Biography
Shifting compromises
The story behind the Stickleback project is one of shifting compromises. Songwriter Ronnie Duisters’ musical carreer started out with playing the clarinet in the local orchestra, due to a shortage of available saxophones. Even though his dream had to take a detour, he tried to learn as much as possible and developed quite a taste for melody. Especially dramatic and emotional musical pieces had his preference.
During those years, Ronnie developed a passion for pop and rock music and as the saxophone had still not become within reach he turned to the bass guitar. His teacher Barend Tromp made him listen to many bands and Ronnie got really inspired by the Canadian band Rush. The amazing skills of singer/bassplayer/keyboardist Geddy Lee was something to really persue. Later he would become acquainted with his all-time hero Fish through the amazing bass lines of John Giblin. As no other artist had been able to do, Fish showed how music can become really relevant if you put all you heart and soul into it and sing about what’s really bothering you. Music is not about making compromises.
Ronnie had experienced the same while playing in several bands. Making music and playing live gave him lots of energy, but in the end, playing in a band means making compromises. In the writing process, as well as in the selection of which covers to play.
To circumvent the problem of having to make compromises, in 1997, he started composing his own songs. This resulted in Cyclic Redundancy Check in 2000 and We can’t all be heroes in 2003, produced under the name of Stickleback. Ronnie chose this name because it symbolises just a small fish that still can defend himself by his large spines. On both of the albums he used the support of the sisters Ellen and Lieke Starmans, on vocals and soprano saxophone, respectively. Moreover, the second album features the gifts of five other friend musicians.
In the upcoming period, Ronnie will work on a new album which will be called What is left of what is right.