Some of the most talented rockers in Cape Town teamed up to give new life to the late 80`s satirical album masterpiece EET KREEF! – Johannes Kerkorrel and Die Gereformeerde Blues Band made headlines in those tumultuous years and EET KREEF! became one of the top iconic alternative Afrikaans album releases at the time.
The younger (than 80`s) generation musicians that recorded this goosebump- live-rendition of EET KREEF! are Laudo Liebenberg (aKING) – vocals, Frank Freeman – guitar and vocals, Sheldon Yoko – drums, Schalk van der Merwe – bass, Mikhaela Kruger – keyboard and vocals and Nicole Mitchell – backing vocals.
Watch ‘Sit dit af’ below
Frank Freeman, who initiated the project (live shows and album), explains how it all came together: “I recently rediscovered Johannes Kerkorrel`s music and was amazed at just how relevant these tunes still are. I felt compelled to work with it.
The EET KREEF HERLEEF! shows that we did so far, showed me that people are quite emotionally attached to these songs.
It made me realize that we are busy with something more than just a re-interpretation of the music, we are also re-delivering this important music from 3 decades ago, just in another time and context. It is evident that is it still as relevant as back then.”
Liebenberg, after being asked what it feels like to have to fill the legendary shoes of Kerkorrel, said “It is daunting at times yes, but an incredible energy to work with. We did not want to make a ‘tribute album’, but rather offer our own interpretation. Respecting the music and lyrics of the original is key to the result.”
Jannie Hanepoot van Tonder, from the Gereformeerde Blues Band listened to EET KREEF HERLEEF! He says: “Excellent renditions of the songs by top musicians. While listening to “younger” people playing the songs I realized the timelessness of the music.
Up to this day, when we play the tunes, we are transported back into those complicated days in the 80`s; we easily forget that Ralph`s words are so universally relevant.”
The EET KREEF HERLEEF! live show will be presented at Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on Friday 27 March. Freeman recently noticed that it is also Johannes Kerkorrel`s birthday on this same date. ‘This is so cool. We were not aware of this. It makes this show even more special for us to play.”
Tickets R220 HERE
Also look out for EET KREEF HERLEEF! shows at the US Woordfees on 15 March and at KKNK on 24 and 25 March.
Album download HERE
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