Since their first edition in 1974, Paaspop has become a real phenomenon among Dutch festivals. From Herman Brood to Kane to the Golden Earring, they have all been on the lineup at one time or another. And as the festival finally kicks off on April 15, we thought it was time to look back at 10 of our favourite Paaspop memories!

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10. Massada - 1974

During the first edition of Paaspop in 1974, the organization aimed for 1.000 visitors. However with the arrival of, among others, Massada, who scored a big hit that same year, the festival attracted over 2.000 visitors. Massada was known for their light show, but this became a real challenge due to the limited amount of companies for light and sound. It turned out that Massada could power the whole of Schijndel for just the sound and lights.

9. Uriah Heep - 1987

After three gigs in Germany, the rock band Uriah Heep visited Paaspop in spectacular fashion. In the break before the gig, the tour manager asks for their money. This is no problem and Paaspop pays. However, the crew who were traveling with the band didn't know about this and they pulled the plug without mercy. The light and sound go out and the crew wants to see their money before they continue. After a small discussion, and the acknowledgement of the manager that they have already been paid, they continued playing.

8. Band Zonder Banaan - 1996

Twenty-seven years ago, BZB stood for the first time on the stage of Paaspop. During this 22nd edition, the festival moved for the first time from the stables to a smaller tent. In that tent about 500 visitors fitted. Fifteen minutes before BZB started everything was cordoned off. Nobody could enter the tent anymore. This was a memorable moment for the band: they were seen. The best thing about Paaspop, according to frontman Fred van Dijk, is that you never know. It can be a sunny day but also bad weather.

7. El Guapo Stuntteam - 2005

In the vein of melodic, fierce bands, we encountered the Belgian band El Guapo Stuntteam at Paaspop 2005. The Belgians played staged blues-hard rock. El Guapo Stuntteam doesn’t like bullshit. This band is like a boxing match with Mike Tyson. You are chanceless in the first round and before you know with you are blown away. They were jumping all over the stage, playing on their knees and anxious to get some reply from the audience. Overall, El Guapo Stuntteam was a cheerfull start of Paaspop 2005.

6. Goose - 2008

The men of Goose may seem like an oddity, but the similarity between DJs and Goose was almost the same. The band jumped from climax to climax, which managed to get the audience on board time and time again. It's not surprising that they are back at Paaspop a few years later.

5. Peter Pan Speedrock - 2010

What was Paaspop without the performances of Peter Pan Speedrock? The men from Eindhoven managed to put on a show during Paaspop 2010. For a moment they seemed to put the audience on the wrong track with a kind of Karma To Burn tribute in the form of a low instrumental song. After that, the band played as we knew them. Fast, simple yet energetic punk rock.

4. Skunk Anansie - 2013

According to many, Skunk Anansie was a real crowd pleaser during Paaspop 2013. A real show woman with a powerhouse voice. She dances, jumps and kicks around. Flirts with the cameramen, the audience and her band members. Partly because of her voice, charisma and performance, Skunk Anansie knows how to win the audience over. This has left the band with a great impression.

3. La Pegatina - 2013

This seven-piece from Spain managed to win over the entire audience with one note during Paaspop 2013. With a guitar, bass, trumpet and drums, they look a bit like a Spanish Rowwen Hèze. During their performance they do not stick to the rules. By changing vocals and instruments, they knew how to bring a varied set of songs. The whole thing was like carnival. Complete with confetti, polonaise and their version of Er Staat Een Paard In De Gang, the enthusiasm was infectious. An absolute favorite of Paaspop.

2. Golden Earring - 2016

Although Barry Hay, George Kooymans, Rinus Gerritsen and Cesar Zuiderwijk are already over 70, for one day in 2016 they managed to bring Paaspop to a perfect climax. With their amazingly long guitar solos, they managed to fill the hall for two hours. The audience sang along to the biggest hits louder than the frontman. The atmosphere was immediate, the experience clearly visible and the audience enjoyed all the nostalgia they could find in the songs.

1. DeWolff - 2019

A perfect mix between Las Vegas and Woodstock: that's the Limburgse band DeWolff. Rock music combined with other music genres in which a guitar is used. Everyone knows how to play their instrument to the fullest and they drove the audience crazy. The guitar was even compared to a trip on LSD. You completely immerse yourself in the music and the colors around you. A trip you needed after an afternoon and evening at Paaspop.

Show us how wrong we are

You probably don’t agree with the list above, do you? Of course not, there is no such thing as one top list for everybody. So don’t hold back and show us how wrong we are. Download the Gigit app and share your favourite gigs!

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