History Of Picture


1979

After being rather successful in a local band, lead guitarist Jan Bechtum decides to put an add in a Dutch music magazine to find a new band. A few months later Rinus Vreugdenhil reads the add and calls Jan to join him and Laurens Bakker to form a new group. The first time they play together they know immediately that this is the band they've been looking for. They decide to name the group Picture. The name had been used before by the local group in which both Rinus and Laurens had played. The search for a good vocalist ends a few months later when Ronald van Prooijen agrees to join Picture. Two months later in August, Picture records a demo in the rehearsal room and the song 'My Gun Shoots' from this demo is aired on Dutch radio in the program of Alfred Lagarde.

During a gig in December two Dutch radio people from Vara's Popkrant get excited over Picture and decide to put them on their show. Picture records three songs in a radio studio and these songs are aired together with interviews in January, 1980.

1980

Even before the performance in Vara's Popkrant the band signs a record deal with Warner Brothers.

In March Picture is supporting act for the Canadian rock group April Wine in Amsterdam.

The record deal with Warner is cut off. Warner wanted Picture to play more commercial songs and Picture did not want to play anything other then their own material.

In July Picture opens for AC/DC. Later in July, a new record deal with Phonogram is signed. In the end of 1980 the first album is recorded in the Dutch Wisseloord studios.

1981

The album Picture 1 is released all over the world. The band members, however, are very disappointed over the sound and mix of the album.

Picture does two European tours as supporting act of Saxon and supports Ted Nugent in Amsterdam.

Picture is working very hard to put a new album together which is recorded and released in the fall of 1981 (Heavy Metal Ears). The album's sound is much better.

1982

Picture does a extensive tour in Italy.

Due to personal problems Ronald decides to leave Picture even though international success seems not far away. In South America, Picture becomes very popular. Picture even reaches third place on a Mexican metal popularity list, behind KISS and Black Sabbath.

A new Israelian singer Shmoulik Avigal joins the band.

Picture is invited by KISS to join them in a Mexican tour. Everything seems taken care of but unfortunately there is no money to pay for the flying tickets.

The third album Diamond Dreamer, recorded with Shmoulik and co-produced by Pete Hinton (Saxon) and Jan Bechtum is a great success!

Chriz van Jaarsveld is added to the band as a second guitarist to boost the band's live performance.

1983

After a small fight between Picture manager and Shmoulik, the Israelian singer is fired. The English singer Pete Lovell replaces him.

Picture does a small tour in Israel. Right after this tour Jan Bechtum leaves the band for different reasons. Later on Picture is invited to the Donnington festival but the new guitar player Henri van Maanen is not ready for this and the show is canceled.

The new album Eternal Dark is released but the original Picture sound has gone although the production of the album is again the best ever.

Drummer Laurens Bakker leaves the band.

1984

The album Traitor is recorded with only one original band member left (Rinus).

An invitation to the great Rio festival must be turned down (again) due to financial problems.

1985

The album Every Story Needs Another Picture is recorded almost entirely by studio musicians. The only reason to record this album is the contract with Phonogram. Again a sad milestone in the Picture history.

Former Vandenberg vocalist Bert Heering joins the band.

1986

The album Marathon is the last album Picture would record.

1988

Picture does a single reunion concert in Sliedrecht. The original line-up with Laurens Bakker, Rinus Vreugdenhil, Jan Bechtum and Ronald van Prooijen shakes Holland for the very last time. There was much hope that the four would stay together to do regular shows but organizers were scared off by the huge amount of money Picture management asked for a show. Unfortunately the Picture members did not know this and would not have agreed.

1995

Jan Bechtum starts a new rock band with Mark Maas (drums) and Jos Adema (bass).

1996

When the search for a good vocalist seems to fail they decide to reform Picture hoping for more chances to find a singer.

1997

In January lead singer Michel Zandbergen records a demo with Picture and decides to join the band. A new Picture is born.

1999

After two years of club tours, the new incarnation of Picture is unable to secure a record deal, and Jan disbands the group. Jan goes on to found an IT company in Holland.

Meanwhile, the other members of Picture are involved in various projects. Ronald is singing for a band called Exist and guitarist Chriz van Jaarsveld is playing in a band called Jetland.

2001

Thanks to the efforts of longtime fans signing an online petition, Double Dutch secures the rights to Picture's first four albums, and releases them for the first time on CD. Picture 1 and Heavy Metal Ears are released on one CD, and Diamond Dreamer and Eternal Dark are released on one CD.