K's Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp, formed in 1994. The band's core members are brothers Sam (lead vocals, guitar) and Gert Bettens (guitar, keyboard, vocals). Since 2014, the Bettenses have been joined by Bart van Lierde (bass), Tom Lodewyckx (lead guitar), Reinout Swinnen (keys) and Wim van der Westen (drums). The band have released seven studio albums to date, several of which have been certified Gold and Platinum by the Belgian Entertainment Association.
In the early 1990s, Sam and Gert Bettens played in a band together called The Basement Plugs. During this time, Sam appeared on several movie soundtracks as a vocalist including "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (originally by Hank Williams) for the movie Vrouwen Willen Trouwen ("Women Want To Marry") and a duet with Frankie Miller, "Why Don't You Try Me", (originally by Ry Cooder) for the movie Ad Fundum. He was offered a recording contract, and formed a new band with Gert in order to fulfil it. The band was originally named The Choice, recording and releasing their debut album The Great Subconscious Club in 1994.
During the initial formation of the band, the Bettens were joined by Jan van Sichem, Jr. (guitar), Bart van der Zeeuw (drums) and Erik Verheyden (bass). This iteration of the band toured Germany and the United States in support of the Indigo Girls. While in the U.S., the band discovered another identically-named act and changed their name to avoid legal problems. They decided upon "K's Choice" by going through the alphabet to see which letter would sound best in front of the word "choice". Since they thought they needed a story behind the new name, they initially claimed that the K referred to Joseph K. from Franz Kafka's novel The Trial, but later the band revealed the arbitrariness of choosing the "K".
Paradise in Me and "Not An Addict"
In 1995, they released Paradise in Me. "Not an Addict", the first single taken from this album, was successful and brought international fame. For the next year (1996–1997) they toured supporting Alanis Morissette, who heard the band playing on a European festival and handpicked them as her support band.
Cocoon Crash, Almost Happy and split
In 1998, the band released their third studio album Cocoon Crash. Meanwhile, American Eric Grossman had become the permanent bass player. In 1999, the band appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the episode "Doppelgängland" performing their song "Virgin State Of Mind". The song appeared on the soundtrack Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album. It was at this point that their drummer Bart van der Zeeuw had been replaced by Koen Lieckens. In 2000, their next studio album Almost Happy was finished and released in Europe in September.
In 2001, Live (a 2-CD collection of live recordings) was in stores in Europe while Almost Happy was released in the US with another cover and a second CD of some songs from Live. In 2003, Ten (a collection of ten years of singles and songs that did not appear on their albums, plus the brand new single "Losing You") was released, accompanied by a DVD bearing the same name.
In October 2002, the band decided to go on a sabbatical. Gert and Sam both wanted to try out some solo work. Gert produced an album for a Belgian band, Venus in Flames, and Sam recorded a solo mini-CD Go and appeared on several movie soundtracks with songs of his own ("All of This Past" for Underworld and "Someone to Say Hi To" for Zus and Zo). In addition to four full albums, a live album, and a best-of, they also produced four limited edition and fan club CDs: Extra Cocoon, 2000 Seconds Live, Home and Running Backwards.
More solo projects
In 2005, Sam released his solo album Scream in both Europe and the U.S., accompanied by a tour. Gert, having flirted[clarification needed] for a while with the band name Moon Brigade, announced his new band is called Woodface (which is also the name of one of his favorite albums from Crowded House). Woodface released its first album Good Morning Hope on 19 September 2005.[1] Sam released another solo album called Shine and Gert another Woodface Album Comet in 2007. In 2008, Sam released another album, Never Say Goodbye. Gert and his band Woodface opened at several of Sam's shows in 2007 and 2008.
In an 7 October 2008, interview with Austin Sound Check, Sam confirmed plans for a new album in 2009.[2] On 8 June 2009, six years after K's Choice announced their indefinite hiatus, the band's official website announced they will perform at the 35th edition of Folk Dranouter on 7 August 2009. In 2009, to celebrate the return of K's Choice on the international level, Sony Music released the compilation album The Essential K's Choice.
