The Pebbles
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1960-65) as The Fredstones - Fred Bekky (aka Fred Beekmans) (RIP 2025) -- vocals, lead guitar - Bob Bobott (aka Bob Baelemans) -- vocals, rhythm guitar - Meil Gielen -- bass - Louis de Laat -- drums, percussion - Luk Mets (aka Luc Smets) (RIP 2023) -- vocals, keyboards
line up 2 (1965-69) as The Peebles - Fred Bekky (aka Fred Beekmans) (RIP 2025) -- vocals, lead guitar - Bob Bobott (aka Bob Baelemans) -- vocals, rhythm guitar - Meil Gielen -- bass - Louis de Laat -- drums, percussion - Luk Mets (aka Luc Smets) (RIP 2023) -- vocals, keyboards
line up 3 (1969-72) - Fred Bekky (aka Fred Beekmans) (RIP 2025) -- vocals, lead guitar - Bob Bobott (aka Bob Baelemans) -- vocals, rhythm guitar NEW - Cel De Cauwer -- drums, percussion (replaced Louis de Laat) - Luk Mets (aka Luc Smets) (RIP 2023) -- vocals, keyboards NEW - Axel Van Duyn -- bass, backing vocals (replaced Meil Gielen)
line up 4 (1973-74) - Fred Bekky (aka Fred Beekmans) (RIP 2025) -- vocals, lead guitar - Bob Bobott (aka Bob Baelemans) -- vocals, rhythm guitar NEW - Tim Turcksin -- vocals, keyboards (replaced Luc Smets) NEW- Johnie Verhas -- drums, percussion (replaced Cel De Cauwer) NEW - Patrick Wijnants (aka Patrick Wijns) -- bass (replaced Axel Van Duyn)
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- Boxer (Johnie Verhas) - Cel De Cauwer (solo efforts) - The Clungels (Axel Van Duin) - Dinkies (Cel De Cauwer) - Dream Express (Luc Smets) - The Fredstoes - Garden (Patrick Wijns) - The Ghostriders - Heartbreak (Fred Bekky) - Hearts of Soul (Luc Mets) - The Fred Klee Band (Johnie Verhas) - LBS (Luc Smets) - Orkest O.l.v. (Luc Smets) - R & R High School (Cel De Cauwer) - The Romantics (Cel De Cauwer) - Shampoo (Cel De Cauwer and Luc Smets) - Luc Smets (solo efforts) - The Springs - Tony and Tim (Tim Turcksin) - Trillion (Fred Bekky) - Trinity (Fred Bekky and Bob Bobott)
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Peebles Company: Barclay Catalog: BE
920280-1 Country/State: Hoboken, Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $80.00
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Music collectors interested in Belgian artists seem to tend to focus on progressive and rock bands. Overlooked is the fact the country spawned a couple of decent pop groups, including the criminally overlooked The Pebbles.
