the romans

Powerpoptrio (Laurens Leurs - Frank Coonen - Chris Leurs), from Neeroeteren-Maaseik (Belgium) that surfed the airwaves between 1987 and august 2000, Humo's Rock Rally-finalist (Silver Medal in '88) and very good at harmonious powerpop with guitars, melody and chorus. "Get to know them and see them grow between The Beatles and Motörhead, between Maaseik and Beverly Hills", a journalist from a leading weekly wrote.Their recording output:- Ball & Chain (Green – 1989, only on vinyl) - Trigger Happy (Play it again Sam - 1990) - Major panic (Play that Beat! - 1993) - Be my star (Play that Beat! - 1996) - El Diablo (Oyster Records - 1998) - So Far (Oyster Records - 2000)The Romans didn't turn the world topsy-turvy but operated in an area marked out by The Beatles, The Posies, Hüsker Dü and their likes, that is: a zone with ingeniously constructed popsongs filled to the brim with keen vocals and pronounced melodies that stick to your mind like chewing gum.Although their talent was well-appreciated by the alternative rock-audience and recognized by the critics, they didn’t manage to produce a general breakthrough to a bigger audience or markets abroad. But as Singer Laurens stated in 1993 "I am glad with our position as underdogs. It is the most comfortable position to be in as a musician. I don't want to have to prove myself constantly. ... The Romans will never be the next big thing.". Still, an independent daily stated once: "If they should have had Minneapolis on their birth certificate, they would probably be a lot more famous." And right they were!