The “Original” Strikes

The “Original” Strikes

The “Original” Strikes are actually a reboot of the The Strikes, who at the beginning of this century, in the slipstream of the Red Devils, created furore with their legendary CD “Bathroom Acoustics”.

After a few years of going their separate ways, Pieter van der Pluym aka Big Pete (vocals/harmonica), Jody van Ooijen (drums), Roelof Klijn (bass) and Sjors Nederlof (guitar) decided in 2018, after a reunion concert, to start performing together again on a more regular basis. After all, The Strikes still belong to the crème de la crème of the European blues scene.

About 25 years ago, Big Pete was mainly active as a guitarist in various rock bands, but when he came into contact with the music of Lester Butler’s The Red Devils, he went full-on for the harmonica from that moment on.
He turns out to be a gifted talent on this instrument and after the tragic death of Lester Butler he is asked to tour with The Red Devils. They even open for ZZ Top.

Bass player Roelof Klijn has earned his stripes as an accompanist of various blues artists including Malford Milligan, and now also in the theatre tour “The Sound Of Blues & Americana” by Johan Derksen and several other formations.

Guitarist Sjors Nederlof has been active with Coup De Grace since he was sixteen, plus various national and international acts including Anouk, Jan Akkerman, Matt Scofield and is the winner of The Dutch Blues Guitarist Award 2011.

Then there is also drummer/swinger Jody van Ooijen the “King Of The Shuffle”.

Expect a good portion of hardcore blues, mean and dirty with a generous injection of rock’n roll.