Paul Van Camp - Mothers Of Track

Born and raised in Belgium, Paul Van Camp joined the Mothers of Track at just the age of 18 and from there went on to write many songs and release a handful of singles before the band split in the late 70’s. Camp went on to form Killer shortly after and they still play to this day! It was nice speaking to Camp about his early days getting into music, joining MOT and eventually starting to his own outfit. Enjoy!

When and where were you born? Are you originally from Belgium? What was growing up like for you? Do you have any siblings? When did you first begin to fall in love with music and what was it about the guitar that initially fascinated you?

I am born in Belgium in 1956. I grew up in a town called MECHELEN in central Belgium between the 2 biggest towns Brussels and Antwerpen. I had a normal happy youth without any problems. I became interested in rock music in the late 60-ties. I liked bands such as Blue Cheer- The Cream – The Doors – Jimi Hendrix – Led Zeppelin – Deep Purple – Black Sabbath.

Mothers of Track circa: 1976. Walter Carlier, Leon, Paul Van Camp and Luc Sente.

Mothers of Track circa: 1976. Paul Van Camp.

What would you and your friends do for fun? Did you go to many local shows in your area? What was the music scene in your community like back in those days? Were there any groups you saw that made a huge impact on you? If so, who were they?

There were a lot of good bars who played my favorite music and very often we went to concerts with my friends. Impact on me: Black Sabbath / Deep Purple / Status Quo.

Mothers of Track circa: 1976. Walter Carlier, Leon, Paul Van Camp and Luc Sente.

Did you participate in any other bands prior to Mothers Of Track? How did you initially meet your band mates Christ Joostens, Kris J. Dominique, Leon Kriek and Luc Sente? What were your first impressions of them and what initially led to the decision to start a group in the first place? What was the chemistry like between all of you and what commonalities outside of music did you guys share?

M.O.T was my first band. I joined them when I was about 18 years old. First I followed them as a fan and I saw several shows of them. Leon kriek who was the drummer and the founding leader of MOT became one of my friends and we had a lot of beers together in the local bars. He knew I was a starting guitar player and when their guitar player-singer left the band he asked me to do a try out and to join them. He was my mentor and my musical father because he was a lot older than me. The other guys you mentioned above, came later in the band. There were several line-up changes during the years.

Mothers of Track circa: 1975. Marcel Verschaeren, Leon Van Roosbroek, Paul Van Camp and Tony Boast.

When did the band actually form and can you tell me about those early days? Where would you guys rehearse and what was that first initial jam session like? How did you guys come up with the name for the band? When and where was the group’s first gig and what was that experience like for you?

MOT was formed some time before I came in the band, I guess it must have been around 1970. We rehearsed in a farm at Leon’s home. Because it was before my time I do not know who gave the name and how the first gig was. Sorry for that…

Luc Sente, Chris Joosten, Leon Van Roosbroek, Paul Van Camp.

What was the band’s process and approach to the music in those early days? How did the deal with Monopole come about for the band’s first single, ‘Motorcycle Rock/Storm In A Teacup’?

In the early days MOT was a more heavy blues orientated band (such as Cream – Fleetwood Mac). After a while when I joined the band we went more Rock and Hard Rock orientated. Monopole was a small local record label and they released our first single. They came in contact with us because Leon knew some of the guys of Monopole. I wrote both songs. And I was influenced by some of our fans and friends who were bikers.

Mothers of Track circa: 1975. Marcel Verschaeren, Paul Van Camp, Jakke Bas, Leon Van Roosebroek.

How did they initially approach you guys? Can you tell me about writing as well as recording those songs and what those sessions were like? Where was the studio and what was it like to work with producer Noel Geens?

The recording was done in the local Tamara King studios where most of the Monopole productions were done. It was a rather small studio and we recorded and mixed our single during 1 night. Noel Geens was a co producer, but he had no artistic influence.

“When You Get Older/Love Me When I’m Down” circa: 1977. Monopole.

A few years later in ‘77 you guys released another single on Monopole, ‘Up And Down/Scarching’. Can you tell me about writing as well as recording those songs? When did recording first begin and about how long did those sessions take from start to finish? You guys worked with producer A.V.H. Groenewoud this time. Can you tell me what led to a different producer, but remaining on the same label and how different his approach was compared to the previous producer’s?

