Vangouw - Passion Rules (2010) [2026]

After Dutch vocalist Gerard Vangouw (at the age of 17) recorded two albums with metal band Martyr which were very successful in the Netherlands and German metal scene in 1987, the young vocalist choose to enter the world of AOR / Melodic Hard Rock music.
However, he still didn’t have a band. First one to approach was virtuous guitarist GG. Soon, drummer Han Neijenhuis, keyboardist player Gertie Veldkamp and young bass player Pascal Groenen joined in, and VANGOUW born.
The group recorded several tracks for an upcoming debut album. However, the label wasn’t satisfied with the two ballads they had. Vangouw went into their rehearsal studio and wrote around twelve ballads and none of them caught the record company approval. Finally, the band and the label split up. For 2 years VANGOUW tried to release all their recorded music with no luck, and by 1992, called it a day as a band.
Now, Bad Reputation specialists are releasing all the original VANGOUW recordings tracked down between 1988 and 1990 – released some years ago with album title “Passion Rules” – now fully remastered and with the addition of 4 previously unreleased tracks.

The band toured extensively the Netherlands in the late ’80s, and recorded 2 songs: ‘Simonai’ and ‘New Horizon’, trying to get an entry with a record company. After some line-up changes, new songs like ‘Not The One I Love’ and ‘Come My Way’ found their way into a new demo, and the same local label booking Golden Earring, Sleeze Beez and many dutch bands invited VANGOUW to sign in a contract.
Unfortunately that never crystallized…

After 25 years or so, Gerard’s dream finally came true. All the original VANGOUW recordings tracked down between 1988 and 1990 were released for the first time 2010 on CD as “Passion Rules”, but limited to 500copies.
Produced by names such as John Sonneveld (Golden Earring, Sleeze Beez, Anouk, Valentine, etc) and Alfred Lagarde (Highway Chile, TOTO, etc), finally these tracks polished to obtain the best audio quality possible.

“Passion Rules” reflects one of the best Holland’s AOR groups from the Eighties. It contains very diverse and original tracks (plus one live); the best of Vangouw from ’88 till ’92. Great harmony vocals were one of the secrets of this great band of youngsters.


It’s truly fantastic to be able to enjoy these songs into a single CD album after so many years.
And unlike some other re-released albums from back then, this one could have been yesterday’s release, that’s how timeless some of the songs sound alike.

Tracks:

01 – And Your Love
02 – Leave the Night Behind
03 – Go Your Own Way
04 – When You Think of Me
05 – New Horizon
06 – Simonai
07 – Make-Up in the Morning
08 – In the Night
09 – Not the One I Love
10 – Come My Way
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Hot Women (Original Master)
12 – Free from Me (Demo)
13 – Hot Women (Demo)
14 – Lasting Love (Live in Amsterdam)

Personnel:

Gerard Vangouw – vocals
GG – guitars
Pascal Groenen – bass
Han Nijenhuis – drums
Gertie Veldkamp, Robbert-jan Wolzak, Ruud Schoof – keyboards