Do You Feel It - Music

Funeral Oration Was A Melodic Hardcore Punk Band From Amsterdam The Netherlands. They Were Active From 1982–83 Until The End Of The 1990s Putting Out Highly Influential Records On Dutch German British And American Labels. They Managed To Create Their Own Unique Sound Mainly Due To The Unmistakable Vocal Style Of Peter Zirschky. Funeral Oration Was Formed In April 1982 Out Of The Ashes Of Singer Peter Zirschky's Former Band – Last Warning – And Made Their First Appearance On The International Hardcore Punk Compilation "Raw War" After Only A Few Rehearsals. In The Next Months Recordings Of Those Early Practices Surfaced On Numerous Other Cassette-Only Compilations Around The World – Most Notably "Holland Hardcore 2nd Attack" On Er Is Hoop Tapes And A Split Tape With Gepøpel On Legendary BCT From San Diego CA. The Initial Line-Up Was Completed By Drummer Ferry Fidom Bassist Mike De Veer Who Was Soon Replaced By William Steinhauser And Guitarist David. The Latter Quit Just After The Recording Of Their First Demo "There's Nothing Left To Laugh About" In September And Their First Gig In October 1983 So Zirschky Took Over Guitar Duties. In The Beginning Of 1984 Another Demo Tape Was Recorded – "The Godsend" – This Time With Better Production Which Captured The Raw Energy Of Those Early Days Of The Band. Both Demos Received Favorable Reviews In Maximum Rock'n'Roll And Other Punk Zines.
It Wasn't Until The Fall Of 1984 That Their Music Finally Made It To Vinyl When The Self-Produced "Shadowland" 12-Inch EP Was Released. Four Tracks Of Ripping Hardcore On Side A Backed With Three Of The Darkest Post-Punk Songs Established Their Trademark Sound. The Next Year Brought A New Guitarist Tos Nieuwenhuizen Ex- Jezus And The Gospelfuckers And A New Release – Their First And Now Legendary LP "Communion" 1985 On Diehard Records Which Was Ranked No. 3 Best Punk Rock Album Of The Year By Flipside Magazine And Record Of The Year By Berkeley's Own KALX Radio Station. The Unique Guitar Style Of Tos Nieuwenhuizen And Heartfelt Lyrics Of Peter Zirschky Earned The Album A Classic Status. That Summer Funeral Oration Toured Germany And Spain With Fellow Band Gepopel. By The End Of 1985 Guitarist Tos Left The Band. He Was Replaced By Hayo Buunk And In April 1986 A New 7-Inch EP Was Recorded – "Survival". Their Second LP Simply Titled "Funeral Oration" Saw The Light In 1987 And The Same Year Drummer Ferry Fidom Left The Band. With The New Drummer Erik Jansen In The Band’s Line-Up Didn’t Change For A Decade.
Another 7-Inch EP "The More We Know" Was Released In 1989 And At The End Of The Year Material For A New Album Was Recorded But A Hiatus In The Band Caused Its Late Release – "Say No To Life" LP Was Finally Put Out In 1993 By WRF Records. This Record Gave A Hint Of What Would Become Their Definitive Sound In The '90s – Catchier Melodies And Better Production Still Keeping The Edge Of Their Previous Albums. After Almost Five Years Of Silence The Four Band Members Entered Bunt's Studio In Utrecht To Record Their CD Debut "Punk Rock Nation" 1994 With Producer Menno Bakker. The Album Was Again Released By WRF Records In A Modest Press Of 500 But A Copy Of It Caught The Ear Of Louis Posen Founder Of American Label Hopeless Records Who Eventually Signed The Band. Most Of The Tracks Off "Punk Rock Nation" Were Included On Their Next Release Predictably Titled "Funeral Oration". A Semi-Professional Video Was Shot For The Song "Outside" Which Can Be Seen On The "V.A. Cinema Beer Goggles" Video. Another Promo Video Mainly Compiled Of Live Footage From Their First US Tour Was Made For The Song "This Punk Thing" Which Can Be Heard On The "Discography" Double CD Set. In Early 1997 The All-Time Classic "Communion" Was Reissued For The First Time On CD With The Addition Of "Shadowland" EP By German Label Nasty Vinyl. Hopeless Records Issued The Band’s Last Two Studio Albums – "Believer" 1997 And "Survival" 1998 – And The "Discography" 2xCD Which Compiled Most Of Their Best Songs Recorded Through A 15 Year Lifespan But Also Some Rare Unreleased And Live Material. In 1997 Vinny Tjoa Joined As A Guitarist Since Hayo Buunk Couldn't Take Part In The Recording Of "Survival". Funeral Oration Did Three American Tours In Three Consecutive Years – In 1996 '97 And '98 – Promoting Each Of Their Hopeless Records Releases. By The End Of The Decade The Band Members Went Their Separate Ways. Members Peter Zirschky – Vocals Guitar R.I.P. Ferry Fidom – Drums 1982 To '87 Michael "Mike" De Veer – Bass 1982 David – Guitar 1982 To '83 William "Wil" Steinhauser – Bass 1983 – Thomas "Tos" Nieuwenhuizen – Guitar 1985 Hayo Buunk – Guitar 1985 To '97 Erik Jansen – Drums 1987 – R.I.P. Barend Van Der Meer – Drums Live 1996 Vincent "Vinny" Tjoa – Guitar 1997 – Jevin – Guitar Live 1998 Menno Bakker – Guitar Live 1998 Discography Albums Communion LP Diehard 1985 Funeral Oration LP Swaddle 1987 Say No To Life LP WRF 1993 /recorded In 1989/ Punk Rock Nation CD WRF 1994 Funeral Oration CD/LP/cass Hopeless 1995 Believer CD/LP/cass Hopeless 1997 Survival CD/LP/cass Hopeless 1998 Discography 1983 - 1998 2CD Hopeless 1999 EPs Shadowland 12" Self-Released 1984 B.C.T. Proudly Presents Funeral Oration & Gepøpel Cassette B.C.T. 1985 Survival 7" Remedy 1986 The More We Know 7" Loony Tunes 1989 What Is It? 7" Hopeless 1995 Stop For A Moment/Expanding 7" Flexi Hopeless/Flipside 1995 Demos There's Nothing Left To Laugh About Cassette Self-Released 1983 The Godsend Cassette Self-Released 1984 read less