T99 - Prinsentuin Leeuwarden - Archief - Brook Report

MF de Ruiter started playing drums when 16, by force of the police. Got involved with r 'n' r and blues at age of 18 when he started playing with local Groningen band Matchless. Then moved on to punkrock and rockabilly which led to the punkabilly band Grave Diggers from 1994 to 1999. From then on played in numerous bands covering blues, rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, soul, country, punkrock, noiserock, garagerock 'n' roll and psychobilly in bands called Blue Band, Lucky Daltons, Hot Pockets, Drugs, Hellzaboppin, Sandfly, Bob Sleigh and the family Snow, Kempes and Wild Berrys. Currently been seen playing with The Drugs and the re-started Grave Diggers. Mischa den Haring; guitar, mandolin and vocals, was born on the 8th of May 1971 in Utrecht. Started making music when he was about 8. Caught by the blues by hearing a Buddy Guy tune on the radio at the age of 12. Later started to grow more into country, rock 'n roll, punk, soul, surf and jazz. His first recordings were for a compilation CD called 'Blues United' with Blues artists from around Groningen in 1991. From 1993 until 1998 he worked as vocalist/guitarist in a 7 piece Swing/Jump&Jive band called Jumping The Blues. In 1998 he moved to Amsterdam where he joined the Boyd Small Band. In 1999 he formed the band T-99 with bassplayer Thijs Gorter and drummer Henk Punter. For four seasons Mischa was part of the Night Of The Blues Orchestra (2002 till 2006) with which he toured with greats like Paul Oscher, the Radio Kings, Long John Hunter, Terry Evans, Guy Forsyth, Hans Theessink, Ellis Hooks, Tony Lynn Washington and many others. He was part of sideproject "Serpents of the Nile" in 2005 and 2006. In the past Mischa toured and/or played with Byther Smith, Roscoe Chenier, Paul Orta, The Paladins, Gene 'Mighty Flea' Conners, George Baker, Bennie Jolink and many many others... Upright bassplayer Donné la Fontaine was born on the 27th of July in Maastricht. The first instrument he started to play was the trumpet when he was about 8 years old. A year later he switched to saxophone. He discovered the blues through his brothers record collection; a record of Muddy Waters changed his life. His love for the upright bass came when he was 18. Besides this instrument he also knows how to work the ukulele and guitar. The first band he played in was Square Ronnie & the Drapes (1991-1992). He played over 5 years in the Bellhops after that. He recorded an album with this band named 'Wild, Wet & Juicy' and backed up several Rock 'n' Roll stars like Billy Lee Riley and Ray Campi. In 1999 he formed the Harmony Two Tones. He also played in the romantic 20- & 30-ies style group The Serpents Of The Nile. Donné is a member of T-99 since the summer of 2003. Filmed and edited by Tjalling Brookman, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.