{{Short description|Belgian rock band}} {{For|the Austin, Texas–based funk band The Scabs|Bob Schneider}} thumb|right|The Scabs performing in 2012 '''The Scabs''' are a Belgian punk rock group. They are best known for their hit singles "Matchbox Car" (1983) and "Hard Times" (1991), which have become classics on Belgian radio.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=14 February 2019|title=Willy Willy (59) overleden, doorgroefde gitarist van onder meer The Scabs|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/Obits/willy-willy-overleden/|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=2020-11-28|website=Vrtnws.be}}</ref><ref name="persgroep.net">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-02-14|title=Willy Willy (59), gitarist van The Scabs, is gestorven|url=https://www.hln.be/showbizz/willy-willy-59-gitarist-van-the-scabs-is-gestorven~af3bcfcf/|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=2020-11-28|website=Het Laatste Nieuws|language=nl}}</ref>
==History== The band was founded in Diest in 1979.<ref>André Lange Stratégies de la musique - 1986 Page 268 "les groupes «after-neo-punk» T.C.-Matic et The Scabs obtiennent un certain succès, en Flandre et en Hollande surtout."</ref><ref>Denis Gerardy Histoire du rock et de la chanson française - 1987 Page 151 "Les Scabs vont aussi enthousiasmer le public liégeois, d'abord à La Chapelle puis lors de la dernière Fête de Mai"</ref><ref>Een muziekgeschiedenis der Nederlanden Louis Peter Grijp, Ignace Bossuyt - 2001 - 9053564888 Page 866 "Ieder zichzelf respecterend Vlaams dorp kende in de jaren negentig zijn eigen zomerfestival of plaatste een feesttent tijdens de ... Noordkaap), Brussel (Channel Zero, Venus, Sharko, De Mens), Mechelen (Dildo Warheads), Diest (The Scabs), ..."</ref> The original core members were Guy Swinnen (vocals/guitar), Berre Bergen (bass), Francis Vangeel (guitar) and Frankie Saenen (drums). In 1983 Vangeel was replaced by Mark Lakke Vanbinst who left two years later to join the band La Fille d'Ernest. His replacement was Willy Willy, a former member of Vaya Con Dios. In 1989, Fons Sijmons replaced Berre Bergen, who joined De Kreuners.
The Scabs achieved their greatest success with their third album, ''Royalty in Exile'' (1990), earning a gold disc, and the album ''Jumping the Tracks'' (1991).<ref>Winkler Prins encyclopedisch jaarboek -1991 Page 162 "Mindere goden brachten ook mooie elpees uit zoals The Romans en The Scabs (Royalty in Exile), "</ref> In 1994 Willy Willy left the group and was replaced by Tjenne Berghmans. In 1996 the group was disbanded. They started touring again in 2007.
Three of the members are dead; Sijmons died on 18 July 2013 from lung cancer and Korsakov's syndrome,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://focus.knack.be/entertainment/muziek/fons-sijmons-van-the-scabs-is-overleden/article-normal-212219.html|title=Fons Sijmons van The Scabs is overleden|date=18 July 2013|website=Focus.knack.be|accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/aid1422494/the-scabs-bassist-fons-sijmons-overleden-aan-longkanker|title=The Scabs-bassist Fons Sijmons overleden aan longkanker|website=Gva.be|accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref> Bergen died of emphysema on 7 February 2016,<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-02-08|title=Ex-Kreunersbassist Berre Bergen (53) overleden|url=https://www.hln.be/muzieknieuws/ex-kreunersbassist-berre-bergen-53-overleden~aba9b9bdd/|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=2020-11-28|website=Het Laatste Nieuws|language=nl}}</ref> and Willy died from cancer at the age of 59 on 13 February 2019.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="persgroep.net"/>
==Albums== *''Here's to you gang'' (1983) - EP *''For all the wolf calls'' (1984) *''Rockery'' (1986) *''Skintight'' (1988) *''Gangbang + Rockery'' (1989) - compilation of earlier work *''Royalty in Exile'' (1990) *''Jumping the Tracks'' (1991) *''Dog days are over'' (1993) *''Inbetweenies'' (1993) - mini-compilation plus new tracks *''Live dog'' (1993) - live *''Odds & Outtakes'' (1993) - mini-compilation plus new tracks *''Sunset over wasteland'' (1995) *''Ways Of A Wild Heart'' (2015) - majority of tracks written by drummer Frank Saenen
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scabs, The}} Category:Belgian punk rock groups Category:English-language Belgian musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1979 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1996