Erwin Barendregt

Erwin Barendregt, owner of A Pop Life (.nl) blog. Subtitle My life with music show the reason behind blog-subjects. Personal stories and preferences are the main subject for the posts and reviews on this blog. Erwin is a passionate musiclover and can frequently be found in concert venues in Holland, and is a person who lacks the stamina/talent to be a musician himself :-).

Most commented posts

  1. Prince releases the fine album Come (and nobody seems to care) — 48 comments
  2. Lovesexy: Prince’s crowning achievement — 48 comments
  3. 30 years ago, the best show I ever witnessed — 40 comments
  4. Prince is victorious (once again) with Sign O’ The Times — 30 comments
  5. My 10 best Genesis songs — 26 comments

Author's posts

Jun 02 2020

Prince live in 1990, the story of the Nude tour

Prince - Nude Tour - Rotterdam (pinterest.com)

On June 2nd, 1990, Prince launched his Nude Tour in Rotterdam. Following two of his most ambitious tours yet, it was time to relax and have some fun. The main goal was to have a party!

May 26 2020

COVID-19: (live)music in dire need? There’s something you can do!

COVID-19 musicares relief fund (musicares.org)

Music matters, music relaxes, enriches lives, brings happiness and has the power to heal or transport you to other worlds.

May 16 2020

Devo’s third (and best?) album, Freedom Of Choice

Devo - Freedom Of Choice - Poster (dangerousminds.net)

In 1980 Devo released their third album. Freedom Of Choice saw the band taking a new turn which obviously connected to people. It was to be the band’s biggest succes, one that unfortunately wouldn’t be replicated.

May 09 2020

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s masterpiece Bass Culture

Linton Kwesi Johnson - Bass Culture (allmusic.com)

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s third album Bass Culture appeared in 1980. An impressive and rather depressing report on immigrant life in England. Read the complete story!

Apr 22 2020

The Cure surprises with the sublime Seventeen Seconds

The Cure - A Forest (7 en 12 inch) (discogs.com)

In 1980 The Cure released their second album, Seventeen Seconds, the real beginning. The story behind the album and its subsequrent tour.

Apr 22 2020

Prince creates psychedelic funk on Around The World In A Day

Prince And The Revolution - Around The World In A Day - Album cover print proof (icollector.com)

In 1985 Prince released the impressive Around The World In A Day. The complete story on an album that above everything else should not be Purple Rain Part II.

Apr 18 2020

Romanthony – R.Hide In Plain Site

Romanthony - R.Hide In Plain Site (discogs.com)

The story on the album R.Hide In Plain Site by Romanthony. A look back and tribute to the career of the original dance producer Romanthony, that was tragically cut short.

Apr 10 2020

And yet another Public Enemy hip-hop classic, Fear Of A Black Planet

Public Enemy 1990 (soulhead.com)

The road to Public Enemy’s third album was a rocky one. The story of a hip hop classic that would turn into Public Enemy’s best sold album: Fear Of A Black Planet.

Mar 31 2020

Sufjan Stevens releases the beautiful, demure and moving Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell Tour (joshuahiggason.net)

In 2015 Sufjan Stevens released the beautiful, moving and intimate Carrie & Lowell, a brutally honest portrait of Carrie’s passing and the reaction to that. Impressive!

Mar 26 2020

Van Halen’s third album slams: Women And Children First

Van Halen - Women And Children First (spotify.com)

The third Van Halen album proved that the band was more than the sum of its parts. An impressive piece of work by a band that sadly showed the first signs of the bumpy road ahead.

Mar 17 2020

Frank Sinatra’s forgotten masterpiece Watertown

Frank Sinatra - Relaxing/Sabbatical? (amazon.com)

In 1970 Frank Sinatra released an album that was nearly forgotten, due to bad sales and reviews. Nowadays we know better: it’s his last masterpiece!

Mar 07 2020

David Bowie changes course towards (plastic) soul: Young Americans

David Bowie - Stills from US TV advert 1975 for Young Americans (pinterest.com)

In 1975 David Bowie released Young Americans, a soul and R&B album. How did it hold up and where does it stand today? A look back.

Feb 29 2020

Prince – Google’s most searched guitar solo

Prince - the most searched guitar solo (youtube.com)

Google announced “the most searched” results in honor of Black History Month. A look at Black History Month, Google’s findings and Prince’s guitar prowess.

Feb 21 2020

Tröckener Kecks, from punk to new wave to rock

Tröckener Kecks - Mid 1980s (facebook.com)

Tröckener Kecks was my favorite rock band in the early 1980s to sing in the Dutch language. The story of the Amsterdam band following their discography.

Feb 13 2020

The Black Crowes Present $hake Your Money Maker

The Black Crowes - $hake Your Money Maker (amazon.com)

Seemingly out of nowhere a great rock & roll debut album was released in 1990: The Black Crowes Present $hake Your Money Maker. A look back