Earlier this year, music journalist Jasper Willems published a number of online stories about the vibrant Rotterdam music scene that has unfolded over the past decade. Front conceived the plan to publish Jasper's stories in book form. After a successful campaign via Voordekunst, Rotterdam Goddamn: an outsider's testimony, Jasper Willems' first book, sees the light of day today.
Our thanks go of course to Jasper Willems, without whose enthusiasm, perseverance and craftsmanship Rotterdam Goddamn would not have existed. In his book, Jasper not only talks passionately about music from Rotterdam, but above all with unconditional love about the people he met there. As Richard J. Foster writes in the foreword, "It's commonplace amongst us who know him to say he gives everything to the things he loves. But he really does." We agree and are happy to have contributed to the publication of Jasper's book.
We would also like to thank the following people: Jimme Bakker, who designed Rotterdam Goddamn and understood exactly what the book was about. Emiel Joormann, who captured the free spirit of the book and Rotterdam in an idiosyncratic illustration. Margaret Munchheimer, who was Jasper's razor-sharp editor throughout the writing process, and Richard J. Foster, who wrote a foreword in his own unique way.
Michèle Margot, Chaim Smallegange, Xander van Dijck, Lara Arnoldus, Niek Hage and Marcel Kollen for their photos of everything that has happened in the Rotterdam music scene over the past ten years. Pics or it didn't happen, after all.
Koen ter Heegde and Niek Hofstetter, and Xander van Dijck, who made records available for the Voordekunst campaign that financed Rotterdam Goddamn. Popunie and the Municipality of Rotterdam for their financial contribution to this project.
Finally, we would like to thank all the people who made the publication of Rotterdam Goddamn possible by donating to the Voordekunst campaign. We wish them a lot of reading pleasure and hope to be able to greet them at a release party in Rotterdam at the beginning of the new year.
Rotterdam Goddamn: an outsider’s testimony can be ordered via here.
The Front editors
Dirk Baart
Jasper Boogaard
Dave Coenen
Ruben van Dijk
Jente Lammerts