The Pebbles actually trace their roots back to 1964's The Fredstones. Hailing from Hoboken, Belgium the band was formed in 1960 by Fred Beekmans (aka Fred Bekky) and Bob Baelemans (aka Bob Bobott). The rest of the original line-up featured bassist Meil Gielen, drummer Louis de Laat, and lead singer/keyboardist Luk Mets (aka Luc Smets).The group became known in their native Antwerp for extended club sets and won an early advocate when they were discovered by American producer Norman Petty. Amongst under things, Petty suggested a name change to The Pebbles and apparently recorded quite a bit of demo material with the band in New Mexico. Sporting a surprisingly English sounding Merseybeat sound, they recording a string of at least 14 international singles over the next five years, including two instantly forgotten US releases:
- 1965's "Let's Say Goodbye" b/w "Love Me Again" (CBS catalog number CBS 1.911) - 1965's "It's Alright with Me Now" b/w "Forever More" (CBS catalog number 1.914) - 1965''s "Il Nuovo Giorno" b/w "Domani" (CapiraiDurium catalog number CN A 9163) (Italian release) - 1966's "Huma la la la" b/w "Geneveve" (Arcade catalog number 5013) (Italian release) -
1967's "Someone To Love" b/w "I Wonder" (Belter catalog number 07-607)
(Spanish release) - 1967's "Get Around" b/w "Forty Miles" (Barclay catalog number BE.60944) - 1968's "Forty Miles Inside Your Heart" b/w "Get Around" (Major Minor catalog number MM 574) (UK release) -
1968's "Forty Miles" b/w "Get Around" (Mainstream catalog number 695) (US
release) It only
took four years and seven singles released on at least four record labels, but in
1969 The Pebbles finally got a chance to record a
studio album - "The Pebbles". Produced
by Alain Milhaud, the album offered up a
collection of orig
"The
Pebbles" track listing: 1.) To the Rising Sun (Fred Bekky) - 6:36 rating: **** stars Wow, who would have ever expected a Belgian band to out-Holly The Hollies? Seriously, "To the Rising Sun" had everything needed for massive radio success - wonderful melody; insidiously catchy hook, awesome Fred Bekky twelve-string guitar work and those crystalline harmonies. Allan Clarke and company would have sold Graham Nash into indetured servitude for a song as good as this one. Simply a wonderful way to start the album. Included on "The Pebbles Greatest Hits" compilation released a couple of years later, an edited version of the tune was finally tapped as a single:
- 1971's "To the Rising Sun" b/w "Is There No One (To See You)" (Barclay catalog number BE 61 397)
2.) Sunday Morning Trip (Bob Bobott - Fred Bekky) - 3:30 rating: **** stars With a distinctive Nederpop feel "Sunday Morning Trip" was a sweet, slightly lysergic-tinged pop ballad that showed off the band's talents for fragile vocal harmonies. Maybe because it was a ballad, Bekky's voice sounded a bit quivery. 3.) Free of Love (Fred Bekky) - 4:30 rating: **** stars With a nice bubbly guitar-propelled power-pop melody "Free of Love" sounded like the band had been listening to lots of Chinn and Chapman produced British bands (think early Sweet). Keyboard player Mets handled the vocals. Mindless pop fun that should have topped early-'70s pop charts. 4.) Do You Know? (Luk Mets) - 3:24 rating: **** stars Very different from the rest of the album "Do You Know?" sported a breezy, harmony-rich, jazz-tinged melody. Nice jazzy solo from Bekky. Strange, but fascinating.
(side
2) Kicked along by Cel De Cauwer's tribal drums, nice jangling twelve-string guitars and those sterling harmony vocals, "Little Free Rock" sounded a bit like a bouncy Donovan-meets-CSN&Y tune. One of the album highlights and one of the few tracks where they injected a bit or originality into the debut LP. Rhythm guitar Bobbot handled the lead vocals. 2.) Half Past Dead (Fred Bekky) - 5:00 rating: **** stars Courtesy of the opening, "Half Past Dead" drummer De Cauwer got his moment in the spotlight. Though Bekky embedded a couple of jazzy guitar licks in the tune, the track was easily the album's toughest rocker. Perhaps it was the unusual percussion touches, or the vocal harmonies, but for some reason this one has always reminded me of a 10cc tune. It was also one of the album's standout performances. Mets was featured on lead vocals. 3.) Cut My Head Off (Luk Mets) - 4:19 rating: *** stars Always loved Meil Gielen's bass line (the opening section has always reminded me of the theme from the Popeye cartoon). From there "Cut My Head Off"offered up a strange, but entertaining mixture of progressive moves, sailor's lament and music hall moves. The mix of Mets' Hammond B-3 organ, treated vocals and multiple time and melodic switches was kind of cool. 4.) Civil Wedding (Axel Van Duyn - Luk Mets) - 2:50 rating: ** stars Apparently meant to showcase their "cute" side, "Civil Wedding" brought the group painfully close to schlager. The album's worst song.
The album's commercial failure outside of the Benelux led to personnel friction amongst band members. Difference in musical opinion and personality conflicts saw Mets kicked out of the band. He was quickly replaced by Tim Turcksin. Having joined the Jehovahs Witnesses and unwilling to perform on Sundays, drummer De Cauwer was also fired. Johnie Verhas took his place. Smets and De Cauwer subsequently continued their musical collaboration in the short-lived group Shampoo.
