Rob Berends
Rob Berends (born 1957) started bringing international bands
to Holland in 1981. This was in the wake of his work at the
local rock club in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, which brought
international bands to Holland because Dutch booking agents
did not offer the right bands.
Rob's brother Ruud joined Rob's activities soon after, and
later a name was chosen: Paperclip Agency.
The agency specialized in bringing (originally mainly punk
rock and reggae) bands over for the club circuit, first in
Holland and Belgium, but with Creation Rebel the agency expanded
into Germany.
The Feelies from New Jersey were the first band for whom Paperclip
Agency booked a full European tour (mid eighties). This resulted
in many satisfied promoters and clubs all over Europe and
in the start of a well-established name with artists, labels
and managers in North America.
US labels like SST, SubPop, TwinTone and Amphetamine Reptile
were quick to discover the 'new way to tour Europe' and bands
like Nirvana, Helmet, Hole, Screaming Trees, Lemonheads, Soul
Asylum, Walkabouts, Doughboys, Mudhoney and many many others
picked Paperclip Agency as their European agent.
The success and the artist focussed way of working did not
go unnoticed. Paperclip Agency had discovered and helped develop
a European club circuit unknown to the average European agent
(basically the London based agent). Stiff competition followed.
Many bands and artists continued to choose Paperclip Agency,
like Pere Ubu, AndrČ Williams, Nova Mob, Spain, Cosmic Psychos,
Motorpsycho, Jeff Mills, Hellacopters, Marky Ramone, Dee Dee
Ramone (r.i.p.), Femi Kuti etc.
Currently bands and artists like Chuck Prophet, Little Axe,
Mark Stewart, The Nomads, The Box Tops, Big Star, Alex Chilton,
The Church, eX-Girl, Greg Sage (Wipers), Speedball Baby, Dead
Moon, Royal Beat Conspiracy, Viva L'American Death Ray, Pharaoh's
Daughter and others are with Paperclip Agency.
Paperclip Agency also started an informal meeting place for
smaller and bigger agents and promoters from all over Europe
(originally called The Network) in the mid eighties. The Network
met twice a year, every time somewhere else in Europe, and
had meetings, plus two nights of showcases with talent from
all over Europe.
The Network was active from the mid eighties to the early
nineties, when the large established agents and promoters
from all over Europe started to meet at the ILMC in London.
Since late 1999, The Network (now called Network Europe) is
active again, is now a formal Association, has bi-annual meetings
and will see a lot of activity in 2004. Rob Berends is currently
chairman of the 5-members board.
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