Jan Bijlsma – Arjen Lucassen

Featured on
Ayreon – The Final Experiment

Audio
sample from The Final Experiment

Jan Bijlsma – bass
Arjen explains: Together with Oscar, Jan was the founder of the rock band Vengeance that I joined in 1984. Jan’s tight, simple but effective bass playing was the basis of Vengeance’s sound. I always (and still) got along fine with Jannemannemannemanneman, as I call him. That’s why I wanted him to be involved with Ayreon. On the first Ayreon CD Jan plays a fretless bass part inspired by George Harrison on ‘Magic Ride’.

Jan talks about Arjen:
I have had the pleasure of having Arjen as a bandbuddy for 10 years (or so) and that friendship i still there and will be in the years to come. Basically, it’s his own fault really, because he’s such a nice guy. Apart from the musical interests, we share many more which made the basis very broad. Though we don’t see each other on a daily base anymore, we still manage to keep in touch regularly….. me bothering Arjen with all my silly jokes, really. As a musician and composer I still appreciate Arjen highly… as a person I could only wish there were more people around with a similar sincere approach and look on life. I’m very pleased to see and notice I’m not the only one to think of ‘Mr. 2.02’ like that.