© Scott R. Blackerby April 2026
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Close Up Company: United Artists Catalog: UAG
29436 Country/State: Hoboken, Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1 Price: $
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After their debut studio album tanked, The Pebbles continued to release interesting and increasingly more rock oriented singles to an indifferent public.
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1971's 'Down at Kiki' b/w 'Jelly Mama' (Barclay catalog number BE 61 455)
At the same time, increasing unhappy with longtime label Barclay Records, in 1972 they finally broke loose from their contract, signing with United Artists. Produced by Ed Welch, 1972's "Close Up" found the group trying to walk a musical tightrope between pleasing their longstanding pop fans, while pursuing their own interest in a much more conventional (and likeable) rock orientation. Featuring all original material, again written by Fred Bekky, Bob Bobott, and Luk Mets, the results were basically split down the middle with tunes like 'Love Fades Away', 'Make Me King' and 'Judy Suzy and Phil' showcasing their pop, radio-friendly side, while 'Mister Southeaster' and 'Mother Amy' opted for a more rock focus. Unfortunately for the band, nothing here was particularly cutting edge and United Artists seemed to have little interest in promoting the collection, limiting distribution to just a few European countries.
"Close Up" track listing: 1.) Mister Southeaster - 5:20 Personally, as exemplified by the leadoff track 'Mister Southeaster', I really liked the harder rock flavors The Pebbles were exploring on this one. The title didn't make a lot of sense to me, but I sure liked the twin lead guitars which gave the tune an interesting Allman-esque-meets-Lake feel. Add in some nice Axel Van Duyn bass work and you had a great opener. rating: **** stars 2.) Once In a While - 2:43 3.) You - 2:38 4.) Love Fades Away (Fred Bekky - Bob Bobott) - 3:20 'Love Fades Away' was a pretty Hollies-styled radio-friendly pop ballad showcasing some of Bekky's frequently overlooked slide guitar. rating: **** stars 5.) Make Me King - 3:16 Another tune that sound liked they'd been listening to lost of mid-'70s English pop - Pilot, Status Quo, etc. Not particularly original (lots of na-na-nas), but still very likeable. rating: *** stars 6.) Spare a Little Love - 2:55 Bland, Peter and Gordon styled ballad that sound quite outdated and perfunctory. rating: ** stars
(side 2) 1.) Desert Funeral (instrumental) - 3:27 The instrumental 'Desert Funeral' sounded like something lifted from a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. Certainly different, but not one of the standout performances. rating: *** stars 2.) Judy Suzy and Phil (Fred Bekky - Bob Bobott) - 3:30 Usually I'm not a fan of hyper-sensitive ballads like 'Judy Suzy and Phil', but this one was really, really good. Imagine The Moody Blues if they ever decided they want to write a top-40 song. Easy to understand why United Artists tapped it as a single:
- 1972's 'Judy Suzy and Phil' b/w 'Love Fades Away' (United Artsits 4C 006-93850) rating: **** stars 3.) Reddish Wood - 2:45 The first time I head 'Reddish Wood' I clearly remember thinking this was a Smokie tune. The vocal had the same arch sound than Chris Norman had in his voice. Coupled with some nice electric guitar, this was one of the more radio-ready tracks. rating: **** stars 4.) Some Days Are Gone (Fred Bekky - Bob Bobott) - 2:46 Throwaway country-rock ballad that was highlighted by nice Eagles-styled harmony vocals ... there were actually a lot of American and English country-rock bands that didn't sound as good. rating: *** stars 5.) Mother Amy (Fred Bekky - Bob Bobott) - 2:54 The song title and lyrics were a bit of a mystery; perhaps a reflection on their mid-'60s time spent recording with Norman Petty? Nice jangle rocker with a funky rhythm, but lacked a really strong melody and probably wasn't the tune I would have picked as a single.
