) that Patrick did in 1981 (“one of the very first Dutch hardcore recordings”), which was with an aggressive singer (R.I.P.) “who was more into rock’n’roll (his habit of ending phrases with ‘chacha’ came from Dutch rocker Herman Brood)”… In 1984, the band contributed a song on Niels’ Alle 55 Kort compilation-tape. They had a track on the Babylon Bleibt Fahren compilation-LP and there’s also a couple of tapes with live recordings from 1985 & 86.
Scoundrels also did 2 LPs: Don’t Cry For The Moon (recorded Jun/Jul 1986) and Join Hands (out in 1988). These were reviewed in Tilt! #2 & #4: >>After a third listen my enthusiasm for the ‘Scoundrels’ blazed again. It’s not hardcore and the album sounds less solid than the tape (even airy). […] I believe ‘Scoundrels’ are influenced by the ‘Buzzcocks’ & ‘XTC’. Take the song Male Pride e.g.: the middle part could be by the ‘Buzzcocks’! It’s my favourite track; a hit! […] The lyrics are even more personal, less direct but therefore not less excellent. Great record!<< & >>Dutch punkrockers play music with the heart in the right place. Very melodic stuff. […] Catchy tunes; not without rock’n’roll influences. The lyrics aren’t high-standing but good and profane/realistic. […] Support this truly independent product!<<
Brob
There are indeed recordings that are even older, from ’81/’82. We never put that on vinyl, didn’t think that was a good idea back then… That was with another vocalist than myself.
Brob Tilt's tapes 