Bolland & Bolland is a Dutch duo formed in 1972. The group consists of brothers Robert Johannes “Rob” Bolland and Ferdinand Derek “Ferdi” Bolland. Rob Bolland was born on April 17, 1955, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ferdi Bolland was born on August 5, 1956, also in Port Elizabeth. The family moved to The Hague in the Netherlands in 1969. There, the brothers began their professional music careers. Bolland & Bolland blend pop, rock, folk, synth-pop, and electronic music. In addition to their work as performers, they were among the most successful European songwriters and producers of the 1980s. They later wrote and produced songs for artists including Falco, Samantha Fox, Suzi Quatro, and Gerard Joling. They became particularly well-known as the writers of “Rock Me Amadeus, ” “Jeanny, ” and “Vienna Calling” for Falco. The brothers achieved their first successes in 1972 with “Summer Of ’71.” Several singles and albums followed . Among their most important albums are Florida (1972), The Domino Theory (1981), Silent Partners (1984), Brotherology (1987), Pop Art (1989), and Dream Factory (1991). They celebrated their greatest success as artists with “You’re In The Army Now” in 1982. The single reached No. 1 in Norway and Finland and No. 2 in Sweden. The accompanying album, The Domino Theory, brought the duo international fame. Other successful singles include “Spaceman” (1978), “Heaven Can Wait” (1983), “Ten American Girls” (1984), “Imagination” (1984), “The Boat” (1985), “Best Love of My Life” (1987), and “The Wall Came Tumbling Down” (1989). Starting in the mid-1980s, their focus shifted increasingly toward production and songwriting. With Falco’s album 3 and the global hit “Rock Me Amadeus,” the brothers made music history. In 1986, the song became the first German-language number one on the U.S. Billboard charts. After several joint projects, the brothers parted ways both professionally and personally in 2003.
