'Archive Material 1999/2000'
For Glastonbury '99 reviews click here!
Interview
with Frans (September 2k)Interview
with Frans (September 2k)<1>
When did you first hear about Journeys End?
When
Journeys End played the Pandemonium in 1996 they asked 'Johnny the Fox'
(the coverband I've played in since 1984) to support them. The place was
packed!!!
<2>
As the newest member of the band, when and how did you come to join?
Some
time after the Pandemonium gig I met Paul in a supermarket. We talked about
life and music and I told him I would like to play originals instead of
covers. Steve's sister then lived around the corner from me,
I met him a few times while he was digging her garden, then when Jan decided
to leave the band, I found a note in my mailbox, saying,
"Gezocht:
ambitieuze bassist voor (grunge) rockband met toekomst".
I
started practising in november 1997, five weeks later I played my first
gig with Journeys End in Bristol. (UK)
<3>
Why bass guitar?
At
the age of 14, I bought my first guitar & amp for 60 guilders!
When my friend nextdoor started to play the guitar as well, I switched
to bass guitar so we became a 'band' called 'Fixed Orbit'.
From that moment on I was a bassist, it fits my character!
<4>
What guitars, amp & effects etc do you use?
A
Musicman Stingray with 3-band eq, a 70's Fender Precision bass and a handmade
fretless bass. My amp is a 70's (again!) Kustom 150 watts.
I use a Zoom bass effect pedal but I don't really like it.
<5>
What car do you drive and what would you like to drive?
I
own two 1976 Citroën 2CV's, a spécial and an AZU (van).
I also have a 1986 Yamaha XT600 Ténéré motorcycle
and a 1998 Citroën Xsara 1.8i 16V.
I would like to drive a Citroën (again) Traction Avant or DS. (oldtimers!)
<6>
When did you last get drunk?
Drunk?...........Don't
remember.............................
<7>
What do you do on Saturday afternoons?
Do
some construction in my 1898 home, maintenance on my vehicles, go out for
a
ride and/or spend time with friends.
<8>
What is the last thing you do before going on stage?
Shit!
<9>
What venue do you really want to play?
Glastonbury
mainstage.
<10>
What are your top 5 albums & why?
I
don't really have a top 5 of anything, I like a lot of different bands
and my taste changes in time. (and with my mood)
<11>
What is the best gig you've been too and why?
Looking
forward to the Radiohead-gig next saturday!
<12>
Who was the last person you kissed?
My
ex-girlfriend
<13>
Who would you like to kiss?
My
next girlfriend..................................................................
>>>>>> That's it <<<<<<<
PRESS RELEASE
ATTACK RECORDS & FILMWORKS
are proud to announce the signing of leading Netherlands independent band
JOURNEYS END
The band has been in the studio over the past month recording their debut release in Toronto at Phase One Recording Studio’s. The process was a long one and the band has recorded what we feel is a First Class ‘break-out’ album! You can see the session and hear about their crazy Canadian Adventure below!
Jay
Thomas
VP
Director of Operations
Attack
Records & Filmworks
Tel:
+1-416-340-9111
Fax:
+1-416-340-1941
Email:
attack@interlog.com
Saturday 13 May 2K:
The plane was late. A big thunderstorm in Toronto had delayed
the plane 5 hours, so we’d waited at home.
Peter
had arrived earlier in the day from the UK, but was rescued from a long
wait at Schipol by Martijn. When our flight finally took off
the ride was fine, although the food somehow was not so good.
Anyway, we arrived at Toronto International Airport at 11.15pm.
After a few minor details at Customs, we entered Canada, and met Mark Berry,
producer of the new Journeys End album, so far untitled. We
were stuffed inside a Nissan Pathfinder and were driven to the Scarborough
Inn. The place is not really something to write about, so we’ll
leave that out. However, we had a good night’s rest.
Sunday 14 May 2K: Today we have done something close to nothing. Martijn has watched Star Trek all day, Steven, Paul, Frans and Peter have discovered the Wal-Mart and had coffee and breakfast there. It was good day for settling in and getting used to the time difference. We had a beer at the corner.
Monday 15 May 2K: This has been a strange day. Around 11am Mark picked us up at the Scarborough Inn and drove us to Phase One Studios. Here we met up with Jay thomas (JT heads up the day to day operations at Attack), and assistant engineers, Dave and Jason. JT told us about his soccer career.
Around
1pm the gear arrived at the studio and setting up started.
Martijn set up the drumkit. He has brought his own snare drum
and cymbals. The drumkit is a Yamaha Sessions DrumKit.
The drumkit is now surrounded by micropohones, set up to record every detail.
