Kayak is a Dutch rock band formed by Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman in Hilversum in 1972. In 1973, their debut album See See the Sun was released, including three hit singles. Their popularity was mainly in the Netherlands, with their top hit "Ruthless Queen" reaching No. 6 on the Dutch charts in March 1979. They disbanded in 1982 after releasing nine albums.
Diesel is a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the relatively few Dutch acts to chart in the U.S. when their song "Sausalito Summernight" entered the U.S. Top 40 in 1981.
Ton Scherpenzeel is a Dutch keyboardist, composer, lyricist, and founding member of progressive rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum. Scherpenzeel is the only Kayak member who has played on every Kayak album. Apart from composing the music, writing lyrics, and playing keyboards, he also plays accordion, occasional bass guitar (for instance on the entire Nostradamus album) and double bass. He also provides backing vocals and sings lead vocals on the song "Love's Aglow" on the original Merlin album. In 2021, Kayak released their 18th studio album, 'Out of This World'. Ton announced Nov/2021, that Kayak will embark on their 'Farewell Tour' (Spring/2022) throughout countries: The Netherlands, England, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. This will take place during the 50-year anniversary of the band. He did not rule out the possibility of occasional reunion performances. Scherpenzeel has a notable fear of flying, that has limited his touring to the European continent.. Subsequent to Kayak, Scherpenzeel was also occasional keyboardist of Camel, a British Progressive Rock band. Ton was the keyboardist on several Camel albums: Stationary Traveller (1984), Pressure Points: Live in Concert (1984), Dust and Dreams (1991), Rajaz (1999) and he performed live on Camel's 2003 Farewell Tour. He also played several years with Earth and Fire.
Stationary Traveller is the tenth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. Like much of Camel's output, it is a concept album, in this case centering on the trials of East German refugees attempting to cross the Berlin Wall from East Berlin into West Berlin. The album also touches on the theme of politics between the two different government ideologies. It is the last Camel album to be recorded on the Decca label.
See See the Sun is the first album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released by Harvest Records in 1973 and reissued by Pseudonym with two bonus tracks in 1995, and again in 2012.
Wilhelmus Frederikus "Pim" Koopman was a Dutch musician best known as the drummer and percussionist of rock band Kayak.
Max Werner is a Dutch vocalist, musician, and drummer. He was the lead singer, drummer, and percussionist of the progressive art rock band Kayak.
Starlight Dancer is a 1977 album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was produced by Jack Lancaster and Kayak.
Phantom of the Night is the sixth studio album by Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. "Ruthless Queen" was released as a single, becoming the band's biggest hit, nearing the top of the charts in the Netherlands.
Johan Slager is a Dutch musician best known as the original guitarist of rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman, and Max Werner in 1972. He left the band in 1982 after nine albums, and returned briefly for a couple of performances in the 1990s. When Kayak reunited in 1999, Johan was replaced by Rob Winter.
Periscope Life is the seventh album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, originally released on LP in 1980. The first CD issue (1993) had 2 bonus tracks. In 1998, the album was part of the Double CD 3 Originals
Merlin is the eighth studio album by Dutch band Kayak. The first half of the original LP is a concept fantasy story about Merlin the Magician. The second half of the LP is a collection of individual songs.
Coming Up For Air is the 13th studio album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was released in 2008. The song "Undecided" was a single in The Netherlands, featuring the non-albumtrack "Beat The Clock".
Kayak is the second album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released in 1974 and reissued by Pseudonym with a bonus track in 1995.
The Last Encore is the fourth album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. It was originally released by Mercury Records in 1976 and issued on CD in 1995, with a re-release by Universal in 2002.
Merlin - Bard Of The Unseen is the 11th studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. This concept-album is a new version of side 1 of their 1981 album Merlin, with nine new songs added.
Eyewitness is an album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. The original LP was released in 1981. The album was recorded 'live' in a recording studio, with some overdubs added later. To create a 'live' atmosphere, Kayak fans were invited later to cheer and clap to the already recorded songs. The CD release was transferred from the original tapes, so it doesn't have the audience participation. The album has three new songs: Eyewitness, Who's Fooling Who and Only You And I Know.
Close to the Fire is the 9th studio album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, released in 2000. It was a comeback album, the first since their split in 1982. The line-up was almost the same as the one that recorded the album Royal Bed Bouncer in 1975. Only guitarist Johan Slager was not involved. He was replaced by Rob Winter.
Nostradamus – The Fate of Man is the twelfth studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Kayak. The album charted only for three weeks.
Friendly Folk Records is an independent record label based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2017 by music journalist and entrepreneur Kathy Keller. The early label roster represented mostly 'up and coming' folk artists from various genres, including Celtic Folk, Traditional Folk, Pagan Folk, and singer-songwriters. Friendly Folk Records is the sponsor and host of Friendly Folk Stage at Fantasy Fest Rijswijk every March and October.
