The Rousers from Broek op Langedijk (near Alkmaar) are one of the first Duch new wave bands. Main influence during their 9-year existence(from 1982 onwards as the Thought) is popmusic from the sixties.

1977: Inspired by the new mood in british popmusic the de Jong brothers start the Rousers. In the beginning they mostly play covers: Songs by the Beatles and Buzzcocks and the Damned: It is this combination that would mark their sound, described by the band themselves as "New Beat"...

1979:In january of 1979 the brothers Wieb en Bonne Zigtema join the band, the latter taking up leadvocals. In october their first single is released on the independent Amsterdam Torso-label. The radio in Holland does not recognise the hitpotential of "Magazine girl" and so the big audience doesn't hear it either...

1980: In 1980 the album "A treat of new beat" is released. The cover, designed by Joost Swarte, is regarded as one of the most beautiful in dutch pophistory: it shows a drawing of a typical dutch rock'roll life: a band in a fastfoodshop. Clear guitars, choirs and handclapping show the merseybeat-influences. But the still the bands sounds very modern and can be compared to XTC, Squeeze or Amsterdam band the Nits. Leadvocalist Bonne Zigtema leaves the band at the end of the year and is replaced by Cock de Jong and Wieb Zigtema...

1981: their second album "Touched" is released on Ariola, this contract is the first of a series of short contracts with major labels like Polydor and MCA. Touched is full of fresh, craftmanlike Britpop. The album does not sell very well, which is frustrating for a band making nice and good popsongs in good new wave traditions. Early 1981 bassplayer Marienus leaves and the De Jong brothers and Zigtema take a rest for a year.

1982: after the rest the three men enter new roads as the Thought 1999: Cock and his Brother Theo de Jong on drums reemerge in rock'n'roll band The Shavers

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