Year : 2009
Style : Hard Rock , Melodic Rock
Country : Netherlands
Audio : 320 kbps + scans + Video
Size : 138 mb
Bio:
Robert Kempe (Leusden, December 4, 1968), better known by his stage name Robby Valentine, is a Dutch singer and founder of the band Valentine.Kempe grew up in Leusden. He started his musical career as a keyboard player, but on his later solo albums he took on a large part of the instruments. In addition to various keyboard instruments, he also masters the guitar, bass guitar and drums and percussion. His work is strongly influenced by bands such as Queen, Toto, The Beatles and in his more recent work also by Placebo, Marilyn Manson, Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars. He is the frontman of his band Valentine.Let me take you back to the beginning, how I started to develop my love for music. We had an old upright-piano at home and when I was still busy with my toys and blocks my mother was often playing it. I mostly remember Chopin waltzes and Mozart sonates, which I would hum along to. (so she told me) The piano and a small accordion became favourite toys. When I was 6 I finally was allowed to get real piano-lessons and only a few months later the absolute k.o. was already there on the silver screen. A revelation to me. Late 1975. There he was: Freddie Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen! From that day on I knew what I wanted to do with my life: Become a Rock Artist. Not only the sound touched me to the core, the visual aspect was as much as important. It was crystal clear to me, this was my calling. And nothing else would matter.I kept that faith, didn’t even finish high school. So no back-up plan. Fortunately my parents were on my side, supporting me with everything. The best I could ever wish for. Besides Queen there were The Babys who stole my heart, with my other big hero: singer John Waite, Electric Light Orchestra and The Beatles. Those were my biggest influences when I grew up. A few years later I started to play some guitar, but had to admit I was better on the keys. Joined my first ‘real’ band when I was 14, T. Vistix. A ska-reggae pop band. They were the ones to corrupt me with the eye liner. It was 1983, it was allowed, even fashionable for guys in a band. There was my excuse, super-shy as I was I followed their example. And it got a little out of hand in the future.Back to music. One year later we broke up and I joined the rock-band Spoiled Brats which I was a fan of. At that time I started to develop the song writing. And I got the chance to sing a few songs and overcame my shyness in that. With my next melodic-rock band Line we had some modest national success. We reached the finals of the National band contest "The Great Prize Of The Netherlands" and we had a lot of airplay with our single ‘Solitary Nite’. Even appeared on the legendary Dutch pop program ‘TOPPOP’. I left Line to form a new melodic-rock group called 1 st Avenue. Did a lot of gigs in Holland from 1987 until 1989. Well on our way I grew a big frustration as just being the ‘posing’ and jumping idiot behind the rack of keyboards. But because of bronchitis, hay fever I thought I had to forget about my dream to become also a lead singer. But the hunger for that just was unbearably huge and I realized I had no choice to do all I could to overcome that handicap as much as possible.So during the recordings of 1 st Avenue’s debut album I left the band to start a solo-career. It took 6 months of demo-ing until I signed to Polydor. In the meantime of writing and recording more songs for my solo debut I became a temporary member of Zinatra. Recorded the album ‘The Great Escape’ with them. Did some radio and TV and a toured Holland from late`89 untill early`91.Fall 1990: The recording of ‘Robby Valentine’ with producer/engineer Erwin Musper in the famous Wisseloord studios. It took 2 years from signing the deal until the release. In the mean time I met my current manager Willem de Bois who ‘heard’ a hit single in the piano ballad ‘Over and Over Again’ which I planned for a b-side. He advised me to turn it into a Rock-Ballad. So I did make a demo and the ball started to roll. They asked my favourite American producer/engineer Humberto Gattica to do the song and he accepted. Recorded in Holland with engineer Attie Bauw (who later that year did 2 nd single Love "Takes Me higher" with me) and mixed in Los Angeles (studio Ground Control). It was released as my first single in the autumn of 1991 and became a hit in the Netherlands and several Asian