Biography
1976 - present
1976 : FORMATION
Formation of Luv' (featuring José van de Wijdeven, Marga Scheide and Patty Brard) by Dutch record producers Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, assisted by manager Han Meijer.
1977 : DEBUT
"My Man" (first single released in May 1977) peaked at #12 in the Netherlands and #10 in Belgium. "Dream, Dream" (second single released in November 1977) flopped.
EARLY 1978 : WALDOLALA
Breakthrough in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium)
In March 1978, the single entitled "U.O.Me" (theme from the Dutch high-rated TV series "Het is weer zo laat!" (aka Waldolala) reached the Top 3 in Benelux and sold 150.000 copies. In May 1978, the group chose a new manager: Pim ter Linde who ran Interlinde Management, the House of Dutch Stars (Bonnie St. Claire, Lee Towers, Saskia & Serge, Ciska Peters...).
1978: LUV' INTERNATIONAL
The follow-up single "You're the Greatest Lover" was released in July 1978. It was the group's international breakthrough in the autumn of 1978 (#1 in Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, #2 in Austria, #19 in France and Israel and #15 in South Africa). This million-seller became Luv's signature song and was certified platinum in Holland and gold in Germany.
1978 : WITH LUV'
Luv's Debut Album
The debut album "With Luv'" came out in late August 1978. It went platinum in the Netherlands and reached silver status in Denmark.
WINTER 1978 - 1979
The International Triumph of Trojan Horse
In late 1978 and early 1979, Luv' conquered the charts with "Trojan Horse" (another million-selling record which hit the number one spot in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Top 5 in German-speaking countries and Denmark, the Top 10 in New Zealand, Argentina and Norway, the Top 20 in South Africa, Israel and Zimbabwe, the Top 50 in France and Australia as well as the Top 100 in Canada). This single went platinum in Holland as well as gold in Belgium and Austria.
1979 : HEYDAY
The singles "Casanova" (April 1979), "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" (August 1979) and "Ooh, Yes I Do" (late October 1979) maintained Luv's position as a popular group in the countries mentioned above. The studio albums "Lots of Luv'" (May 1979) and "True Luv'" (December 1979) were successful on the charts. The girls kept on collecting gold and platinum records. On December 31st, 1979, they received the Conamus Export Prize for being the "best selling Dutch Export act" (the trio sold 2.5 million records outside the Netherlands that year).
1980 : TRANSITION
Popularity of the singles "Ann-Maria" (February 1980) and "One More Little Kissy" (May 1980). Luv' embarked on a promo tour in May 1980 in Mexico where they received gold records for "Si, Que Si" (the Spanish version of "Ooh, Yes I Do") and the True Luv' album.
In July 1980, Patty Brard left the group and was replaced by Ria Thielsch.
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1980: WELCOME RIA!
In autumn 1980, the renewed trio enjoyed success with the "My Number One" single and the "Forever Yours" album. Before Christmas 1980, the group had to stop its activities due to Marga's burn-out.
1981 : GOODBYE LUV'!
Luv' disbanded in early March 1981. The trio appeared at the Efteling theme park during a summer multi-sport event with Dutch celebrities to the public's great surprise on June 18th, 1981.
Luv' gave a farewell performance on July 22nd, 1981, on "Nederland Muziekland" (a TV show on Veronica channel) by singing "Tingalingaling" (which was released as a single). Then the compilation album "Goodbye Luv'" came out. It was the end of a brief and intense international success story (1977-1981). 12 singles, 4 albums, 13 gold and platinum records, a string of hits scored in seventeen countries, one Dutch export award (Conamus Export Prize), 7 million records sold, TV shows, magazines covers...
1985 : FIRST REUNION
In early 1985, Dutch celebrity gossip magazine Story brought the original trio together for a photo session and an interview.
