Authentic Dutch party heritage that’s the Party Animals.
Born from the “Mokum” branch of the gabber culture in the 1990s, they’ve spent more than 30 years cheerfully kicking their way across just about every event, hall, festival, party tent, and venue in the country.
Classics like Have You Ever Been Mellow, Hava Naquila, and Aquarius now transcend generations and even genres. What was once considered daring because of its pounding beats is today embraced by everyone who can’t resist their infectious performances. The Party Animals have rightfully become one of the most beloved 90s acts in the Netherlands.
Maximum Party Mode
For fans who were there in the 90s, it may take a moment to adjust: who are these cheerful gabbers on stage? Haven’t the Party Animals aged at all? The truth is a little different. Much like a professional sports team, the Party Animals refresh their lineup over time.
The current core consists of Rick, Roderick, Dalí, and Tim, supported by trusted veterans such as Martijn, Patrick, Wesley, Bonno, and Harley.
Behind the music are DJ/producer duo Flamman & Abraxas, the creative engine powering the performances that have been setting dance floors ablaze for three decades.
How It All Began
The Party Animals’ story starts with their remix of I Wanna Be a Hippy by Technohead. The track was being requested so often that Flamman & Abraxas decided a remix was overdue one with “a friendlier sound, more suitable for radio.”
For the video, they pulled in a few gabber friends from Club Amnesia in the Red-Light District: Remsy, Evert, David, and Paul. “One of them had long hair. Perfect you’re the hippy.”
The video was shot in a single afternoon in the Vondelpark. The remix shot straight to #1 in the Dutch Top 40, went gold, and became an international hit gold in Germany and silver in the UK.
Germany’s Viva TV named it Music Video of the Year. When Flamman & Abraxas were invited for a DJ tour in Germany and asked to bring dancers, they called up the same four gabbers instead.
And just like that, the Party Animals were born.
