Kickin’ Hard — Klubbheads
A Rotterdam trio with dozens of aliases, a run of UK hits and a 1998 club record called Kickin’ Hard: the story behind Klubbheads’ third UK top 40 single.
- Released in 1998 by Klubbheads, a Dutch production team from Rotterdam.
- Reached No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1998, and No. 35 in France.
- Their third UK top 40 entry, after “Klubbhopping” and “Discohopping”.
“Kickin’ Hard” is a late-1990s Dutch club record that crossed into the UK charts. Klubbheads released it in 1998, in the middle of a run that took a Rotterdam studio team from their own small label to three UK top 40 singles in three years.
Who were Klubbheads?
Klubbheads were Koen Groeneveld and Addy van der Zwan, joined in 1995 by Jan Voermans, known as Greatski. They worked out of Rotterdam and used more than 40 aliases, among them Drunkenmunky, Hi_Tack, Greenfield and Da Klubb Kings. To release their tracks as Klubbheads, the trio set up Blue Records, a sub-label of Mid-Town Records. Their catalogue runs from house and UK hard house to trance.
From “Klubbhopping” to “Kickin’ Hard”
Their first mainstream hit came in 1996: “Klubbhopping” reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart in May and No. 39 in Sweden. “Discohopping” followed in August 1997, peaking at No. 35 in the UK and No. 12 in Finland. “Kickin’ Hard” was next. It entered the UK chart in August 1998 and peaked at No. 36. It also reached No. 35 in France and No. 86 in Germany.
After 1998
In 1999 they co-produced “The Launch” for their compatriot DJ Jean, which reached No. 2 that September. Around the same time they left Blue Records and founded their own label, Digidance. As Drunkenmunky they scored again with “E” in the early 2000s, and “Hiphopping” reached No. 10 in the Netherlands in 2001. Voermans left in spring 2005; Groeneveld and van der Zwan carried on as Unit 54.
In the mix
Today “Kickin’ Hard” works best inside a late-90s set, next to other European club records of the period such as “Storm” by Storm and “Meet Her at the Love Parade” by Da Hool.
FAQ
Who made Kickin’ Hard?
Klubbheads, a Rotterdam production team: Koen Groeneveld, Addy van der Zwan and Jan Voermans.
How high did Kickin’ Hard chart?
It reached No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1998, No. 35 in France and No. 86 in Germany.
What other hits did Klubbheads have?
“Klubbhopping” reached No. 10 in the UK in 1996 and “Discohopping” No. 35 in 1997. In 1999 they co-produced DJ Jean’s “The Launch”.
