​Hi-My name is Jacques van Oevelen. In my PICTURE period my nickname was SHAKE-as many still know me today. When I was 12, I joined my first band in Beverwijk (The Netherlands) which was called "I raggatie del sol" and one with Italian influences. I left that 2 years later to join SMASH in Akersloot. This group was more experienced with older members. We were the opening act at my first large festival, organized by Radio Veronica for the Dutch Heart and Kidney Association. Sometime later, I became a member of the band HARRY GOODBY in IJmuiden and remained with them for some years until 1977 when I moved on to MISTERY (with KENNY MURRAY) in Landsmeer. That's when I had my first REAL experience in a studio called DALIPRESS (now known as BULLET SOUND), where we recorded the album " Captain Hillory's Night Journey" (unfortunately a huge flop!)

​

As in all good things, this project came to an end I joined SECOND FACE from Wormerveer for some time until I came in contact with ROB VAN ENKHUIZEN from the band ZENITH. After joining them, this really took off. Rob's father (THEO VAN ENKHUIZEN) put all his faith in this band and did his utmost to support them not only financially but organizing tours and gigs. After PICTURE announced on the radio that they were looking for a support band, ZENITH managed to secure that job. We played many gigs up and down the country until that too came to an end. Following this, I went to Hoorn, the home town of SAD IRON, wich was the heaviest metal band in The  Netherlands and their album, TOTAL DAMNATION, was released worldwide. In the USA the band entered the charts at 8 from being unknown and we blew our audiences away. At the time, PICTURE was looking for a drummer and I was called up by CHRIZ VAN JAARSVELD asking if I was interested in the job. As PICTURE had always been my favourite band, I of course immediately agreed. After the release of the  TRAITOR album, PETE LOVELL and CHRIZ departed and I brought in ROB. Our path finally crossed that of BERT HEERINK (VandenBerg) and we recorded two albums with him. Inevitably, due to all the problems he was continually having, the band broke up on december 1987. At that point, i was totally fed up with bands, recording companies and the music business in general. It was then I decided to become a bouncer for various pubs and (night) clubs.

​

One Friday evening, JAN VAN BODE-

GRAVEN asked me to help put in a crisis with his band LA GRANGE.

They were due to play at one of HOLLAND's annual pop festivals, BEECKESTIJN, but didn't have a drummer. And thus followed 5 years playing with them.However, I still longed to play heavier music and so I set up the band XHAUSTED together with guitarist/composer FRED WESTRA. XHAUSTED recorded a fantastic CD, released worldwide by Japanese label MARQUEE and which was an overnight success. We received great write-ups and things were certainly looking good until pre-cisely this time, FRED chose another path in life becoming a father. And so ended an amazingly inspiring era.

​

I returned to LA GRANGE and subsequently in many different bands until ending up in ENTROPY. After 3 years experimenting with this GOTHIC style, I decided it wasn't my thing.

the

last couple of years, I've come full circle and I am really pleased to have re-joined forces with FRED WESTRA and his new band FRED WESTRA & THE FRET ALERT, with bassist ROEL DUITS and Scottish keyboard player ANNE GALL. Now we are promoting the new album SEVERE DAMAGE.

Now I'm also full member of GILGAMESJ!!!!!!!

 

​

​

www.gilgamesj.nl

www.Youtube.com/sjaak1956

www.facebook.com/jacques.vanoevelen1

www.reverbnation.com/jacquesshake

​