Jan Schouten aka Electric Johnny
(lead. gt.) and his brothers Cor Schouten † (drums), Daan Schouten (2d lead+rhythm
gt.) and Henk Schouten (bass) founded The Skyrockets in 1958. They lived in Rotterdam and
Jan got his nickname for having a daytime job as an electrician. The valve amplifiers were
made by the Schouten brothers.
Electric Johnny played his unique
mandolin styled guitar work on a Hofner Club 60 and since 1964 he also played a Burns
Split Sonic. Singer/guitarist Roel Pichell (Roy Michaels aka Shorty Miller) and Gerrit
Krause (drums) joined the group and early 1960 the group got a record contract from CNR.
Their debut single BLACK EYES ROCK
c/w JOHNNY ON HIS STRINGS in 1960 made them immortal in the Dutch rock history. The record
was also released in the USA and Canada on Felsted; in the UK on London; Sweden/Denmark
(Sonet) and France (Ducretet Thomson).
They also developed a very own
Indo-Rock style and they called it -South American Rock- On stage they wore multi-coloured
shirts and Frans Huysmans came in the band on percussion instruments.
Roy Michaels (aka Shorty Miller) and
Gerrit Krause left The Skyrockets in 1961. Winnie (Wieneke den Hartog) became their new
singer and she was replaced in 1964 by Willem Grift. Harold 'Boebie'de Groot (2d lead gt.)
joined the ranks of The skyrockets in 1961. The Skyrockets existed untill 1968.
Dick Waanders released their first
LP with old CNR stuff in 1974 on DIWA records. All their recordings became available on CD
in 1992 (Rarity Records)
l/r: Daan Schouten - Jan Schouten - Cor
Schouten † (fotocollectie: Jan Schouten)
line-up 1959-1960
Jan Schouten aka Electric Johnny (sologitaar) ex- Oety & his Rollers
Daan Schouten (gitaar) ex- Oety & his Rollers
Cor Schouten † (drums, slaggitaar)
Roel Pichel aka Roy Michaels (zang, slaggitaar)
Henk Schouten (basgitaar)
Gerrit Krause (drums); in 1960 naar The Rhythm Brothers
Frans Huysmans (percussion)
line-up 1960-1963
Jan Schouten aka Electric Johnny (sologitaar)
Harold 'Boebie' de Groot (2e sologitaar); naar Wendy & The Gardenias
Daan Schouten (slaggitaar)
Henk Schouten (basgitaar)
Cor Schouten † (drums)
Frans Huysmans (percussion)
Roel Pichel aka Roy Michaels (zang, slaggitaar); in 1961 naar The Hurricane Rollers
Wieneke (Winni) den Hartog (zang); naar Wendy & The Gardenias
line-up 1964-1968
Jan Schouten aka Electric Johnny (sologitaar)
Daan Schouten (gitaar)
Henk Schouten (basgitaar)
Cor Schouten † (drums)
Willem Grift (zang) ex- The Beat Boys
The Skyrockets met zangeres Wieneke
(Wendy) den Hartog (fotocollectie: Wendy den Hartog)
