THE KIDS
Starting in 2026, The Kids will celebrate half a century of punk in what they call their "Bloody Belgium." Frontman and singer Ludo Mariman discovered the genre's ideal form of expression back then, building an oeuvre of five studio albums and one live album. He probably never imagined back then that he'd later share the stage with iconic bands like the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, and New York Dolls at the Lokerse Feesten. But The Kids are certainly in no way inferior. Their 1978 debut album, THE KIDS, in particular, left an indelible mark on punk history, both in Belgium and beyond.
Ten years after their 1986 split, The Kids reunited, largely at the request of punks worldwide. On the occasion of the DVD "Live in New York," Het Nieuwsblad wrote: "The Antwerp band THE KIDS was founded in 1976 and is the only true punk group Belgium has ever known." In their home country, their boundless live energy was captured on the live CD "Flabbergasted."
Since then, the band has remained active non-stop. Name a stage in Belgium, and The Kids has undoubtedly played there. Since 2008, they have also regularly organized international tours, taking the Antwerp native to the United States, Mexico, Japan, Turkey, and Western Europe.
The Kids in 2025-2026:
- Ludo Mariman (guitar/vocals)
- Danny De Haes (bass)
- Luc Van de Poel (guitar)
- Tim Jult (drums)
Even today, the band's DNA remains unchanged. As Guy Mortier once wrote in Humo: "The Kids deliver punk as it should be: fierce and fast, enthusiastic and lively, and with excellent, unpretentious compositions."
Photo credits: Nick Hannes
LES TRUTTES
CHANNEL ZERO
BIZKIT PARK
FLEDDY MELCULY
MULA B
FUNERAL DRESS
WIJF
JET VAN DER STEEN
MANTAH
SOPHIE STRAAT
MOTHER MERCURY
DJ NATHACHELET
RAFFIE DE DRIVER
CALL IT OFF
THE DIRTY DADDIES
BEAR
CRIMSON BULLET GENERATION
THE ALL-STAR WEDDINGBAND
BOSKAT
WEGSFEER
THE JULIETS
MAX FORAGE
MOEDERTAAL
WEBSTEK
JANEZ DETD.
DJ FLEDDY MELCULY
THE BEATLES TODAY
UNCLE PHIL
PABLO HONEY
DAREDEVILS
GULO GANG
VALS ALARM
THE LIGHTHOUSE
RAMONES ALIVE
LENOISE
TUSKY
SLONGS
DJ TURBEAU
POSTMEN
BUSCEMI
JEBROER
WILLIE WARTAAL (DJ)
BUSCEMI vs. PRAGA KHAN
BOBALICIOUS
WIWA
WILLEM
ISAÏ
HEIDEROOSJES
THE OPPOSITES
GOLDBAND