Bopcats - Beer - Boose - Books - Big Big Barty (sorry Party) The idea for a Bopcat-reunion was playing my mind for quit a while. And when I started the Bopcats Website the idea came fully back. At first, put together a sort of party-comitty, not to difficult, enthousiastic people were easy to find. Several meetings, remember old names (that was difficult, "Who was that boy with the blond quif....?") find the addresses (very hard, we didn't find all of the addresses) Finally...... september the 15th came pretty close, and the list with people to find became shorter and shorter. We took care of almost everything, people behind the bar, selling drinkingtickets, make a scedule for the DJ's, cathering (who is gonna pay for it?? Thanks Cruise Inn for the cooperation.) I was in contact for quit a while with Jari Eklund of Bebopbooks. (he makes great books about Rock 'n Roll in different country's) He was very anxious to be a part of the reunion to make pictures and a story for his next book) This book will come out in January 2001 with a story from the Bopcats reunion and will probably also be availeble in the Netherlands. Friday-night was there en my schedule was really uptodate - I thought!! That night I was ready to take a nice long hot bath, and.... the phone was ringing. A few english friends allready arrived and were searching for a sleepingplace. (all the hotels were fully booked) So I'd empty my bath, jumped into my car to pick them up in Maloe Melo. But..... beer tasted a lot better in the Netherlands (heeeey) so by the time I've got them all in my car, it was after 3 o'clock in the night. We talked a while and it was almost morning when I saw my bed. :-) Saturdaymorning 12.00 p.m. the plan was to go to the Cruise Inn to finish the decoration, catering etc. Unfortunately (the bathroom was occupied all the time) I was there one hour to late. Lucky we had so many helping hands, and thanks to Ella, Joke, Gert, Swaas, Hans, Theo - forgive me if I'm forgetting someone) everything worked out just fine. I had to do a lot of things (fitting my clothes, getting the money for the catering, shit forgot the stappler, back to Alma, hang about 70 pictures of young smooth Bopcats on the walls, back to Alma changing clothes, pick up Jari & Sanni somewere in town, back to the Cruise Inn) but after this all..... THE PARTY COULD BEGIN!!! From that moment on, there was laughing, hugging, partying, drinkin, clapping, shouting, dancing, kissing, singing and every now and then took some pictures. I really enjoyed all afternoon/evening/nigth. The reactions were really heartwarming, everyone agread, this was one hell of a party. From Bigfeet & the Donuts untill the Belairs, just singing, clapping, and cheering. And ofcourse not all the songs were perfect (does Jan v. Leeuwen even knows, that he was drumming) but the enthousiasme and the atmosphere was great!! The Belairs weren't supposed to play, maybe one or two songs, but thanks to Rogier (Renobrothers) and Jim (Keytones) they played several songs. As Jari said: I haven't heard "Washing Machine Boogie" or "Rockin Daddy" for more than 15 years, and now I've heard them 4 times in one night. Somewere around 4 or 5 o'clock we decided to go home, try to find all the english friends, Belairs, Jari & Sanni, they all should stay at our place. When we came home, first a last drink, chatting, and watch the video of the Demolitionparty (of the old Cruise Inn) en from D-Day 14 years ago. For the Belairs a big surprise, because they were on that video too with very young faces. :-))) At 6 o'clock tried to find my bed, Gonzo was allready sleeping, because he should take the Belairs at 9 o'clock to the Airport. Gonzo woke them up, (one of them was sleeping on the toilet) fixed them breakfast - eggs and bacon (bleeeegh) and brought them to Schiphol Airport. All the others woke up around 10 o'clock and the second breakfastround began. Then it was my turn to bring Jari & Sanni to the Airport, and with the rest of the English friends we went to Caddy's Diner for the After-reunion-party There was really a good band playing (forgot the name) but unfortunately most of us had a terrible hangover. "5 coke and 1 water for the Bopcats" says it all!!! Then in the evening back to the Cruise Inn to clean the place and then go home. Monday afternoon we took the last friends to the Airport, were Gonzo made a terrible mistake..... he was racing against his wife.....(yep, that's me) hahahaha.... and he shouldn't have done that. Big smoke came out of his car and didn't disappear. The end of the story was; I dragged Gonzo (well, his car ofcourse) to the garage, were they could fix his car. It's very quiet around the house, but the party is still going around and around in my head. Old times came back, that's for sure. Friends through thick and thin, that's us, The Bopcats. Even if we don't see each other for years, if we do, it's like yesterday. By the time we're in the retirementbuilding in our wheelchairs, and one of us shouts: "There are no cats like.....?" I'm sure the answer will be: "BOPCATS!!!!!" Rockin kisses José P.s. I received a lot of thanks, (on the reunion, by email, mail, telephone etc.) but this party wasn't possible without the help of many others. I really didn't do this on my own. Thanksssss everybody, you all are great!! Also thanks to all the bands who were on the stage for free. XXXXX