Van Dammes Explained

Van Dammes are a Finnish four-piece garage punk band from Helsinki, originally formed in Brussels in 2013.

Already their first recording, The VD EP, was noted in various music blogs in 2014.^[1] It was also the New Music Show's record of the week on Radio Helsinki.^[2] As their fast and concise style became more known, the second EP, Better Than Sex, gained attention of the two major Finnish music magazines Rumba and Soundi in 2015.^{[3] [4]} The EP was recorded in a same place where Ramones performed in the 1970s.^[5] It includes tributes to a Yugoslav flight attendant Vesna Vulović and a man called Frank Tower who supposedly survived the sinking of three ocean liners.^{[6] [7]} Van Dammes have also released a tribute song to a Japanese ski jumper legend Noriaki Kasai.^[8] In 2017, with their third EP, Vild Days, Van Dammes dug deep into the oldest roots of punk.^[9]

Van Dammes have actively toured Europe, and are currently recording for German Rockstar Records.^[10]

Discography

Extended plays

• The VD EP (2014)
• Better Than Sex (2015)
• Vild Days (2017)
• Risky Business (2019)
• Finally There (2021)

Singles

• Vesna (Flash in the Night) (2015)
• Thunderbirds Are Go (2016)

Compilations

• The Best of (2017)

Music videos

• Daniel (2014)
• (Let's) Go (2014)
• Olé, Olé, Olé (2014)
• Lisbon, I Promise You (2014)
• Mr Noriaki Kasai (2014)
• Vesna (Flash in the Night) (2015)
• Frank Tower (2016)
• Thunderbirds Are Go (2016)
• Punk Rock Drummer (2017)
• Every Fourth Year (2017)
• Risky Business (2019)
• Tax Free World (2020)
• Finally There (2021)

Notes and References

1. News: Album review: Van Dammes – The VD EP. Scene Point Blank. 2017-07-19.
2. Web site: Radio Helsinki. Facebook.com. en. 2017-07-21.
3. News: Kiitoradalla 1/15: Esittelyssä mainiot yhtyeet At the Hollow, XES, Samat nimet, Van Dammes ja Lasten hautausmaa - Rumba.fi. Rumba.fi. 2017-07-19. fi-FI.
4. News: "Alan haluaa mennä veljiensä kanssa yökerhoon katsomaan Cliff Richardia" – Perjantaibiisinä ja Ensinäytössä Van Dammes: Thunderbirds Are Go - Soundi.fi. Soundi.fi. 2017-07-19. fi-FI.
5. Web site: Van Dammes: Flash In The Night — by Nicolette Mallow Rank and Revue. Rankandrevue.com. en. 2017-07-19.
6. Web site: Finnish band releases Vesna Vulović single. EX-YU Aviation News. 2017-07-19.
7. Web site: Van Dammes – Better Than Sex – EP out now! VILD Music. Vildmusic.com. en. 2017-07-19.
8. News: Mitä yhteistä on Noriaki Kasailla ja suomalaisella punk-bändillä? – IS kokosi 42 faktaa kokeneen mäkimiehen elämästä. 2015-02-21. Ilta-Sanomat. 2017-07-19. fi-FI.
9. Web site: Tune Up: Van Dammes Raise Hell In Helsinki// Music // BTRread. Btrtoday.com. 2017-07-19.
10. http://www.rockstarrecords.de/