MARTYR - UTRECHT (UTRECHT) 1982

BIOGRAPHY: Martyr was founded in Utrecht in October 1982 by guitarist Rick Bouwman. His purpose was to create a band with a more American sound which was different than the other Dutch bands who were more sounding in the NWOBHM style. After the band was formed, the guys rehearsed for 6 months till they released their 1st demo. The demo with the great title ‘If it’s too loud, you’re too old’ didn’t make the band members very happy and even for short while the band had plans too quit the band. Reasons were the bad sound quality, insufficient preparation, line-up changes etc., etc.
A month later the band decided to record another demo, but it had to be under better conditions. So in august ’83 their record a 2nd demo. ‘Metal Torture’ was released and it was the result the band wanted. The demo was sent all over the world. The reactions were very good and their status grew more and more. What band made very unique was their typical sound which you cannot compare with any other band. Especially the guitar sound from Rick was quite special. You can maybe describe it as Randy Rhoads like style with a progressive touch to it.
In the meantime the band replaced singer Robert van Haaren for Gerard Vergouw, a singer with lots of charisma and a great voice.
The demo gave the band opportunity to add a song, ‘Snow and Fire’, to the famous Dutch Steel sampler. Although the band was again not happy with the sound, it gave the band another boost.
Dutch label Megaton got interested after the band recorded in 1984 their 3rd 6 track demo. Megaton signed the band for 1 MLP. In 1985 the mini-lp ‘For the Universe’, which was in fact the complete 6-track demo, was released. What followed was a extensive playing on stage. The band was support act for a lot of bands. The band even played in Germany (together with Gravestone).
After some years of promotion in the USA, Metal Blade (finally)noticed the talent of the band and puts the song ‘En Masse’on the Metal Massacre part 6.
A next step was to record a full-length LP. After several talks with labels the band decides to sign a deal with a completely new label with big plans and a big budget called ‘Metalloid’. The band start the recordings and after some time their first LP ‘Darkness at Time’s Edge’ was a fact. Unfortunately the label didn’t full fill all the promises and got bankrupt. However, the LP got very good reviews in several mags. But due to the problems with Metalloid the LP didn’t got a good distribution. Of course a big disappointment for the band, but they decided to go on and released 4 more demo's with Addo Kruizenga on vocals. On these demo's Martyr played much more melodic rock rather then the stuff on their records. The band even played some old songs, but in a new version. But the band split up in silence. In the 90s Rick Bouwman founded his band My Brother Jake which was reasonably successful, and was also in Syrenade. Drummer Elias Papadopoulos worked in a tattoo shop, singer Gerard Vergouw became a successful lawyer and Toine van der Linden played in several bands. In 2001 the guys were asked to play at the HM Maniacs festival. They agreed and so after many years the band did a successful gig with playing all their classics. After this reunion Martyr slowly dissapeared again, until High Vaultage records released both the MLP and LP seperated (including bonustracks). Martyr where also asked to play at the Keep it True festival in Germany. In April 2005 Martyr did their second reunion gig on the Warm-Up party of Keep it True in Lauda. This was the last show with vocalist Gerard Vergouw. Later on Martyr agreed doing another reunion show, on Headbangers open Air 2006. Unfortunately Gerard Vergouw went to Columbia with his wife, so Martyr had to find another vocalist. In the person of Robert "Rop" van Haaren - indeed, the first Martyr vocalist! - they found a worthy replacement. At the moment it's unclear if Martyr will do another show soon.

(Stefan)

LINE UP:

Gerard Vergouw - Vocals (Other bands: Vangouw)
Robert van Haaren - Vocals
Adrian Quinten - Vocals
Addo Kruizinga - Vocals
Rick Bouwman - Guitars
Marcel Heesakkers - Guitars
Toine v/d Linden - Bass (Other bands: Vangouw, Jewel, Hot Legs)
Guus Riteco - Bass
Elias Papadopoulos - Drums


DISCOGRAPHY:

1982 If It´s Too Loud You´re Too Old (DEMO)
1983 Metal Torture (DEMO)
1984 Dutch Steel (Compilation - Track: "Snow and Fire")
1984 For the Universe (Album demo's: part 1 with Rop van Haren & part 2 with Adrian Quinten)
1984 For the Universe (MLP Megaton)
1985 Metal Massacre VI (Compilation - Track:
1985 Darkness at time's edge (Pre- recordings DEMO)
1985 Darkness at time's edge (LP Metalloid)
1986 The Last One To Run (DEMO)
1986 Raise This Heaven (DEMO)
1987 Coming On To Me (DEMO)
1988 Love On The Line (DEMO)

MEMORABILIA


Martyr Line-up pics




Old Martyr live pics