Ir. Vendermeulen (Amsterdam) is best known for promoting the ultracool sounds of 'The Golden Age of Music' (1950's / early 70's). He does this by DEEJAYING, playing SAXOPHONE and THEREMIN, recording MUSIC and PRODUCING events.
Some history! In the early 80's, Ir. Vendermeulen owned a 2nd hand clothing store in Haarlem, called Rip Kirby Ent. Besides clothing, he also sold records, magazines and other cool stuff. It was during this time that he organised his first parties, in and around Haarlem and Amsterdam, where he played records from his extended R'n'R/R'n'B/Soul/Ska-collection.
Through the years Ir.Vendermeulen's musical tastes developed, but always the fantastic sound of "The Golden Age of Music" kept his main interest.
In '98 deejay-duo De Teutonics was formed, together with Gerrit-Jan van Ham, specialising in what they called "Bule-Bule à Go-Go": a blend of French YéYé, 60's Europop, Soul, Beat, Jive and Crazy Cover-versions from all around the world, all spinned from original vinyl on vintage turntables. The duo worked together for 5 years.
In early 2003, as a reaction to the poor nightclub-action at the time, a group of friends and colleague-deejays (Ir.Vendermeulen, Charley Rhythm, Wilf Plum, Eddy de Clercq, Piet Popcorn) started Amsterdam BeatClub. Their goal was to bring the cool sounds of the fifties and sixties back into the clubs. The very first ABC parties took place at ultra-small Amsterdam underground venues and proved to be a great succes.. so more parties came and venues grew!
Nowadays, Amsterdam BeatClub is produced by Ir.Vendermeulen and considered an important organisation for Vintage Music in Holland, with a steady following from around the country and outside.
In 2007 Ir.Vdm teamed with Charley Rhythm & Koos van Dijk to do a series of Burlesque-nights at The Comedy Theater in Amsterdam, called Tease-à-GoGo. They were Holland's very first Burlesque all-nighters! From now on Burlesque had the platform it needed for a long time and a Dutch Burlesque movement could develop. The parties where an instant succes, and after this other Burlesque events developed, some of which still run succesful today..
As deejay the Ir. likes to dig deep in the vaults of music history. He is best known for his hard-grooving sets filled with steaming, often obscure, but always soulful music, played from the original 45-RPM's. Main ingredients: early R'n'B, Soul, Boogaloo, Rock and Roll, Beat, Mod-Jazz, Boogie, YéYé, Funk, Ska, Surf, Exotica, Popcorn, 60's Garage ..all 50's/70's dancefloor fillers!
Many dj-gigs are done using his vintage turntables, even spinning ultra-rare 78RPM-records. Together with Charley Rhythm the Ir. constitutes dj/vj-duo The Scopi-Tonics.
Saxophonist Ir.Vendermeulen, often using his a.k.a "Mr.Mills", works with different musicians and groups: Georgina Peach & the Savoys, The Kopasetics, Messer Chups, Lady Marmalade & The Beatnik Cats, Working Voodoo Club, The Skepticals, Sue Moreno, La Sirène, Jacqueline Taïeb, The Spinshots, The Anacondas.
He can sometimes be heard as thereminist, for instance in "Music To Be Murdered By", a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. With The Anacondas, a live soundtrack was made during projection of the Cult-movie "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (Jap.'63) for Rocket Cinema.
Together with companions Goffredo Santovito and Fabrizio Carrieri, Ir. Vendermeulen founded TARDAM RECORDS, a records label specialised in releasing 60's dancefloor music on 7" records.. nine supergreat 45's have been released since 2015!
Ir. Vendermeulen has a booking agency, where many bands and dj-acts can be booked: ABC-AGENCY. Check it out folks!
There are many plans for more projects, shows, parties and recordings in the future ..the best is yet to come!
