Diesel is a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the relatively few Dutch acts to chart in the

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

when their song "

Sausalito Summernight "Sausalito Summernight" is the title of a 1981 U.S. Top 40 hit by Nederpop band Diesel. It was fourth of four singles issued from the band's 1980 debut album ''Watts in a Tank'', the final three of which became chart hits. It was the greatest h ...

" entered the

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...

in 1981.

Biography

Diesel was created in October 1978 by ex- Kayak drummer

Pim Koopman Wilhelmus Frederikus "Pim" Koopman (11 March 1953 – 23 November 2009) was a Dutch musician best known as the drummer and percussionist of rock band Kayak. Biography Born in Hilversum, Koopman co-founded Kayak in 1972, along with Ton Sche ...

. The group, at first no more than a hobby project, initially consisted of Koopman (drums, keyboard and vocals) and Rob Vunderink (guitar/lead vocals, composer and lyricist), Mark Boon (guitar, composer and lyricist), and Frank Papendrecht (bass; 10 May 1953 – 18 November 2009).Diesel biographie
, Nationaal Pop Instituut. Accessed on line December 27, 2007. Their first album, '' Watts in a Tank'', was released in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

in 1980. One of its tracks, "Going Back to China" was released in the Netherlands as a single in 1979 and became a top 40 hit.Diesel discografie
, Nationaal Pop Instituut. Accessed on line December 27, 2007. Two other singles from this album, "Down In The Silvermine" and "Sausalito Summernight" (also misspelled "''Sausolito'' Summernight"), were released in 1980 and also became charting hits. In late 1980, Boon and Papendrecht left to join Meike Touw's Tutti Frutti. They were replaced by bass player Wijnand Ott and guitarist Hugo de Bruin. In mid-1981, Koopman left the band and Kim Weemhoff took the drumseat. In 1981, ''Watts in a Tank'' was released in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Diesel Diesel may refer to: * Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression * Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines * Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...

biography,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

. Accessed on line December 27, 2007. The single "Sausalito Summernight" rose to #25 on the

. It reached #1 in Canada. ''Watts in a Tank'' itself went up to #68 on the ''Billboard'' 200.Diesel
Muze, February 1, 2007. Accessed on line December 27, 2007. This success prompted the return of Mark Boon and an American tour. At Boon's suggestion, guitarist Bas Krumperman joined the band just before the North American tour, moving the band's sound in a country-rock direction. The band got a distribution deal with Atco Records and recorded another album, ''Unleaded'', in 1982, but it was not a success. ''Unleaded'' credits,

. Accessed online December 27, 2007. In the next few years the group had many new members, such as Leen Barbier (guitar/vocals), André Versluijs (bass), Jan Loomans (guitar/vocals), and Henk Hager (guitar/vocals), and released several more singles before disbanding in 1985.

Reunions

Diesel was reconstituted in 1988 and had a hit in the Netherlands with their single "Samantha", sung by Jeroen Englebert. The band broke up again in 1989. Mark Boon later formed The Zoo, releasing the album ''What's in the Package''. Diesel reformed in 2000 with Koopman, Vunderink, Versluijs, Thomas Kroon (drums) and Otto Lenselink (guitar). They released ''Diesel On The Rocks'' in 2001, with covers, previously recorded material, and three new tracks. ''Watts in a Tank'' was reissued in 2002, including the original five-minute version of "Sausalito Summernight". In 2004, the original lineup of Boon, Koopman, Papendrecht and Vunderink performed at a charity event, which led to plans to reform the group on a permanent basis. Papendrecht was replaced later by Werner Cornand. Both members of Diesel's original rhythm section died from heart attacks within one week: Frank Papendrecht on 18 November 2009 at age 56, and

on 23 November 2009, also at age 56.Pim Koopman, drummer van Kayak overleden
Nationaal Pop Instituut. Accessed on line December 25, 2009. In March 2017 Diesel released a single, "Like Hell I Will!."

Discography

Albums

Year-end album charts

Singles

References

External links

Diesel

Video: Sausalito Summernight
{{Authority control Dutch rock music groups Nederpop Musical groups established in 1978 Musical groups disestablished in 1985 Musical groups established in 1988 Musical groups disestablished in 1989 Musical groups established in 2004 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 Musical groups established in 2016