History:
Named after their talented lead guitarist, Dutch rockers Vandenberg managed to reach some minor success in the years leading up to heavy metal's mid 80s explosion. Unfortunately the band was all but finished by the time metal became a musical staple, however Adrian Vandenberg managed to reap massive commercial success with the revamped Whitesnake.
  Adrian Vandenberg had released an album with the group Teaser in the late 70s, but they disbanded shortly after. In 1982 he decided to reform Teaser with new members Bert Heerink (vocals), Dick Kemper (bass) and Jos Zoomer (drums) and they recorded a demo. However they decided to rename the band Vandenberg in that same year and signed with Atco records.
  The self titled debut, recorded at Jimmy Page's Sol Studios, did rather well in America behind the success of the top 40 single "Burning Heart" and tours opening for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and MSG. Adrian was asked to joined Whitesnake on their Slide It In album, but refused when "Burning Heart" was hooting up the charts. The following year Heading For A Storm would surface, but Vandenberg's popularity was slowly waning.
  The largely ignored Alibi would prove to be Vandenberg's final studio album. Heerink was fired (and eventually resurfaced with Picture) from the band shortly after its release and replaced by Peter Struyk. Whitesnake would come calling again however, and this time Adrian took them up on their offer and essentially killing Vandenberg. An often forgotten band, Vandenberg released some great commercial metal in the early days of the genre's resurgence.

Links:
The Official Bert Heenrik Page
The Official Dick Kemper Page
Adrian Vandenberg Tribute Website

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