1988 : REUNION ON TV
On October 27th, 1988, Luv' reunited for a one-off performance on a Dutch TV charity show. They later planned to record a comeback album with British producers "Stock, Aitken & Waterman" (famous for the hits of Bananarama, Mel & Kim, Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue) but this project never materialized.
1989 - 1990 : MARGA'S LUV'
In 1989, Marga Scheide trademarked Luv's name. She formed a new trio with two new members: Michelle Gold and Diana van Berlo. This line-up (nicknamed "Marga's Luv" by the fans) scored a moderate hit ("Welcome To My Party": #22 in the Netherlands and #28 in Belgium) in autumn 1989. Luv's mini-album "For You" was released by High Fashion Dance Music/Dureco in November 1989. This mini-CD included four tracks released as singles; the chart hit Welcome To My Party (October 1989), I Don't Wanna Be Lonely (December 1989), Girl Like Me (Released only in Japan in 1990) and Medley (1990).
1990 - 1992 : MARGA LUV' (PART 2)
In June 1990, Michelle Gold left Luv' and was replaced by Carina Lemoine. Although chart success was a distant memory, the ladies toured the club circuit and performed on TV. In October 1990, the group put out the single "Hasta Mañana". In December 1990, Luv' entertained the Dutch marines based in Dubai and involved in the Gulf War. March 1991 saw the release of "Jungle Jive" as a single. One month later, the album "Sincerely Yours" came out and included four songs released as singles: the above-mentioned "Hasta Mañana" and "Jungles Jive" as well as "The Last Song" (June 1991) and "He's My Guy" (#75 on the Dutch Single Top 100 in October 1991). In early 1992, the trio covered the Motown classic "This Old Heart Of Mine" that didn't chart. In late 1992, Marga's Luv' disbanded.
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1993 : LUV' GOLD
In 1993, the original Luv' girls (Patty Brard, José Hoebee and Marga Scheide) got together. A compilation (Luv' Gold) was released and peaked at #14 on the Dutch albums chart. It sold 40.000 copies in Benelux. A megamix also came out and reached the 23rd position on the Dutch Top 40. The trio went on a promo tour through Benelux, German-speaking countries and Denmark.
1994 - 1996 : ALL YOU NEED IS LUV
Luv's studio album entitled "All You Need Is Luv'" was released in February 1994 and was only available in Kruidvat shops (a chain of Dutch drugstores). It sold 50.000 copies. The group did sporadic gigs and disbanded in late 1996.
2003 : 25 JAAR NA WALDOLALA
Universal Music put out a double CD compilation (25 Jaar Na Waldolala) to celebrate Luv's 25th anniversary. This anthology featured smash hits, album songs and bonus tracks. Photo below (from left to right): René Moonen (conceiver of the compilation), José Hoebee, Hans van Hemert and Ria Thielsch at the release party of 25 Jaar Na Waldolala in October 2003.
2005 : LUV'S TRIBUTE TO HANS VAN HEMERT
In April 2005, Luv' gave a surprise performance at the 60th birthday party of Hans van Hemert. This event made front-page news in the Netherlands.
2006 : BACK IN LUV'
In 2006, the girls reunited once again. A reality TV show (Back In Luv') about their comeback was broadcast on RTL 5 in Holland and on VTM in Flanders. A DVD (also entitled "Back In Luv'" and including TV archives from the trio's heyday) came out. With the help from the official fan club, Universal Music released "Completely In Luv'", a box set including their entire repertoire from the 1977-1980 period with bonus tracks and remixes. On May 26th, 27th and 28th 2006, the three singers and Bobby Farrell (of Boney M.) made a guest appearance on the mega shows of De Toppers (a group formed by Gordon, René Froger and Gerard Joling) at the Amsterdam ArenA. In addition to TV performances, Luv' were booked for discos, festivals, private parties and corporate events.
2007 - 2012 : THE FINAL YEARS OF LUV'S ORIGINAL TRIO
Between 2007 and 2012, Luv' performed on stage occasionally. On March 12th, 2012, Marga Scheide confirmed the definitive break-up of the group on NOS/Radio 1. The ladies took this decision without anger. They gave their so-called final live performance on August 11th, 2012, at the Dutch Valley Festival in Spaarnwoude, the Netherlands.
