Batmobile

Batmobile is a legendary psychobilly band from the Netherlands, originally formed in 1983. Although often linked to Rotterdam, the band’s roots are actually split between Rotterdam and Breda. Over the years, Batmobile became one of the most important psychobilly acts outside the UK, helping push the genre across Europe and beyond. 

The band consists of Jeroen Haamers on vocals and guitar, Eric Haamers on upright bass, and Johnny Zuidhof on drums. What’s pretty rare is that this lineup has stayed the same since the beginning, which definitely helped shape their tight, recognizable sound. They took their name from Batman’s famous car, which fits well with their love for comic-style imagery, horror themes, and over-the-top rock ’n’ roll attitude. 

In the early days, Batmobile mainly played 1950s rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll covers, drawing inspiration from artists like Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, and Chuck Berry. Not long after, they started writing their own songs and mixing that classic sound with the speed and aggression of punk. By the mid-1980s, they had fully locked into psychobilly and released their first recordings, quickly gaining attention in the underground scene. 

Their self-titled mini-album from 1985 opened a lot of doors, and Batmobile soon made history by becoming the first non-British band to headline at Klub Foot in London, one of the most important psychobilly venues at the time. From there, they toured relentlessly across Europe, Japan, and the United States, building a strong international following and proving that psychobilly wasn’t just a UK thing.

 
Musically, Batmobile is known for fast, punchy rockabilly riffs, heavy slap bass, driving drums, and lyrics that often reference horror movies, dark humor, and B-movie culture. They sometimes describe their style as “B-music,” a nod to low-budget horror films and trash culture. While they’ve experimented a bit over the years, their sound has always stayed raw, energetic, and unmistakably Batmobile.

 
Their discography spans several decades, with classic albums like 'Bambooland', 'Bail Was Set at $6,000,000', 'Amazons from Outer Space', and 'Sex Starved'. After a quieter period in the early 2000s, the band returned to live shows and new releases, including 'Brand for Impact' in 2023, which celebrated their 40th anniversary. 

Today, Batmobile is seen as one of the cornerstones of European psychobilly. They’ve influenced countless bands, inspired tribute albums, and earned a reputation for explosive live performances. Even after all these years, they remain a respected and active name in the scene, proving that loud, fast, and slightly unhinged rock ’n’ roll never really goes out of style.