40 years ago, in July 1980, Luv' went through a difficult chapter in its history. This sad and unexpected moment impacted on Holland's greatest girl group.
The July 10th, 1980 edition of the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf featured an article announcing that Patty Brard was obliged to be on sick-leave for a month which caused Luv' to cancel all their projects for several weeks. At the time, the group's latest single "One More Little Kissy" was still on the record charts (see news posted on May 31st, 2020).
De Telegraaf - July 10th, 1980
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Het Parool - July 14th, 1980
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Such an event took everybody by surprise as the public image of the trio was excellent. Since 1978, the ladies had scored hit after hit (not only in their homeland but also abroad), collected awards and platinum records, traveled Europe with their private jet, performed on TV, toured the club circuit and graced the covers of magazines.
In May 1980, Luv' went on a memorable promo tour in Mexico (see article posted on May 10th, 2020). The highlights of this special trip were: the presentation of gold records (including one for "Si, Que Si" (the Spanish version of "Ooh, Yes I Do"), a press conference, photoshoots and the taping of TV shows. On this occasion, Patty met Italian record producer and music publisher Carlo Nasi (heir to the FIAT empire). It was love at first sight. At the time, Patty was divorcing Dutch TV star Ron Brandsteder. Rapidly, the enfant terrible of Luv' was not motivated to fulfill her commitments. She was fed up with the hectic schedule of the group. Tensions within the members of the pop trio appeared. In an interview published in Hitkrant magazine in early June 1980, Patty told: "It's too much. I'm in love with a man who lives far away from me. It's hard to combine with Luv'. Someday I'll have to make a choice".
Meanwhile, Luv' had big plans for the future. They were supposed to perform in the USSR, to take part in the Yamaha Music Festival in Japan and to star in a TV series. These projects could mean their breakthrough in new territories.
In his biography "The Story Of Luv'" published in May 2015 and forbidden one month later due to photo copyright issues, Peter Boonstra described the moment Patty became sick. The Luv' singer wanted to buy a house to live with her new lover and thus needed money. On July 7th, she asked her lawyer to arrange a loan with InterLUV' BV (the group's limited company owned by songwriters and producers, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, manager Pim ter Linde and the members of Luv'). Pim ter Linde was surprised when he received a call from this lawyer who had an unusual request from her client. It led to arguments and irritations. On July 9th, Patty saw a doctor: she suffered from stress and was obliged to be on sick-leave for a month. Unexpectedly, she escaped from Holland to go to Los Angeles where Carlo lived.
Dutch authors Michel van Egmond and Antoinnette Scheulderman also mentioned this particular story in their recent bestselling book "Patty: de negen levens van Patty Brard". Here's an excerpt:
As the pressure was so high and a multi-million Dutch Guilder contract was ready to be signed at the office of the record label Carrere in Paris, Patty left all of a sudden. Disappeared. Escaped. Nobody knew where she was, even Henk van der Meyden (editor-in-chief of Privé magazine and gossip columnist at De Telegraaf) didn't know it.
Antoinnette: Where were you?
Patty: In Los Angeles, Carlo and I lived in Hidden Hills. Then we moved to Pacific Palisades between Malibu and Santa Monica. I remember when Carlo asked me if I wanted to live in Los Angeles. I thought: "Yes, why not?". My sister told me: "You're going to do your shopping in paper bags". She thought it was so romantic and so American. So did I. Every time I had these brown bags I thought: I'm living it. I also went shopping at night. It was crazy to do it. I often went to Gelson's in Santa Monica. This is where the stars went shopping. It was a top life. I thought I had the world at my feet. Poor Carlo couldn't always stand it. I was like a dragon for this man. A couple of nights a week I was dancing with handsome Frenchmen in illegal clubs. He was at home reading Winston Churchill's memoirs and I went out with my mini skirt.
Antoinnette: Meanwhile the whole Netherlands were upside down: where was Patty Brard? Did you realize it?
Patty: When we visited Carlo's family in Europe, the butler who served breakfast brought us Dutch newspapers and I realized it. I read that I took advantage of him whereas I was just lunching with Carlo in Monaco and Freddy Heineken came in with one of these papers and was pointing at me saying: I've found her! I've found her!.
Antoinette: It was written that you had a nervous breakdown.
Patty: It was of course the legal history. I couldn't stand the pressure within the group anymore but I was suggested to exaggerate it. When you tell that you don't want to do work anymore, it is not a good reason. The only way to avoid penalties and claims was to tell that I suffered psychologically.
Antoinnette: Hans van Hemert was furious when you left.
Patty: He is still angry at me and I understand it. The stakes were so high. Hans had secured a 2 million royalty contract with Carrere but it was only valid for the original line-up of the group. The contract was broken when I left. There was so much anger.
Despite Patty's departure, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee tried to remain professional and took part in a sport event "Wielrennen tegen Luv'" (Cycling against Luv') as part of the Hitkrant's Zomerspelen (a summer multi-sport competition with Dutch celebrities sponsored by teen magazine Hitkrant).
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Hitkrant - July 1980
As the days without Patty went by, the press kept on publishing articles about this showbiz saga of the summer. At first, the journalists didn't know where the larger than life Luv' lady was hiding. They found out later that she stayed in Carlo's house in California. Pim ter Linde kept on informing the media. According to him, the girl group was having a break and he hoped that Patty would come back.
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De Telegraaf - July 28th, 1980
Hitkrant - August 14th, 1980
In August 1980, Patty was supposed to be back. Instead, her lawyer announced that she was still sick and not ready to join Luv' again.
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Hitkrant - August 21st, 1980
Pim ter Linde and Hans van Hemert were trying to find a solution behind the scenes. A replacement had to be found very quickly as many legal obligations were scheduled. One thing was sure: Luv' had to go on with or without Patty. The owner of a club in Zevenhuizen, the Netherlands threatened Luv' to start legal action if the ladies did not perform. The group might pay 50.000 Dutch guilders if they didn't sing. To avoid this penalty, a new girl had to be recruited. But that's another story...
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Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - August 20th, 1980
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Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - August 21st, 1980
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De Telegraaf - August 21st, 1980
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Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - August 22nd, 1980
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Bibliography:
The Story of Luv' by Peter Boonstra, 2015
Patty: de negen levens van Patty Brard by Michel van Egmond and Antoinnette Scheulderman, 2020
Source: Delpher.nl, Luv' blog archives...
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