2013: BRIEF REUNION OF LUV'S 1980-1981 LINEUP
José Hoebee, Marga Scheide and Ria Thiesch were reunited at a fan club meeting in Eindhoven on May 25th, 2013.
2015 : THE STORY OF LUV'
In 2015, Peter Boonstra published the long-awaited photo book entitled "The Story of Luv'" including exclusive pictures and a CD compilation (with their greatest hits as well as remixes of "Trojan Horse" and "Life Is On My Side" by highly acclaimed remixer-producer Matt Pop). Marga Scheide and José Hoebee supported this initiative.
On May 1st, 2015; the press launch of "The Story of Luv" took place at the Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. The author of the book, José Hoebee, Marga Scheide, Ria Thielsch, Hans van Hemert and Dutch illusionist Hans Klok (who hosted the event) were present.
One day later, a meet 'n greet afternoon with fans combined with a release party was held in the same location.
Former Luv' singer Patty Brard wanted to ban the book. Shortly afterwards, Peter was obliged to stop the book's sale due to copyright issues about some photographs. This cruel decision led to a great disappointment and provoked (once again) a feud between Patty and her ex-colleagues.
2015 : COMEBACK?
In late October 2015, the media speculated about a comeback of Luv'. A German talent agency announced on its website that Marga Scheide and José Hoebee could be booked as Luv' for live shows. In interviews, the ladies remained vague about plans to reactivate the group.
2016 : RESURRECTION
On March 16th, 2016, a dream came true when Marga Scheide, José Hoebee and Ria Thielsch announced their comeback in De Telegraaf (Holland's most-read newspaper) and its sister magazine Privé. This great news generated publicity in the media (radio interviews, articles in the tabloid press and news websites...). The ladies toured the nostalgia circuit in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium) until late 2018.
2017 : 40TH ANNIVERSARY
In July 2017, the ladies celebrated their 40th anniversary with fans in Best, the Netherlands.
2019 : A SURPRISING LINE-UP CHANGE
On January 4th, 2019, the group announced an unexpected line-up change in De Telegraaf: media personality Chimène van Oosterhout replaced Ria Thielsch. This surprising news boosted Luv' in the media. In addition to the usual articles in the tabloid press (Privé, Weekend, Story and Party), Luv' appeared on Dutch national television again (RTL Boulevard, Shownieuws, Tijd voor Max, 6 Inside...).
2019 : LUV' GOES LATIN!
In May 2019, the Luv' ladies went to Miami, Fl, to record a new song with producers and sound engineers Keith Morrison and Manuel Garrido-Lecca. Henk Schorel, CEO of the multimedia company "Viva Canal", linked Luv' with a team of talented music professionals. In addition to the recording sessions, Luv' also gave interviews on American channels (CBS, Azteca 48 WWHB Palm Beach, Beach Channel, Space Coast TV...).
On June 30th, 2019, Luv' revealed their Latin pop-reggaeton single entitled "With Him Tonight" at a fan club meeting at the Quatre Bras restaurant in Best, the Netherlands. On July 4th, 2019, the track was available on digital platforms (Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube). "With Him Tonight" entered the Dutch iTunes Top 100 at #54 on July 9th, 2019. Four days later, it disappeared from the chart.
2020 : LUV'S END
On February 7th, 2020, Luv' (which had not performed since September 2019 due to José Hoebee's illness) informed the media and the public about the interruption of their activities.
2021 : REISSUES
2021 saw the reissue of two albums and several singles on digital platforms: All You Need Is Luv' (April 2021), Sincerely Yours (June 2021) and the four singles/maxi-singles taken from it: Hasta Mañana, Jungle Jive, The Last Song and He's My Guy as well as This Old Heart Of Mine (October 2021).