After the drumkit has been set up, the bass amplifier and guitar amplifiers
were set up. Frans is using his own bass guitars (Musicman
Stingray & Fender). The amplifier he is using is an Ampeg 300.
Steven is using two amplifiers, a Mesa 5150 and a Fender Twin Reverb and
plays his own guitars (Fender strat & Ibanez Artist).
Paul is playing on a Marshall JCM 800 and a Fender TwinCab, and his own
guitars (Fender).
After
set up, the soundcheck started. This took 3 hours, especially
as the bassdrum and toms played up. Around 7pm we were all
ready to record a few songs. We recorded all the potential
songs on DAT, just to have them for reference and producer’s interest.
Recording is an energy-consuming process, which led to us ending the session
at about 11pm.
Tuesday
16 May 2000:
We are now set to begin
recording for real. Details on the recorded songs will eventually
be announced, but not yet! Paul and Steven record some ideas
for a song on DAT, to keep for later. Frans and Martijn are
waiting for the producer and technician to arrive. Peter is
watching the recording from the control room.
Our engineer is Dave
Tedesco, assisted by Jason Sanger with Mark producing.
It’s Drum & Bass time. The coming four days will be dedicated to recording the Drum and Bass tracks.
Friday
19th May 2K:
Left the studio at 1.00am
this morning with Marijn having completed all the drum tracks!!
Good job!
Today has been spent with Frans laying down some exellent bass tracks, eating mexican food & bagels, and drinking lots of coffee. The bass stuff should be finished tomorrow,
Sunday off and then onto the guitar & vocal tracks from Monday.
No gossip I'm afraid, its been all studio & sleep so far!!
Saturday 20th May 2K: Today Peter was up early, as usual. He walked to the studio to watch 'his' Chelsea play on tv. However, he couldn't find it on the 78 channels, so he looked it up on the internet later and found out they had won 1-0, FA cup winners again! Frans went to the Wallmart to have breakfast and do some shopping, then he walked to the studio to finish off his basstracks, (Paul, Steve and Martijn were still asleep when he left the motel). Five more songs to go and the new Journey's End album has got the basic ryth'ms! Standing next to Dave and Jason at the desk, he played the songs, and when the lazy bunch came walking in, there were only three songs to go. At 23.00h all finished, everybody was tired but satisfied and went home with Sunday off.
Sunday
21st May 2K: In the morning, Peter woke up the band, as usual,
with orange juice, coffee and bagels! Then off they were, to
do the tourist bit, taking the subway to downtown Toronto, getting off
at Kings. Wow! Like most big cities in the world,
Toronto has got a lot to offer! Walking down one of the avenues
they were waved into the entrance of CFNY 102.1 (the Edge) radio station
by the DJ, Visnja who was broadcasting live from the foyer!
When she found out the guys were a band from Europe, recording their debut
album in Phase One Studio's in Scarborough, she offered to put the band
on the guestlist for a party that night in the Whiskey Saigon, a popular
club on Richmond Street, offering three stories of entertainment! 
After having a coffee
and some real serious food at the Torontonian Hardrock-cafe, the band dragged
their manager, who is afraid of heights, up the world's tallest construction,
the CN-tower. In the end, he was OK, enjoyed the fantastic
view, although he wouldn't walk on the glass floor. While they
were up there, enjoying a beer, they witnessed an accident way below them
on the freeway, resulting in a car being upside down, with lots of police
cars, fire engines, ambulance etc.
Later,
arriving at the Whiskey Saigon, the band passed the queue at the door and
walked right in upon mentioning the name Journey's End. They
played a game of pool, had a few beers and checked out the floors upstairs,
to find two eighties disco-parties with lots of lasers going on.
Because Steve has got to be fresh in the morning to begin his guitar tracks,
and the band had a train to catch, they left around midnight.
Thursday
25 May 2K: The last few days, Steven has been working on the guitar-sounds.
This is very difficult and time-consuming thing, so the last days the rest
of the band is laid-back and they're listening to the sounds of the guitars.
Today is different. Paul has been putting the vocals to the
songs and Martijn has put some backing-vocals on track too.
Furthermore, some songs are being finished in terms of percussion and guitar-solos.
Friday 26 May 2K: After a couple of hours, the recording-crew was ready to start another vocal-session with Paul. This time different songs were done and again the whole band is giving input into the overall sound of the songs. Peter has had discussions with Jay Thomas about the marketing-plan for the new album and the way in which Attack likes to proceed with the masters of the songs. Paul and Peter had a swim in the swimming pool, which is in the same building and is free of use for people who work in the building. There is also a sauna and a gym.
Saturday 27 May 2K: Paul and Steven are working on a song in Studio B. The song has a lot of different guitar-tracks, played by both Paul and Steven, so they are working together on this "project". The song is almost finished. Martijn and Frans have rented a car (Ford Explorer) for Sunday.
