State your name, middlename, nickname and birth date

René Kroon, Pingel (born on 31th of August 1978)
Personal Biography

I started playing on an electric organ when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I got a really bad teacher who took away all my joy in making music, so I quit after 1 or 2 years (don’t know the exact time anymore). I re-started playing organ in 1990, got a keyboard about  2 years later and joined a “semi band” (Sympho Doom/Death Metal) in 1993 and quitted that in 1994. In 1994 I joined my first real (Death Metal) band named “Save Thy Souls” and did my first gig that same year. Everybody thought that we were a Christian band because of our name, which we were NOT, so we changed the name into “Stigmatheist”. We released a mini cd called “Standing For Her Grave” in 1996 and got comments about our superb control of the English language! It actually should have been “Standing At Her Grave”, but hey…. we were young! In 1996 I joined the band (Sympho/Prog Rock) “The Barstool Philosophers” and in 1997 I joined the Conservatory to study keyboards and music production. In 1998 we (Stigmatheist) released a full length cd called “It All Ends Today” via a record label. In 1999 I didn’t had any fun anymore in playing in “Stigmatheist”, so I quit this band. Also “The Barstool Philosophers” quit that year because we could never get a singer in the band (even André Vuurboom (ex-Sun Caged) did an audition, but he didn’t like our music at that time) and our Bass player didn’t have any time left for rehearsing anymore. Somewhere this year I joined a cover band, but that sucked really hard, so this band quits somewhere in 2000. Also In 1999 I join the band “Lack Of Hope”. We made something between Doom Metal and Electro / Dark wave / Gothic music with some classical/Spanish influences in it. We worked really hard to get somewhere, but due to personal and musical issues the band falls apart around 2002. Because of health and other personal issues, I quit the Conservatory in 2000 and start working in a music store. In 2001 The band “The Barstool Philosophers” comes together again (without singer). Then we found a singer and later changed from bass player. We still exist and are about to release a cd soon. In 2004 I joined “Sun Caged”. This band gives me the opportunity to improve my musical skills and do more live playing then ever before!!! Let’s hope these 2 bands may stay together for a loooooooong time……………….
What do you do for a living?

I sell the stuff I’m using for the bands, so I work in a music store called “Huigens Music” and sell Synth’s, recording equipment and other stuff.
What’s your shoe-size?

Uhhh…. 41?
List your 5 favorite bands and albums
    1. Peter Gabriel: Live DVD “Growing Up”
    2. Toto: “Isolation” / “The 7th One”
    3. Spock’s Beard: “Octane”
    4. Porcupine Tree: Every album has some great highlites
    5. Yes: “Going For The One”

I can’t say these are the best musical pieces ever, because I like a lot of different musical styles and it’s easy to forget something, but these are the first things that came up in my mind.
Do you have any other bands/projects besides playing in Sun Caged?

The Barstool Philosophers: www.thebarstoolphilosophers.com
Do you have any other hobby’s besides making music?

You really don’t want to know…….
Do you also think René makes really bad jokes?

Yep, but I like it!!!!
Don’t you think René is an awesome guy?

Ohhhh, I really love him!!!!!
What would you like to achieve with Sun Caged?

The best musical experience you can achieve by making music. This means:

- Never worrying about having not enough money (to buy musical equipment)
- Having a lot of time making music without the need of a job that kills most of the time you have in your life
- Getting in touch with great people
- Ultra happiness
Any other comments you’d like to make?

I need a massage!!!