- 1972' Mother Army' b/w 'Some Days Are Gone' (United Artists catalog number 4C 006-93 487) 6.) Notion - 3:17
Like the first album, the collection again failed to find an audience which led to internal arguments over musical direction. After three more non-LP singles, by the end of 1974 The Pebbles had called it quits.
- 1974's 'Some Kind of Joker' b/w 'You Are My Sunshine (United Artists catalog number 4C 006-94 718) - 1974's 'No Time at All' b/w 'You Can Have The Thing Called Love' (United Artists catalog number 4C006-95088) - 1974's 'The Kid Is Allright' b/w 'Three Little Sisters' (EMI catalog number 4C 006-95 882)
There's also a one-shot 1980 reunion disco-oriented single that's pretty horrible:
7" format - 1980's 'Figrao' b/w 'Got Enough (Of Your Crazy Love)' (Killroy catalog number KS 3160 KF) 12" format - 1980's 'Figrao' b/w 'Got Enough (Of Your Crazy Love)' (Killroy catalog number KIL 119510 KMS)
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Pebbles Best Company: Barclay Catalog: 920397 Country/State: Hoboken, Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1 Price: $
Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Pebbles Greatest Hits Company: SFP Catalog: 4M032-64275 Country/State: Hoboken, Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1 Price: $
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Because they were such a singles oriented band, The Pebbles are one of the few band where it makes sense to look for some of their retrospective albums.
Released in 1972, 'The Pebbles Best" was a haphazard compilation of material drawn from their late-'60s and early-'70s tenure on the French Barclay. The twelve track retrospective included a couple of singles ('even Horses In The Sky' and 'Down At Kiki'), 'B' sides ('Jelly Mama' and 'The Verger'), and a couple of previously unreleased efforts ('Wavering Retrospection').
"The Pebbles Best" track listing: (side 1) 1.)
You Better Believe It
(side
2)
Released in 1981, "The Pebbles Greatest Hits" is probably the set for most folks to invest in. The thirteen track compilation was heavy on the band's late-'60s and early-'70s singes (virtually all of these 'A' sides. Only two of the songs overlapped from the earlier "Best Of" set - 'Seven Horses In The Sky' and 'Down At Kiki'. Far from perfect, the single album set ignored the band's earliest material, as well as some of their better latter career singles. Missing in action were singles like the AC/DC-ish 'Beggar', 'Some Kind of Joker', and 'The Kid Is Allright'.
"The Pebbles Greatest Hits" track listing: (side 1) 1.)
Seven Horses In The Sky
(Fred Bekky – Bob Bobott – Luc Mets – Hugo) - 3:45 3.)
Get Around (Fred Bekky – Bob Bobot) - 2:38
(side
2) 7.) No Time At All (Fred Bekky – Bob Bobot) - 2:55
Suffering from Alzheimers, heart and kidney problems, in his '70s Bekky experience a pair of cerebrial infractions, dying from pneumonia in February 2025.
Smets passed away in December 2023.
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inal material with
lead guitarist Fred Bekky,rhythm guitarist Bob Bobitt and singer/
keyboardist Luk Mets (aka Luc Smets) sharing writing
duties. Given the band had always followed musical trends,
tunes like "Sunday
Morning Trip" and "Little Free Rock" were surprisingly mainstream pop
efforts. Not bad, but still a bit predictable and somewhat staid.
That wasn't to say the album didn't have it's moments.
Tapped as a single the following have given The Sweet a run for their
money on the English pop-rock charts. Elsewhere, sporting a touch of 10cc.
quirkiness the blistering rocker "Half Past Dead" showed they could
toughen up their sound, As I said earlier The Pebbles were one of the
best '60s and '70s pop bands to come out of the Benelux. Was
their debut album worth the five four year wait? Well, while I
liked the majority of the eight album tracks, the fact of the matter
is earlier non-LP singles like "Get Around", "You're Better Believe
It" and "Seven Horses In the Sky"
were better than most of the material on the album. Fans apparently
saw it the same way as the collection proved a sales disappointment.
Shame
they didn't get more recognition. 
