'I'm A Man'. David Cassidy in Holland

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Today's blog is very special, because all info about David Cassidy in Holland, his popularity, his concerts and meeting with fans is given to me by Marjon Hoogendam-Landmeter. She became a fan in 1972, first saw him in concert in 1973, and later saw David performed more than 100 times over the years, in the UK and in the USA. She met him over 40 times.

Marjon's started running David's fan club (with his permission), in 1988, she was running it for 16 years. it was the pre-Internet time, so it was difficult to gather the right info, separate truth from rumors. David was in touch with Marjon, called her and wrote her letters. She had his support.

All fan-run fan clubs, except for the fact they collected and shared information about David, were also groups supporting him, especially in the 80s. And today Marjon is sharing this amazing story with us.

The Partridge Family was aired in Holland from May 1972, but not just the show, but first of all the music made David Cassidy a superstar in this country. A maxi single, 'I Think I Love You/Breaking Up Is Hard To Do/I'll Meet You Halfway, was on the Dutch charts for 13 weeks, since September 1972, and it became the number 1 hit. Also at the same time David Cassidy's single 'How Can I Be Sure/Ricky's Tune was on the charts, but it was not as successful as TPF's recordings, even that in September 1972 David Cassidy himself arrived in Holland for the first time.

He came to Europe to promote the show and its music, but first of all his solo recordings and to discuss and prepare the European Tour he was to play in 1973. He knew he had a lot of fans in Holland, but he had no time to travel to TV studios in Amsterdam, so instead the crew of the popular music program, TopPop came to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. 

On September 8, 1972 they filmed David lip-synching two of his hits just in front of the Aviodrome Museum which was located there at the time. He was wearing an amazing pink outfit, looking like an epitome of a rock star and sex symbol. David was always a professional, he was working the camera, he knew what to do to make girls crazy, what fans wanted to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qa98ww2Qb0

The madness started, all Partridge Family's and David's albums were released, David was in every teen magazine, there was also a special Dutch David Cassidy magazine, posters, books about him and TPF, and notebooks, comics, jigsaw puzzles, matchboxes, bubblegum with stickers and even cigarbands. Clothes were sold by popular C&A stores. Holland became an important market for all products connected witd DC, those who used his likeness and his name.

Holland was included in his Europen Tour schedule in 1973. The tension was building up up in the press, there were a lot of articles, at last the great day came and David Cassidy flew from LA to Amsterdam. He was in a  press center for a short time, photographers were allowed to take photos, but no questiones. Then he flew wth a rented plane, with his name on, a 99-passanger Caravelle jet to Dusseldorf to start his concert tour. He returned to Holland on March 11.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yVWaFo7n5w&t=65s

The same day David Cassidy played two  concerts at De Doelen in Rotterdam. The first one was st 4,30p.m. ( he wore the white suit with orange flames), and the second one at 8.15 p.m. (black suit with silver stripes). 

De Doelen was, (and still is) a concert venue and convention centre. DC performed at the Grote Zaal (Grand Hall), a 2.200 seat concert hall. We are very lucky to have an audio of one of David's concerts from March 11, probably the first one.

And what a concert it was! One of David Cassidy's best live performances in the 70s. David, his backing girls, his band in the top form. He sang Partridge Family's and his own hits, including very moving 'Two Time Loser', he also performed with amazing feeling Clapton's 'Blues Power' and great exciting version of 'I'm a Man'. During the concert DC  played guitar, piano and drums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_m2hHHv s

He played a concert again during his World Tour, in 1974. On May 12 he did one gig in De Doelen, in Rotterdam
and stayed at Rotterdam Hilton. The Bay City Rollers were to play as the supporting act, posters were printed,
but at the very last moment their act was cancelled and instead David's band was performed.
When David retired after the World Tour, a lot of fans forget about him. His singles and albums were still released,
but when he came again to Holland, on July 3, 1975 to promote his single ' I Write The Songs/Get It Up For Love,
there was only a couple of fans waiting for him. As he was no VIP anymore, he had to walk through the arrival
hall and fans walked with David until he was outside and went into the taxi.

He went to the TopPop studio to film two clips, but they were never shown on TV. Fans met David again at the
American Hotel in Amsterdam where he arrived later. For that handful of fans it was once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to be so close to David. To give him letters and presents ; he shook hands with all of them, talked
with them, and they all got autographs.

The last time David Cassidy was in Holland was on April 1, 1985 to promote The Last Kiss.

Marjon was in contact with David's Dutch record company, Ariola, she was also the contact for the German Fan
Club. Together with Urda Voss, and Urda's friend, they were invited to the TopPop studio in Hilversum.
They saw David doing the soundcheck, performing, and they spent priceless 45 minutes only with him, in David
Cassidy's dressing room.


David Cassidy never returned to Holland again, but he remembered it well. 
When Marjon met him in 1993, at his dressing room at Music Box Theater in New York, where he performed in 'Blood Brothers', they talked about the past and De Doelen in Rotterdam

Marjon Hoogendam-Landmeter, "He could remember that the sound was fantastic there. He was right as De Deolen is known for the fantastic sound. I was surprised he did remember..after such a long time and with only screaming girls at the time..'




 



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