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Admiral Freebee

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Admiral Freebee
Admiral Freebee in 2021 in Horst
Admiral Freebee in 2021 in Horst
Background information
Birth nameTom Van Laere
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Brasschaat, Belgium
OriginAntwerp, Belgium
GenresRock, blues-rock, country
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active2000–present
LabelsUniversal Music
Websiteadmiralfreebee.be

Tom Van Laere (born 1975), better known by his stage name Admiral Freebee, is a Belgian singer-songwriter. He took his stage name from the Jack Kerouac novel On the Road. Admiral Freebee is also the name of a ship that sank in San Francisco Bay and was subsequently used as a buoy. Tom Van Laere is the brother of Tim Van Laere, founder of Tim Van Laere Gallery. The gallery represents Adrian Ghenie, Kati Heck, Rinus Van de Velde, Jonathan Meese, Ben Sledsens and Franz West among others.[1]

History

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Van Laere was born in Brasschaat, near Antwerp. He participated in Humo's Rock Rally, one of the biggest rock competitions in the Low Countries. Backed by a bass guitarist and a drummer he was awarded the silver medal and won the audience's vote. His first album, Admiral Freebee, appeared soon after the competition on Universal, as did his second, Songs.[2]

His third album, Wild Dreams of New Beginnings, has been released to positive critical acclaim in November 2006 and reached the top 40 on the Belgium charts.[3]

Recently one of Belgium's most influential rock formations, dEUS, asked Admiral Freebee to be the supporting act on their European tour. In June 2009 Admiral Freebee was the support act for Neil Young on several European tour dates. Admiral Freebee also supported Neil Young at the Lokerse Feesten in 2014.[4]

An acoustic album, A Duet for One was released in 2017. Admiral Freebee were forced to reinvent themselves before the release of their seventh album. An arm injury eventually led to the well-received album 'The Gardener'.[5]

Discography

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Albums
Admiral Freebee 2003
Songs 2005
Wild Dreams of New Beginnings 2006
The Honey and The Knife 2010
The Great Scam 2014
Wake Up and Dream 2016
The Gardener 2021
Singles
"Ever present" / "There's a road" (Noorderlaan) 2002
"Rags 'n' run" 2002
"Mediterranean Sea" 2003
"Always on the Run" 2010
Promo singles
"Recipe for disaster" 2005
"Lucky one"
"Oh darkness"
"Carry on"

The Admiral Freebee Freighter

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According to Jack Kerouac in On the Road, Admiral Freebee is also the name of a ship that sank in San Francisco Bay and was subsequently used as a buoy.

"There was an old rusty freighter that was out in the bay that was used as a buoy." Jack Kerouac – On The Road – Part I – Chapter 11 – Page 73 – Penguin Books – 1976.

"And I never spent the night on the old ghost ship- the Admiral Freebee it was called..." Jack Kerouac – On The Road – Part I – Chapter 12 – Page 80 – Penguin Books – 1976.

References

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  1. ^ "Artist Admiral Freebee". nporadio2.nl (in Dutch). 26 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Vlaming Tom van Laere: 'Ik wil mezelf graag wakker houden'". bndestem.nl (in Dutch). 10 February 2012.
  3. ^ Allmusic bio
  4. ^ "Tom Van Laere (Admiral Freebee): 'Ik vind het van een doorgeslagen maakbaarheid dat iedereen alles zou kunnen overwinnen'". De Morgen (in Dutch). 30 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Op 'The Gardener' speelt Admiral Freebee met synths en drumcomputers alsof hij nooit iets anders heeft gedaan". HUMO (in Dutch). 25 October 2012.
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