One of the Flemish rock scene's most enduringly popular bands, lead vocalist Walter Grootaers, guitarists Jan Van Eyken and
Eric Wauters, bassist Berre Bergen (later replaced by
Axl Peleman), and drummer
Ben Crabbe formed
De Kreuners in 1978, the same year they won Humo's Rock Rally Contest. After signing to Warner Bros in 1981, they released their first studio album, Nachts Kouder Dan Buiten, but achieved their biggest success in 1990 with Hier en Nu and its million-selling single "Ik Wil Je." After two farewell shows in their native Belgium, the group called it a day in 2012. ~ Jon O'Brien