“Today’s music is a development of years before. Still the blues is there, I can’t say I miss anything. You like what you hear or not, is has always been like that.”

Eric Bagchus: Flavium Plays The Blues

Eric Bagchus is a Dutch musician best known as the long-time bass player for the Dutch blues-rock band Flavium, joining the group in 1974. He has been a consistent member of the band's lineup over several decades, appearing on recordings such as Flavium ('fléviəm') and Decade. Flavium is one of the leading blues bands in the Netherlands. Since 1969, the band has been active on blues and festival stages in the Netherlands, as well as in Germany, Belgium, England, and Ireland. Blues classics "Nightlife" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" earned the band chart positions. The band plays with great energy and a passion for the blues. Sparkling solos and ear-catching blues notes are featured during their performances and have been recorded on numerous LPs and CDs.                                       (Eric Bagchus with Flavium / Photo by Gijs Dragt)

Flavium was inducted into the Dutch Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Nowadays lineup of Flavium is: Eric Bagchus – bass; Erwin van Ligten – guitar; Bouke van Olst – drums; Bert Vrieling – vocals; Frank Montis – Hammond Organ. Interview 2025, Flavium released a tribute to music of Peter Green, titled PLAYS PETER GREEN'S FLEETWOOD MAC in 2025.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What does the blues mean to you?

I have always had a positive view on the world, music hasn't really changed that.  I noticed that people get happy (or sad, depending of the kind of music) when they listen to music. Music is emotion, creates emotion. The first blues I ever heard was the “Beano Album” from John Mayall, feat. Eric Clapton, it blew me away. I discovered a world back then (1966). 

How do you describe band’s sound and songbook? What characterize Flavium music philosophy?

Flavium played Chicago Blues style for years , later on writing our own songs more or less related to that. New band members influenced our sound, we discovered new roads. We had a couple of hits early ‘80s, “Nightlife” and “Nobody Knows You when you’re down and Out”. After that we played a pile of gigs for years, developing new bluessounds. But Flavium has always been a band with a different, separate, sound you can recognize. Still those hits have a positive influence on our agenda.

Why do you think that the Dutch Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

A lot of Dutch people simply like blues music, for decades there are a lot of blues bands in Holland. 

“Making music makes not only me, but a lot of people happy. It’s great to be with a bunch of friends and make music that you like together. I hope to continue doing that for years.” (Eric Bagchus best known as the long-time bass player for the Dutch blues-rock band Flavium/ Photo by Ranjani Nirosha)

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

We did a lot of Studiorecordings. Our first album “Bad Luck” was recorded in Hamburg Germany in 1975, our second in London (The famous Chalkfarm Studios) in 1976. Since 1975 we recorded 11 vinyl LP’s and 6 cd’s. The last one in 2024, when we recorded an album with songs from the original Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, f.i. Oh Well, The Green Manalishi, Black Magic Woman. All rearranged by our guitarplayer Erwin van Ligten. It contains 10 songs,  none of them a tribute to, or a copy of, the original songs. The album is called “Flavium plays Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac“ and is available at gigs and in stores.

As for gigs, we played (and still do) a lot of clubtours in Holland, festivals such as The Northsea Jazzfestival, but also abroad, Belgium, France, Germany, England and Northern Ireland. Shared the stage amongst others with BB King, Rory Gallagher. Great times, I cherish them all. 

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Today’s music is a development of years before. Still the blues is there, I can’t say I miss anything. You like what you hear or not, is has always been like that.

What were the reasons that made the Netherlands in the 70s to be a European center of Blues/Rock researches and experiments?

People were listening to and liked the British blues acts en discovered through that the American giants, like BB, Freddy and Albert King, Muddy Waters, etc. Not only in the Netherlands I think. 

“I have always had a positive view on the world, music hasn't really changed that.  I noticed that people get happy (or sad, depending of the kind of music) when they listen to music. Music is emotion, creates emotion. The first blues I ever heard was the Beano Album from John Mayall, feat. Eric Clapton, it blew me away. I discovered a world back then (1966).”

(Photo: Flavium, 1974 / Hans Driesten, Herman Driesten, Fontain, Peter Beemsterboer, Eric Bagchus, Anne Geert Bonder)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Mainly I hope that people enjoy the kind of music the hear.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Making music makes not only me, but a lot of people happy. It’s great to be with a bunch of friends and make music that you like together. I hope to continue doing that for years. 

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