All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): 30 years ago: With Luv' from Dubai...

Luv' and marines in Dubai (1990)

Photo edited by Co Rnz

30 years ago exactly, on December 15th, 1990, Luv' (featuring Marga Scheide as the only original member with Diana van Berlo and Carina Lemoine) were on the front page of Holland's most-read newspaper De Telegraaf. One day before, the ladies gave a memorable show in Dubai to entertain Dutch marines involved in the First Gulf War. It was a milestone in the trio's career. Here's the story of this unique performance...

One year prior to this event, Marga resurrected Luv' without Patty Brard and José Hoebee. She trademarked the name of the group without informing record producer Hans van Hemert who created Luv' in late 1976. She recruited other members: 23-year-old Diana van Berlo (from Helmond, the Netherlands) and 28-year-old Michelle Gold (from London, UK - see article posted on August 14th, 2019).

Luv' in 1989: Diana van Berlo, Marga Scheide and Michelle Gold

This new line-up scored a Top 30 hit in Holland and Belgium in the autumn of 1989: the dance-pop single "Welcome To My Party" (see article posted on October 21st, 2019).

November 1989 saw the release of Luv's mini-album "For You" by High Fashion Dance Music/Dureco (see article posted on November 18th, 1989).

Front cover of "For You" - released by Dureco Records in November 1989

Photo by Govert de Roos

In addition to the chart hit Welcome To My Party, this EP included three other songs released as singles which all flopped: I Don't Wanna Be Lonely, Girl Like Me and Medley (also entitled Luv Hit-Medley).

Luv' in Hitkrant - February 10th, 1990

Click on the image to enlarge it - Click here to read the article online

Though the ladies never achieved the level of success of the original trio, they toured the club circuit and appeared frequently on TV.

In the summer of 1990, Michelle Gold was replaced by 21-year old Carina Lemoine.

Luv' (Carina Lemoine, Diana van Berlo and Marga Scheide) backstage at Veronica's TV show "Sportgala" taped at the Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard (1990)

The announcement of Carina as a new Luv' singer coincided with the end of the trio's contract with Dureco Records and the signature of a deal with RCA Records.

The renewed Luv' group recorded a Latin pop single entitled Hasta Mañana written and produced by Marga Scheide and her partner, Jacques Zwart (aka E. Mergency). During the autumn of 1990, Luv' promoted this record in the media (including TV performances on Sportgala (Veronica), Tineke (Veronica) and 5 Uur Show (RTL 4). Despite this exposure, the single didn't enter the hit parade.

Front cover of the 7" single of Hasta Mañana by Luv'

Released by RCA Records in October 1990

Former Luv' singer Ria Thielsch (who worked in the fashion industry) was in charge of the group's styling for this single.

Ria Thielsch and Luv' backstage at Veronica's Sportgala taped at the Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard (1990)

As the girl group was experiencing changes, the world was facing a major crisis: the Gulf War.

The Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991) was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait arising from oil pricing and production disputes. It was codenamed Operation Desert Shield (2 August 1990 – 17 January 1991) for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defense of Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) in its combat phase.

Among the countries involved in the coalition against Saddam Hussein's army: the Netherlands. The Dutch warships that took part in the conflict were Kortenaer-class frigates, HNLMS Pieter Florisz, HNLMS Philips van Almonde, Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigates, HNLMS Witte de With and HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck.

The Luv' girls were officially invited by the Dutch community based in Dubai in association with Joop van de Ende productions and the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) to entertain the marines. They followed in the footsteps of The Andrew Sisters, Vera Lynn, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Marilyn Monroe or Raquel Welsch who had already sung for soldiers.

Click on the images to enlarge them:

The Andrew Sisters

Vera Lynn

Josephine Baker

Marlene Dietrich

Marilyn Monroe

Raquel Welsch

Ten years before Luv', another Dutch girl group had already performed for soldiers: Babe. In April 1980, this trio sang for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Click on the images to enlarge them:

De Telegraaf - April 10th, 1980

De Telegraaf - April 28th, 1980

De Telegraaf - April 29th, 1980

Babe : Never Listen To A Bouzouki Player (filmed in Lebanon in 1980)

In 2017, the former Babe singer Gemma van Eck met UNIFIL veterans and spent a nice moment with them.

In late November 1990, the announcement of Luv's Christmas show for the marines generated lots of publicity in the media.