Return and Echo Mountain
K's Choice during a 2010 concert
K's Choice recorded their fifth studio album Echo Mountain in the Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina. On 22 February 2010, they confirmed on their website that the new album will be released on 26 March 2010. "When I Lay Beside You" and "Come Live The Life" were released as singles. In 2011, Sam and Gert recorded a follow-up to Echo Mountain in the form of an acoustic CD called Little Echoes. For this album and the following tour, the both of them were only joined by pianist Reinout Swinnen.
In 2013, Sam and Gert returned to Echo Mountain Studios to record an album as a side project under the name "Bettens" for a 3D documentary about an expedition to Antarctica, Beyond the Challenge.[3][4] The album titled, Waving at the Sun was eventually released under the K's Choice name in the U.S. and other countries in 2014.[5]
Private Revolution
K's Choice in 2015
On 6 February 2015, K's Choice released the first single "Private Revolution" of their latest studio album The Phantom Cowboy. A teaser video for "Private Revolution" was released to YouTube on 5 February 2015.[6] The video features concert and prior video footage of Sam and Gert. A video for the track "Bag of Concrete" was released on 12 June 2015.[7] The album was released on 5 February 2015 in much of Europe by Wallaby Records, LLC and distributed by Sony,[8] and on 18 September 2015 in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland by MPress Records.[9] In September 2015 the band released "Perfect Scar" as a single and video. The album was a Top 3 hit in Belgium.
In March 2016, K's Choice embarked on their first US tour in a decade in support of The Phantom Cowboy with longtime friends and, more recently, labelmates A Fragile Tomorrow.[10]
The Backpack Sessions, Liefde Voor Muziek and 30th anniversary
In late 2016 the band released The Backpack Sessions, as a companion album to the tour of the same name. It featured acoustic re-workings of songs from albums like The Great Subconscious Club, Cocoon Crash and The Phantom Cowboy. The album also featured cover versions of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" and Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself".
In January 2017, the band released a stripped-back re-recording of "Not an Addict." It featured Skin of Skunk Anansie as a guest vocalist, who had previously performed the song live with the group on several occasions.
On 24 March 2017, the band released an album entitled 25 as a retrospective of their 25 years as a group. The album included new song "Resonate" and the new version of "Not an Addict". The album went to #4 on The Belgian album charts.
On 16 March 2018, the band released a concert album entitled Live at the Ancienne Belgique, a double live album recorded in Brussels on 13 December 2017 during the 25th Anniversary tour.[11][12]
In 2018 Sam and Gert participated in the popular Belgian TV show Liefde Voor Muziek, in which they performed songs by Jasper Steverlinck, Within Temptation and Helmut Lotti a.o. Belgian singer Niels Destadsbader sang K's Choice's "Believe" on the show, re-worked to "Verover Mij", which became a top-five single nationally. At the same time the album Love = Music was released, featuring all Liefde Voor Muziek covers, which reached the top 10 on Belgium's album charts.
In December 2022 the band announced a 30th anniversary tour, a vinyl box-set and a brand new single Time Is A Parasite, which was pronounced Catch Of The Day on Studio Brussel on the day of release.
After an impressive series of sold-out birthday concerts on national and international rock stages in 2023, K's Choice are returning to an acoustic setting in theatres in 2024 where their voices and melodies are even more appreciated.[13]
Members
Current members
Sam Bettens – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–2002, 2009–present)
Gert Bettens – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1994–2002, 2009–present)
Reinout Swinnen – keyboards (2009–present)
Bart Van Lierde – bass (2014–present)
Tom Lodewyckx – lead guitar (2014–present)
Wim Van Der Westen – drums (2014–present)
Former members
Erik Verheyden – bass (1994–1997)
Bart Van Der Zeeuw – drums, backing vocals (1994–1999)
Jan van Sichem, Jr. – lead guitar (1994–1997, 1999–2002)
The Great Subconscious Club is the debut album of the Belgian band K's Choice recorded in 1994. It was originally produced under the name The Choice, but the band changed names. "Me Happy", "Breakfast", "I Smoke a Lot" and "The Ballad of Lea & Paul" were released as singles. The name of the album is taken from the lyrics to the song "Try To Get Some Sleep", the B-side of "I Smoke a Lot", which also appeared on the compilation Extra Cocoon. At this time the band merely existed out of Sam and Gert Bettens, who were joined by others.
