Born, married, wife, children and grandchildren and still living in Amsterdam.
Berry got excited about drumming through an uncle, who played drums in a cover band of Creedence Clearwater Revival when he was very young. (early 70s)
However, Berry never took drum lessons. He was always busy playing football, something he could do much better than drumming. At the age of 16 he was surprised, he was allowed to have his uncle’s old Pearl drum kit.
His brother Eef was always crazy about playing guitar and that’s how a band was eventually formed with a few friends. Covers of Het Goede Doel, Toontje Lager, popular Dutch music at that time… that’s what they started with, around 1979.
In 1981 they decided to go in the direction of rock/metal, and the band was called Vexation.
They started making their own songs, with the occasional cover as filler.
The old Pearl drum kit was replaced by a huge Premier kit with 2 bass drums, 4 toms and 2 floor toms. It was a great kit, but also a lot to carry around. Nowadays he plays on a Tama Rockstar, single bass drum with double pedal, 3 toms, 2 floor toms and a lot of cymbals around him, but… everything that is there is also used.
To this day they still play in almost the same line-up with Vexation, only the bass player has been replaced. They also perform, and also do foreign trips.
In addition, he organizes his own festival Ben’s Metal Fest once a year, the 6th edition has just ended. That usually takes place in Aalsmeer, and he also does that with great pleasure.
Benny hopes to be able to continue for a long time, but the years are starting to count.
He is especially proud of himself for what he has achieved without ever having had drum lessons.
