The year 1981 is the birthdate of Sjako! The name comes from a parrot appearing in the Dutch tv series ‘Swiebertje’. The parrot Sjako belonged to the character Malle Pietje. The second derivation is from a historical character in the Middle Ages. Sjako was a Robin Hood-like character who in Amsterdam stole food from the rich to give it to the poor. First members of the band are Wouter Planteijdt, Ramon Hamel (drums), Romeo Sinester (bass) and Steven van de Broecke (guitar). Also Ella Engbersen sometimes sings in the band. The next year Sinester is replaced by bass player Thijs Vermeulen. It’s the start of a collaboration between Planteijdt and Vermeulen that continues until this day.
In that same year Hamel is replaced by Ron Jansen. Two other bands that keep Planteijdt busy are Zog (‘82) and Grin (‘83). In 1984 the Sjako! cassette Ape Tape is released. Steven van de Broecke leaves the band. The next year the first album on vinyl is recorded and released in 1986. The album is influenced of King Crimson. In 1987 and ’88 Planteijdt and Vermeulen play in the band Reflud, led by Hans Dulfer. A period of hard work with three or four sets a night. Drummer Jansen is replaced by Jaap Vrenegoor. This leads to the release of the album L’Amour Qui Fait Boum... in 1989. In 1990 Sjako! tours with Adrian Borland. It’s a period in which musical horizons are broadened. In that same year Secret Skin is released. An album that leans heavily on rocking and howling guitars. Sjako! contributes to the tour of the band The Flame. Also in 1991 they play on the famous rock festival in Roskilde (Denmark).
In 1993 one more cd is recorded by Sjako! as a trio: Livewire. Produced by George Kooijmans from the Golden Earring. In 1994 Sjako! becomes a quintet. Keyboard player Victor Heeremans and guitar player Alan McLachlan join the band. Due to the wish to give more attention to the song instead of freaking around. Atmosphere and vocals become more important which can be heard on Once Upon A Revolution (release ’95). Drummer Jaap Vrenegoor still contributes to this album but leaves the band afterwards. His place is taken by René van Collem. In 1996 the 2 Meter Sessions hits the record stores. It consists of live studio recordings that were produced for the Vara radio show of Jan Douwe Kroeske. An album that is recorded in only four hours. The year after Planteijdt contributes to and produces the album Bartales of Bartel Bartels. It still leaves time for Sjako! to release their own cd Note. In 1998 the band takes a sabbatical for 1.5 year which gives Planteijdt the opportunity to work on his own solo-cd ‘Planteydt W.’
At the end of 1999 a new drummer joins the band: Richard Heijerman. Sjako! does a lot of touring as a trio again before a cd is recorded. The album Page is released is 2000 and the cd presentation takes place in the Amsterdam record store Concerto. The cd creates publicity and 2001 is mainly spent to touring. Somewhere around this time Planteijdt and Heijerman start to play in the band Ma Rain. A band formed around singer-songwriter Marijn Wijnands. The year after (’02) Planteijdt produces again, this time for J.W.Scholte and band (Joke Scholte). The release of the second Planteijdt solo-cd is postponed until 2003: Jotter’s Whiffle is an acoustic roots album with original compositions and covers of Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright III.
In 2004 another side project is taken on: touring with the WS Walcott Medicine Show, later called Tribute to The Band. Also in that same year Planteijdt produces (and plays on) the debut cd of Ricky Koole: Who's Suzy. In 2005 Planteijdt and Vermeulen contribute to the cd of Bob Fosko, "Omgekomen In Overschot". Recordings for this cd are done in a private house in France (released 2006).
Also in 2006 Planteijdt and Vermeulen played in a theatre show about the Blues Brothers. The show knew an extensive tour schedule around the Netherlands. Even though, Planteijdt found time to produce the cd of Beatrice van der Poel: Langzaam Los (2006). Both Planteijdt and Vermeulen also contribute musically to the album. This year (2007) the band MaRain released their cd 'Harbour'. Planteijdt and Heijerman play in the band, the cd was produced by Planteijdt, and Thijs Vermeulen (among other musical colleages) contributed musically to this album. Also released: the second cd of Ricky Koole, with lots of songs that are perhaps unknown to a large audience, but should not be forgotten. Planteijdt is one of the contributing musicians. Later this year Sjako! collaborates with Jeroen van Merwijk for his cd Vrij! (Planteijdt is also producer). The year 2007 has already brought new Sjako! concerts. The summer of 2007 was used for a second recording session in the house of Bob Fosko in France. This lead in February 2008 to the release of Fosko's cd 'Gat in de markt'.
In May Sjako! collaborated with Maarten Veldhuis (alias Larry Cook) for his new cd 'The Love Interest'
The best news of 2008 is: it won't be long now before the new Sjako! cd-release. Working title: Lucky Spots. Provisional release date October '08. New songs are on the way :)
(sources for bio: information on www.popinstituut.nl and www.sjako.nl , the video-streams on www.wah-wah.nl and the history of yesterday)
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