Paradise in Me is the second studio album by Belgian band K's Choice. It was released in 1995 by Double T Music. In the United States, it was released on 20 August 1996 by 550 Music.
Cocoon Crash is the third studio album of the Belgian band K's Choice, released in 1998. Its singles were "Believe", "Everything for Free", and "If You're Not Scared". Musically, it is comparable to their second album, Paradise in Me, though with a generally lighter tone and subject matter.
Almost Happy is the fourth studio album by Belgian rock band K's Choice.
Sam Bettens is a Belgian musician and the lead singer of the Belgian band K's Choice.
Woodface is the third studio album by Crowded House. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and Neil Finn and was released by Capitol Records in July 1991. It features five singles: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums in October 2010. It was voted number 80 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).
Ancient Rites is a Belgian black metal band formed in 1988. Initially, the lineup consisted of guitar players Johan and Phillip, drummer Stefan, and Gunther Theys on bass and vocals. In 1990 the Dark Ritual demo was released in the underground scene, getting worldwide attention just as black metal was gaining importance in the metal scene. Soon after the release of this demo Phillip died in a car crash and not long after, Stefan committed suicide. However painful this episode was to the band, they decided to continue and Stefan's position was taken by his drum roadie Walter van Cortenberg.
Alain Johannes Mociulski is a Chilean-American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, whose primary instruments are guitar and bass. He is a founding member of several bands, including the alternative rock group Eleven, and has been involved with acts such as hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Lanegan and The Desert Sessions, both as a musician and as a producer.
Gert Bettens is the lead guitarist of the Belgian band K's Choice. He, with his brother Sam Bettens, is the face of the band.
The Zamu Music Awards was an annual awards show in Flanders (Belgium), where the most outstanding Flemish and international musicians of the past year were honored.
Picture is one of the first Dutch heavy metal bands. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances, and still have a fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.
A Balladeer is a Dutch band, originating from Amsterdam, founded by singer-songwriter Marinus de Goederen.
Eric Grossman is an American musician, best known for playing bass and recording gold and platinum albums with the Belgian band K's Choice.
Intwine was a Dutch rock band formed in 2001 by five students of the Tilburg Rockacademie.
"Not an Addict" is a song by Belgian rock band K's Choice from their second studio album, Paradise in Me (1996). It was written by the band's core members—siblings Gert and Sam Bettens—produced by Jean Blaute, and recorded at Jet Studios in Brussels, Belgium.
A Fragile Tomorrow is an American alternative/powerpop band from Charleston, South Carolina, United States, formerly from Montgomery, New York. The group formed in 2003 and included brothers Sean Kelly, Dom Kelly, and Brendan Kelly. In 2006, bassist Shaun Rhoades joined the group. The band has put out six studio albums, most recently the critically acclaimed Make Me Over in 2015 and Generation Loss in 2019. As of 2020, they were working on their seventh record and third MPress Records release. The band has shared the stage with/opened for Indigo Girls, The Bangles, Matthew Sweet, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Garrison Starr, Antigone Rising, K's Choice, Drivin N Cryin, Continental Drifters, Blues Traveler, The Cowsills, Danielle Howle, Susan Cowsill, Amy Ray, and more.
Tom Vanstiphout is a Belgian musician who has made four solo albums and has toured with Clouseau, Jan Leyers and Milow.
Echo Mountain is the fifth studio album of the Belgian rock band K's Choice. After a reunion concert at Dranouter festival in August 2009 the band started recording new material in the Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina. On 22 February 2010 they confirmed on their website that the new album would be released on 26 March 2010. "When I Lay Beside You" and "Come Live The Life" were released as singles.
The Phantom Cowboy is the sixth studio album by Belgian rock band K's Choice. The album was released on 5 February 2015 in much of Europe by Wallaby Records, LLC and distributed by Sony, and on 18 September 2015 in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland by MPress Records.
And Then Came Fall is a Belgian indie pop band with singer-songwriter roots based in Leuven, Belgium. Its members are Annelies Tanghe and Sam Pieter Janssens. Annelies Tanghe and Sam Pieter Janssens have known each other from playing in bands before they started And Then Came Fall in 2017.
References
↑ "Woodface". Woodface. Archived from the original on 2 February 2006. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
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