Musician Armand gets a street name named after himself in his birthplace Eindhoven. The street names committee of the municipality voted for this week, after Fan Jan Schlimbach and former road manager Antwan van de Kerkhof sent a letter to Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem in February. It is not yet clear where and when the Armandstraat or perhaps the I am too minute. “As long as it is not Armandweg, because Armand should never leave people’s mind,” laughs Jan.
In November it is ten years since the singer, musician, cannabis lover and sixties icon Armand died. Schlimbach and Van de Kerkhof thought that was a great moment to honor the special musician and his repertoire.
“Armand was not an everyday appearance. On the contrary, he was colorful, striking and intelligent. He was quirky, but at the same time extremely lovable”, could be read in the letter she wrote to Mayor Dijsselbloem in February.
The answer that came to the letter this week surprised them. “The letter came in and I assumed that it was a rejection. What friends of mine from Eindhoven were skeptical. And I was not sure if the municipality was able to value his artists,” says Jan from Groningen, who has been a fan of the musician who scored a big hit with ‘in the hippie time since 1975I am too little. ‘
“A big surprise.”
“It was a big surprise that the committee responded positively to the proposal. They advised the Municipal Executive to name a street, square or avenue to Armand. Where and when it comes is not yet clear,” he says.
Jan does not matter much where the protest singer will be honored or what the street will be called. “The Armandstraat or Square is of course the most beautiful. As long as it is not Armandweg, because Armand should never leave the minds of people.”
He hopes that the street name will be there as a homage to the singer and great cannabis lover. Former tour manager Antwan van de Kerkhof is busy with a manifestation around the death day of Herman George van Loenhout, as the musician was really called.
“Still relevant.”
It should be a day with music, images and photos that are reminiscent of his special repertoire. “His message is still relevant. Certainly in a world that is increasingly hardening,” Van de Kerkhof said earlier, referred to a text by Armand.
“The Dutchman is a flour bag. You can keep beating, he never stands,” Sings Armand in the song. “A beautiful song and still relevant,” says Van de Kerkhof.
Jan hopes that the municipality sees it as an opportunity to honor more artists from Eindhoven with a street name. “There are many building plans in Eindhoven. The municipality could name a whole neighborhood after musical greats,” he suggests.
