And then, all of a sudden, you’ve caught up with the 27 Club. ‘Live fast, die young’ – but so fast that you’re old before you know it. André Manuel is now more than twice as old as Jim Morrison, Elvis Costello and Amy Winehouse – heroes of his youth who never lived past 27. If you drink, pop pills and smoke enough, you’ll automatically become a legend. Unless, that is, you survive and grow old. Alive, but not quite so hot anymore.
For die-hard rocker André Manuel, sex, drink and drugs were all part of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle he led, but now, sadder, wiser and sober, he simply wants to live life to the full. The programme ‘Volksheil’, based on the album of the same name with his current band Dancing Dollekamp, is a moment of reflection.
We attend the concert alongside just under 160 people who have made their way to the farmyard of Hof Kagelink Farm, set amongst the farmlands between Goor and Diepenheim. The backdrop of painted canvases flutters in the surprisingly cool summer evening against the backdrop of the famous Twente bocage landscape.
Deliberately small
Volksheil hasn’t been widely publicised. André Manuel deliberately wants to keep it small, as analogue as possible, away from the crowds and, above all, away from the general public. Because he’s had rather enough of the general public. On more than one occasion, his performances as a comedian have sparked controversy, including a particularly memorable performance during King’s Day in Diepenheim.
His flailing penis wasn’t exactly welcomed by all members of the local Oranjevereniging, but fortunately, years later, Manuel is now able to talk about it with a sense of perspective. Just as he can express his admiration for the passion of Raymond van het Groenewoud, who once dared to shout for love. And who is older than 27.
Better than the original
Dancing Dollekamp, Manuel’s current band, is therefore not just jokingly referred to as a ‘tribute band’ to Dancing Dollekamp. Tribute acts sell better than the originals. But that original is still much loved, certainly in the area where we now find ourselves: Hof Kagelink Farm. In the middle of nowhere. We can hear plenty of the seventies blues rock that Van het Groenewoud is a prime example of.
Surviving your first 27 years without becoming a global superstar can lead to grumpy old man behaviour. The risk is high, but André Manuel remains quite sprightly. He’s simply too keen to start moaning just yet. Besides, he’s far too happy to be a Tukker for that – even though the bus only runs once a day, the villages are dead quiet at 11 pm on a Saturday night, and the flags are hanging upside down yet again.
The most controversial comment André Manuel made was that, fortunately, there were still people in Twente who were hospitable towards foreigners. Not everyone present responded to this with equally enthusiastic approval.
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