Normally has been around for fifty years and that will be celebrated this weekend. They do that not only at the place where their story started, in Lochem, but also on Saturday in Pesse. With or without their Drenthe drummer, that is just the question.
Pesse and normal, there is a special bond between the village and the band. In 1977, the De Wenning Village House normally blows over. The band returns in 1978 and 1981. Not in the village house, but in a larger party tent. Twelve performances in Pesse followed, the last more than ten years ago. Always sold out.
Singer Bennie Jolink and then drummer Jan Manschot normally founded in 1974. The farmer’s rock band from the Achterhoek makes its live debut on 8 May 1975 during the Lochems Popfestival. In addition to Jolink and Manschot, bassist Willem van Dijk and guitarists Jan Kolkman and Ferdi Joly appear on stage.
Two years later the band really breaks through with their hit Othinning. This song is still loudly sung in party tents. “Normal is for several generations,” says Bernard ten Oever, organizer of Muziekweekend Pesse, who expects a full tent again this weekend. “The band is loved as a real peasant rock band. That is good here in the north.”
Normally known for fun stairs, also because of the band ‘Høken‘ named. It has become a household name among the ‘anhangers’, as the normal fans call themselves. “It is part of the upbringing,” says Ten Oever.
The tours, or ‘campaigns‘, went throughout the country for years. And since 2003 the kick -off was in Pesse every year. “That parade to people who come this way with tractors and cars, that is an experience,” says the organizer of the Music Weekend. “Everyone comes for a big party. Never is a bullshit or hassle, the atmosphere is always good. Everyone comes for the same thing: celebrating a party.”
That traditionally includes the beer shower. “If De Haan starts to crow, that is the start of a performance, then it is a big rain of beer. With normal you know that it happens, no one of them is served by another concert.”
The band has seen several band members pass by in the last 50 years. Among them is Fokke de Jong from Zuidlaren, who drums with the band for 24 years. But someone has always remained the same, lead singer Bennie Jolink. De Jong: “Bennie is someone with a lot of charisma. You just have to stand there. He is rare, you don’t have much of it.”
With rehearsals recently it was old boys’ currant bread again, De Jong looks back. “We have always had a good relationship with each other and you will notice that now.” At the jubilee concerts, according to the drummer, you will be able to notice that the band has become a bit older. “Bassist Willem van Dijk has to be there nowadays, he is also 78. And the voice of Ben, there are kraakjes in it. But we all want to make music, that is in our blood. I can’t live without it, do it for pleasure.”
And that is why he is on stage tonight for 26,000 people. “That remains special, you don’t play for that every day,” laughs De Jong, who plays nine songs. He does that together with his successor Timo. “Most songs were still there. At most, the shape has changed a little.”
After the anniversary concert in Lochem, the concert in Pesse awaits this weekend. Organizer Bernard ten Oever calls it special that the band is again taking a campaign to Drenthe. “All tickets were sold out within an hour.”
“The magic of Normal will be felt here again,” drummer De Jonge is convinced. But the performance is probably without him. Although? “I would only play in Lochem, but it was still mentioned last night. In any case, I was free on Saturday, so who knows I can still participate in a few songs. It will certainly be an old -fashioned fun and nice big party.”