The Apers

by Bradley TorreanoNetherlands' the Apers formed in 1996 in suburban Rotterdam, when vocalist/bassist Kevin Aper, guitarist/vocalist Marien Nicotine, and drummer Ivo Backbreaker began an impressive assault of 7" singles, compilation tracks, and EPs. When they finally settled in to record a full-length album, it was the spring of 2002, and the punk-pop crew -- a quartet after the 2000 addition of guitarist Jerry Hormone -- had made Stardumb Records their home. Their eponymous debut came out that summer; The Buzz Electric followed a year later. Stardumb then issued the singles and rarities compilation The Wild and Savage Apers: Singles and Outtakes, Vol. 1 in May 2004 to alleviate fan dilemmas that many of the Apers' early releases were by then out of print. Hormone exited the group circa 2005 and was replaced on guitar by Kelvin Centerfold. The guys then released a split 7" with Sonic Dolls in May 2006 via It's Alive Records.