For Absent Friends: it’s time to say hello again to old and new friends.

Dutch progressive rock band For Absent Friends have reunited after a hiatus of more than 10 years. They will release their new studio album Disappear on 29 September 2022.

For Absent Friends were originally formed in 1986 and released 6 studio albums between 1990 and 2006. They have been regarded – both by fans as media – as one of the best progressive rock bands from the Netherlands during the period.

After the band disbanded Ed, Edwin & Hans joined the Genesis tribute band Squonk together with two new Friends Clemens & Jan. During the rehearsals for these shows their love of progressive rock music was revived: »…it was a blast and a learning bonanza!… Not soon after new original material started popping up during rehearsals. This culminated in releasing one new track The Poet under the moniker of‘SQ1».

The covid period was a blessing in disguise for the band. What else to do than write and record new music, albeit with the challenges caused by the pandemic. But musically speaking it was magic, as is the result. However, it didn’t feel good to release the music under the name SQ1. “…We know we said goodbye to For Absent Friends….  but it’s time to say hello again to old and new friends…

The seventh studio album of the band is entitled Disappear and will be released on CD, vinyl and all digital platforms via FREIA Music on 29 September 2022. The album will be presented at Poppodium De Boerderij in Zoetermeer where the band will perform – as special guests of Von Herzen Brothers.

For Absent Friends are:

Edwin Roes – guitars, keyboards

Hans van Lint – vocals, piano, keyboards

Ed Wernke – drums & percussion

Clemens Steenweg – piano, keyboards, organ, backing vocals

Jan Nieuwenhuis – bass guitars, bass pedal, backing vocals

Track list:

1. Magic

2. Random Draw

3. The Poet

4. Between The Lines

5. Keytar

6. Disappear

7. Conversation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY7cdWkJzZw

8. 58 People

9. Dreamer

According to the Dutch rock bible (Oor’s Popencyclopedie) For Absent Friends is Probably Holland’s best progressive rock band of the nineties, with its well composed, cleverly produced and, above all, original music. After the mini-album Illusions (1990) and the underestimated Both Worlds (1991), FAF finally breaks through with the third album Running in circles (1993).

This resulted in live performances on Dutch radio and television, and in numerous support acts for Asia, Saga and Marillion, to name a few. After releasing a live album (FAF out of HAL, 1994) and the 5th studio release Tintinnabulation (1996), lead singer AT leaves the band, and is replaced by Hans van Lint, who features on two songs on the compilation album Decade (1998).

Winter 2001, The Big Room is released, the first full-length album with newcomer Van Lint. The media praise the new distinct and compact sound of FAF, which also gets noticed across the borders, particularly in France, where FAF is invited to support French bestselling prog-heroes Ange in several large shows. October 2006 the long awaited 8th studio album Square One is released on Musea Records, with which FAF returns to its roots: progressive and expressive rock from the heart.

Fast forward another decade. After many years of playing without releasing new music, the band still brings the noise. The group has seen some changes in line up through the years, most notably after the loss of co-founder and bass player Bacchus. To celebrate his contributions, the band release a live album (And The Curtain Calls) in 2018. This live release sparked new urgency and creativity, and new music.

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