countries.Formed a great live-band to tour Holland in the first half of 1992. Bass: Arthur Polini, Guitars: Rob Winter, Drums: Hans Eijkenaar, Keyboards: John Ewbank. We also did lots of radio and TV shows. We rehearsed a lot on the harmony-vocals, since it was such a big aspect in my music. On the recordings I layered my own voice endlessly together with my friend Johan Willems. But that was of course impossible to reproduce on stage. However in those days it was against the law to play with back-up tapes for live. And I didn’t want to have a backing-vocal group on stage. That would take the whole ‘rock & roll’ band feeling down to a family affair. So each band member had to be able to sing as well. And not to mention accepting me terrorizing them. They took great pride in it and did a fantastic job. We were ace. Those were the days.In 1993 we recorded the 2 nd album "The Magic Infinity" with Pim Koopman and John Sonneveld, again in Wisseloord. We were offered to do the German leg of the 1993 Brian May – Back To The Light tour. That was our absolute dream come true. But the problem was, we didn’t have a drummer. 4 days before the first show we found Juan van Emmerloot. He turned out to be the perfect drummer for my music, and saved the day. Also with the extra help of Johan for backing-vocals, the Valentine-band sounded better than ever and that tour became one of the highlights of my musical-life. However unfortunately soon after that we grew apart, except for new drummer Juan, and I recorded most of the following record by myself again. During that time, 1994, Polydor Japan released my first 2 albums. Invited me for a fantastic promotion tour. We still played some nice gigs in Holland and Belgium including a huge outdoor event "Mega Music Rock Experience" with headliner Aerosmith.But one year later after finishing the 3 rd album ‘Valentine’ (1995) the band disbanded. A few tracks on that album were recorded and mixed by John Tilly and some others mixed by British engineer Matt Butler, both at Wisseloord. I was offered to come back to Japan for live-concerts. So had to form a new live band. The new line-up became: Guitars: Vinnie Kay, Bass: Bert Dijkema, Keyboards: Giovanni Pileri, Drums: Juan. After 2 months of intensive rehearsals, some try out gigs in Holland, we went to Japan. (Spring 1996) It was the best musical experience so far, performing for this fantastic Japanese audience. The band was real tight and they also did a great job on the harmony vocals.Back home I started to write and record the 4 th album ‘United’, and returned to Osaka-Japan to write most of the songs. Most of it was mixed by Matt Butler, at the Wisseloord studios. It came out in Japan, June 1997. Went back for promotion. But times had changed drastically. My dad passed away.End of 1997 Japan released mini x-mas album ‘Christmas In Heaven’. 1998, No Sugar Added. I had a hard time getting myself inspired enough to write a complete new album so I re-recorded a few songs from the past.Fall 1998 I teamed up with Valensia Clarkson to start ‘V. We signed a 3 album contract with Universal Japan and the first saw the light of day in the summer of 1999. Recorded with Juan van Emmerloot and David Clarkson, Valensia’s brother, on drums. Mixed and recorded by Holger Schwedt at Wisseloord and Bullit Sound. Later that year we went to Japan for concerts. The line up: Drums: Juan, Bass: Patrick Buys, Vocals-Guitar: Valensia, Vocals-Piano-Gtr: Me.In 2000 I made the "Believing Is Seeing" album. Recorded the basics ‘live’ in the studio, with again Juan on drums, at Fendal Soundstudio’s by Hans van Vondelen. He also mixed the album. It was released in November from that year. In 2001 I recorded my half of the 2 nd V-album. Released summer 2002.From the Autumn of 2002 till Autumn 2003 I made the "The Most Beautiful Pain". Right after that I started a side-project named Kyssmet. For this I wanted to find a female vocalist instead of singing the lead myself. Through my friend Peter Strykes I found Filipina singer Alyss Andico. She was the perfect singer, everything I hoped for to find for the project. We recorded the Kyssmet album in 2004.Also at that time I teamed up again with Valensia to do the 3 rd V album: NYMPHOPSYCHOSCHIZOPHONIC. End of 2004 I recorded another solo album with the working title: "Who Killed Robby Valentine ?" But just lately I realized I’m not dead yet after all. I hope to have some information very soon according the release of the albums to begin with the long awaited "The Most Beautiful Pain".