Sunday
28 May 2K: Today is the second day off. The band has
set their mind on going to Niagara Falls. 12.30 AM they left
for Niagara Falls by taking the Queen Elisabeth Way towards Hamilton.
This road leads all the way to the border with the USA at Fort Erie.
About 25 kilometres before Fort Erie, the car has turned east to Niagara
Falls. At the first sight of the Falls, Paul jumped out of
the car, while the rest were trying to find a parking spot.
This was found after a 3 mile drive to the edge of town where the 'People
Mover' took' em back to the Falls.
The
Falls are pretty impressive, but the biggest surprise was the town of Niagara
Falls. It is the most touristic town in Canada.
It looks like a fun-park! There's a casino, very many shops
with souvenir T-shirts and more shit like that. Anyway, the
band had a meal in the restaurant and then strolled on in wonder of this
strange city.
After the visit to Niagara
Falls, Paul thought it would be fun to visit the States. The
bridge in Niagara Falls separates Canada from the USA, so by crossing the
bridge, the band arrived in the state of New York. Because
they hadn't yet been into the States, they had to leave the car and their
passports behind, which were sent to the Immigration and Naturalization-office.
At the office every band-member had to fill in a form in which they declared
not to have been part of the Nazi-regime between '33 and '45 and not to
carry any drugs or guns into the country. After this (and $6)
they entered the States. Back to the car. Paul wanted to have
has picture taken under a sign saying, "Welcome to New York", but as he
got out of the car and walked over to sign, a US-customs officer shouted
at him. Paul got back into the car, but the officer came to
the car anyway. He thought a picture of him was being
taken and that's probably not allowed.
The
ride took the band to Buffalo, NY, a town completely empty, except for
a religious parade. After driving through Buffalo for half
an hour, the band wound up in a bar having beer. At 10 PM the
drive back started, which took us through Niagara Falls again.
The Falls are illuminated at night, so that was a pretty sight.
After this, there was only the QEW to take us home to the Scarborough Inn
Motel.
Monday 29 May 2K: Peter,
Paul and Frans got up early and left on foot to the studio.
Steven and Martijn returned the car to Avis and went to the bank.
After this they took the bus to the studio. Upon arrival, Paul
was already singing the first verses to a song. At this point,
Steven, Paul and Frans are in the studio working on the recordings of guitar-tracks.
This week will see the end of the recording and the start of mixing the
record.
Tuesday 30 May 2K: With
most of the tracks now having guitar-tracks on them, we are entering the
phase in which we are listening to the songs and deciding on what kind
of "extra's" should go on the album. Things that come to mind
are backing vocals, harmonies, percussion, extra guitar tracks with experimental
sounds. Let's call it the fine-tuning of the album.
With David Tedesco being off for a couple of days, David Keen has reappeared
as sound engineer. Together with Steven he has worked in Studio
A on the 'feedback'-guitar tracks. Martijn and Frans have been
supervising the recording of this part. As another 'somewhat
famous' band is about to start recording in Studio A, we can only
use this studio for one day. 
On
the other hand, a grand piano has been set up in Studio A and Martijn takes
the opportunity to record some piano-tracks for two songs.
The sound of a real piano
can't be beat. Meanwhile Paul has been singing quite a few
tracks with Mark behind the console. In the evening, the band gathered
for a session of working out different ideas in regard to the songs currently
under construction. The sound is great, the feeling of recording
a great album is there!
Wednesday 31 May 2K: Today Peter went home. Private matters in England made him decide that he needed to catch a plane earlier than hoped for. The band now have to take care of themselves! Recordingwise, solo-guitartracks and lead vocals have been taking up much of the day's time. David Tedesco is back to record.
Thursday 1 June 2K: Again,
today has seen most of the time going into recording lead vocals and guitar
tracks. But the end is near. The schedule has been
brought back to one sheet of remarks. There is however a Dutch
saying: "The last bits are the hardest". Martijn has taken
the opportunity to visit a cinema and watch: "Mission Impossible 2".
Frans has taken care of the food, while Steven and Paul are recording.
Friday 2 June 2K: Today was OK! A lot of songs are now becoming more and more finished and we are wondering about the mixes. It will take enough time to finish the actual record so we are working hard to that final goal. Today has been about backing vocals and percussion. We’ve worked untill 4 in the morning.
Saturday 3 June 2K: Not so early out of bed I’m afraid. The days are getting longer and longer. Starting time is 12 noon, we finish in the middle of the night. And still we are working on the final thoughts of this record. Basically we are recording all kinds of stuff: vocals, backing vocals, guitar solos, percussion, synthesizers etc. All of this will be on the record – or not. That will be decided on by producer, engineer and band.
