The Outsiders

Although a Cleveland combo called the Outsiders notched several mid-sixties hits, their namesake from Amsterdam achieved something rarer during the same era. Never issued on an American label while active and yet performing exclusively in English, the Dutch quartet ranked among the Netherlands’ most successful domestic acts between 1965 and 1967 and later earned cult status among scholars of beat-era music. Historian Richie Unterberger argued that the group “could issue a serious claim for consideration as the finest rock band of the ’60s to hail from a non-English-speaking nation,” while Richard Mason devoted an essay to them as “the most underrated band ever.”

Formed in 1964 by Wally Tax on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ronald Splinter on lead guitar, Appie Rammers on bass, and Lendert “Buzz” Busch on drums, the Outsiders cultivated an eclectic sound that absorbed R&B, folk-rock, pop, and beat elements, later incorporating psychedelic touches. After establishing themselves as a formidable live attraction and recruiting second guitarist Tom Krabbendam, they made their recording debut in 1965 with the original coupling “You Mistreat Me” b/w “Sun’s Going Down,” issued by Muziek Express. Unusually for the period, the band never recorded outside material. As their reputation for high-energy performances spread—occasionally resulting in venue bans—they supported visiting British groups such as the Pretty Things and the Rolling Stones. Following a second Muziek Express single, they moved to Relax Records.

In 1967 the label released their debut album, simply titled The Outsiders, which paired studio tracks with live recordings. That year the single “Summer Is Here” b/w “Teach Me to Forget You” reached the Dutch Top Ten, and a compilation of their earlier 45s also appeared. Departures in 1968 reduced the lineup when Tom Krabbendam and Appie Rammers exited; Frank Beek joined on bass and keyboards, and the guitar chair remained vacant. When Polydor absorbed Relax, it issued the group’s third album, CQ. The title, an amateur-radio call meaning “Is anyone listening?,” signaled an adventurous blend of beat foundations with experimental psychedelia and avant-garde textures. Limited promotion—reportedly only five hundred copies pressed—contributed to the band’s dissolution in 1969.

Ronald Splinter left music altogether, while Wally Tax and Lendert Busch formed Tax Free. A 1997 reunion tour proved successful, yet the group’s history concluded permanently with Wally Tax’s death in 2005.