Album:
To support his comeback to touring, some years ago Robby VALENTINE put out "Androgrenius", a two CD release subtitled 'Past' and 'Future'. The past decade, after a break Robby Valentine returned with the album The Most Beautiful Pain, a very diverse record. Still heavily influenced by Queen but also many different other styles of music even including the theme to Back To The Future. A year later Falling Down In Misanthropolis was released, a much darker sounding album,. Sadly this album was also only released in Japan so the market in Europe was deprived of a good album.So "Androgrenius" is a compilation album which leans heavily on these last two albums plus new recordings, originally only available from his website and concerts. Now it's available world wide with this 2018 reissue.When Robby Valentine created this compilation album he did not just grab a bunch of songs to be scattered in random order on some shiny discs.This disc called "Future" represents Robby's harder / modern / guitar driven side and showing the new direction he wanted to take with his band.'Save Myself' features Dutch Idols star Marlies. She made an acoustic album which was written, arranged and produced by Robby and in the future they would collaborate in a band called Aniday.People expecting another romantic love ballad will be in for a surprise as '4th Rate Razorback' is a dark rock song with many bombastic elements and a catchy chorus. It sounds very modern and a chorus with a "Nanananananahahah" preceded by some glam rock Def Leppard style. Many well known elements welded together in a good rock song.'I Should Have Known Better' also represents the darker part of Valentine, the lyrics are about the betrayal of a loved one. A little more glamour because of the flashy sounds and a high multi vocal Queen-like chorus.'Over And Over... Again' is a rebuild version of his hit-single - slow and heavy this song strolls on slowly, increasing in pace and energy and very different from the piano ballad it used to be.The intro to 'Falling Down' could have been stolen from Queen, the rest of the song maybe too? Following this is 'Make Way [For The Messenger]', a sing-a-long hard rock song. Live it is sung by Peter Strykes, former Vandenberg vocalist, he is a guest musician on the album but sadly not for this song.Now Robby is a very good piano player which he shows in the 'Piano Solo' with classical influences from Chopin and Tchaikovsky.'A New World' and 'I'm Going Under [Sedated]' are both rock songs from The Most Beautiful Pain, whereas 'Fear Of Heights' is also rocking song in but more bluesy. Not only live, but also on this this recording Peter Strykes contributes to the vocals giving it just that bit of extra power.The next two song are covers. First 'SOS' from Abba is sung by bass-player Lilo - this version during the chorus is a bit faster than the original version, a real killer live song. The next is of course a song from Queen, 'Flick Of The Wrist'.'Exodus Elephantes' is a short heavy guitar piece, the closing song off The Most Beautiful Pain. Can't tell why but I just really like this piece, gives me goosebumps, always.'I Can't Get Over You' is a great grand piano ballad with a lovely atmosphere.If you missed 'Androgenius / Future' back in the day this is your opportunity to discover a great selection of songs, not just an ordinary 'best of'. So tracks were remixed so are not the same of the the original albums
Line Up:
Keyboards, Backing Vocals [The Valentine Band] – Johan 'Jay-Jay' Willems
Bass [The Valentine Band] – Liselotte 'Lilo' Hegt
Drums [The Valentine Band] – André Borgman
Drums – Juan Van Emmerloot, Matt Butler
Guitar, Violin [Violtar], Backing Vocals– Cyril Whistler
Harmony Vocals – Johan Willems, Valensia Clarkson, Vinnie Kay
Drums & Piano – Hans van Vondelen
Guest Vocals – Marlies Schuitemaker (1), Sigrid Slagmolen (6), Lilo(11), Peter Strykes (tracks: 9, 10)
Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Piano, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Sampler, Programmed By, Percussion – Robby Valentine
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Save Myself [Alternate Version]
02. 4th Rate Razorback
03. I Should Have Known Better
04. Over and Over…again
05. Falling Down
06. Make Way (For the Messenger)
07. Piano Solo
08. A New World
09. I'm Going Under (Sedated)
10. Fear of Heights
11. S.O.S. [Alternate Version]
12. Flick of the Wrist
13. Exodus Elephantes
14. I Can't Get over You
CD2:
01. Back to the Future Theme
02. The Magic Breeze (2008)
03. What in the World I’m Waiting For
04. Over and over Again (2008)
05. No Turning Back (2008)
06. Dear Dad
07. She (Abandoned Heart)
08. Just a Dream (Someone Sold the World)
09. I Believe in Music
10. The Cold and Lonely Lie
11. Visionary Victim
12. The Way to Get Home
13. Believing Is Seeing
14. Rock Me Like a Hurricane
15. I Believe in You (2008)
16. Rise and Shine (The Victory Anthem)
+ Video "Save Myself" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