It’s 4 in the morning: we’re done! It’s all on tape now. All we have to do is mixing. Tomorrow will be a lazy day. Staying in and around the motel. Playing football, watching TV, talking and drinking coffee.
Tuesday 6 June 2K: The first days of mixing have resulted in a enormous sound. The quality of the band is now showing. To some songs you can’t stop dancing. It’s hot!! It’s coming together.
Yesterday Karin and her husband Bob dropped by, Karin is Steven and Martijn’s Canadian cousin from Missasauga. Impressed with the music and the studio, they and the band went for coffee, while Dave Tedesco worked on another mix.
Tomorrow we’ll be flying for Schiphol, Amsterdam and we’ll leave the place that we’ve spent three and a half weeks in behind.
Thursday 8 June 2K: We’re
back in Holland. A couple of strange things happened on the way.
We almost missed the plane because some band members were too occupied
with the staff of a tax-free shop. Karin showed up to wish
us all a safe flight home and gave us some Canadian presents.
Martijn struggled for a place next to the window, but eventually wound
up with two seats next to each other so Frans joined him.
Paul and Steven had some
physical interaction during the landing in Montreal.
Back at Schiphol after a calm flight, the real world came around the corner again and we all were welcomed by friend, parents and a load of girls. Too bad the girls weren’t there for Journeys End. Oh well…
Thanks for reading. Get ready for Journeys End! We’ll be out there!!!
Interview
with Peter (January 2K)
Lisette
& Friends
The
lovely bartender, Helen
Two days later, JOURNEYS END rolled into London to play an emphatic set @ The Red Eye, Kings Cross.
Steve,
Paul & Frans @ The Red Eye
I'm buzzing! I'm high! I'm in a cold sweat! I've just stepped off a rollercoaster and its called JOURNEYS END! Their best ever night but they don't even know it!
Somewhere around 9pm, Paul, Steve, Frans and Martijn, with their manager, Peter and sound engineer, Paul, are pacing around the centre of Cheltenham like wild animals, in search of food. They arrived this morning from Holland, but not for the first time, they've already played the Glastonbury festival this year, gaining national publicity in Holland in the process.
Now I've been savaged by their emotional onslaught at the Axiom Centre! Support band 'LAST TAXI' played a professional set to a partisan crowd, some of whom stayed on and were mesmerised! Here comes JOURNEYS END!
First song 'YOU' was a little muted due to minor technical problems but still electrifying nonetheless. Second song in was almost terrifying in its emotional intensity. Third song in and I'm really scared! Steve's guitar work has such verve and sensitivity! Now bassist Frans and singer Paul rock back and forward as Steve powers up a notch and the air crackles with intensity from the leviathan roar of Martijn's drums! 'BREATHE OUT', I wish I could but I'm already numb with shock! I thought I knew this band but they've been reborn tonight. A hard beginning, then 'THE BEATLES' and 'FLY LIKE AN ANGEL', I'm carried away by the voice of Paul Kalis. He connects! He sings in perfect english! He does look uncannily like Bono from U2! He tears out my heart again! I want to smile and cry at the same time. The sky bleeds, the walls are running red, the sea is mercury lapping at the harbour walls of Rotterdam. Now I'm angry as the music builds with the thunder of Frans' faultless bass, but still I'm carried away by the emotional undertow. Paul isn't just good, he's great, like a statesman or a saint! Already they're into 'GNOME' followed by a clever segue into 'THIS IS NOT A DRILL' (reminds me of Hawkwind)
This is not a drill! This is not a drill! Too right it isn't, this band isn't practising or going through the motions, JOURNEYS END are the best there is! I wonder how many people are going to say, "oh yeah, I saw JOURNEYS END in Cheltenham back in November '99....". Just like all the people who didn't see U2 in Cheltenham! You should ha' been there!
Dan James
Interview
with Paul (April 1999)
What
are your top 5 favourite albums? And why?
siamese
dream
smashing pumpkins
mellon
collie and the inf. sadness smashing
pumpkins
the
unforgettable fire
U2
never
mind
nirvana
(because
your family in law would be embarassed)
ten
pearl jam
What
do you drive? And what would you like to drive?
Hmm......
a volvo S40 ........... a BMW
When
was the last time you got drunk?
Last
Saturday
What
is the last thing you do before going onstage?
get
the creeps
Who
was the last person you kissed?
my
mother
Who
would you like to kiss?
....
and Emma
What
is your favourite venue you have played at?
several....
Paradiso Amsterdam, Bottom Line London, Guildhall Gloucester
What
venue do you really want to play at?
Main
stage Glastonbury
What
do you do on Saturday afternoons?
sleep
Absolutely
stormin' gig,