In fact “Up and down” was the 3rd single, there was another one in between called “When you get older” and on the B side “Love me when I’m down” also by Monopole and was released 1977. But “Up and down” was a happy party song a 12 bar boogie in the style of “Status Quo”. By that period we were very much influenced by Status Quo. Concerning Groenewood as producer, he was the house producer of Tamara King studios at the time, so we worked with him. Again the recording and mixing was done during 1 night.

“Up and Down/Scarching” circa: 1977. Monopole

At this point in the band’s career you guys have a few singles under your belt. What were the gigs like? Were you traveling around playing? Did you leave the country and tour any other parts of the world around this time? You guys recorded one more single on Monopole in ‘77 and in ‘78 there was a label change for the band’s last single on Twinkle. Can you tell me about that? What initially led to this decision?

We played a lot of gigs in bar pubs and festivals and we were rather popular in our part of the country. The gigs were always a big party because we were a real party band. We have not much played out of Belgium because that was not so obvious at that period. I do not remember the story about the label change, but I rather think that Twinkle was a side label of Monopole.

“Motorcycle Rock/Storm In A Teacup” circa: 1975. Monopole.

With a return to Monopole, the band recorded its first and only full length record, ‘Electra Glide’ in ‘78. Can you tell me about that? What was the process of writing as well as recording that record? When and where did recording start? You guys worked with producer Andre Van Miert on this project. Can you tell me about the band’s relationship with him and how he may have influenced the record? What was the feeling like to finally have a full length record in hands? Did you guys tour in order to support the album? If so, are there any shows that stand out in your mind to this day?

Most of the songs on the album were composed by myself. Some songs in cooperation with other band-members. The songs on the album we were playing already live for several years and on the moment we went in the studio they were completely composed and prepared. So it did not took long to record them. Because of a low budget the whole album was played live in the studio without overdubs and in only one night. As on our singles Van Miert was only the studio engineer and producer of Monopole, we had no choice, but anyhow he had no influence on the artistic side of the album. He mostly was the engineer. We were very happy to have an album even if it was a not perfect low budget recording. We could not tour to support the album because touring was expensive and not obvious for a local band in the late 70-ties. But we did a lot of shows, the show I will always remember was a support act show on a concert of AC/DC with Bon Scott.

Mothers of Track circa:1978. Jean De Hert, Paul Van Camp, Leon Van Roosbroeck and Luc Sente.

Electra Glide circa: 1979. Monopole.

What eventually happened to the band after the record came out in ‘78? Did you continue to pursue music after the band dissolved? What other passions, or paths did you take throughout your life? Are you still currently residing in Belgium?

MOT split up in 1979. I started a new band together with my friend Leon on the drums. It was the heavy metal band KILLER who still exists after 40 years. Of course we had some line up changes and Leon left after a few months because he was a more blues-Rock drummer than a Metal drummer. But we stayed good friends forever. With Killer we made many albums and toured in many countries in the world. We became rather famous in the Hard Rock-Metal scene, for more info, discography, bio, sounds, images etc. take a look on the website: www.4-killer.be. I am still living in Belgium and I am still the leader-guitar player-lead singer in KILLER.

Mothers of Track Reunion circa: 1992. Jean D. Hert, Leon Van Roosbroek, Luc Sente and Paul Van Camp.

Are you still in contact with any of the other members? When you reflect on your time with Mothers Of Track, what are you most proud of? What do you think about this younger generation and audience taking an appreciation in the band after all these years?

I am still in contact with some of the MOT band members. For example with Leon who is still my friend and who was my mentor in the early days of my musical career. He was a little bit my musical father. Unfortunately he is not so healthy anymore due to his age (75) I have also contact with Marcel Verschaeren and Luc Sente. Others are not in music business anymore and many of the other band members are unfortunately not alive anymore.

Paul Van Camp with the US re-release of the “Motorcycle Rock” single circa: 2020.

Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?

Our first single “Motorcycle” rock had been re-released on a small edition in the USA, New York area in 2020 on a label called: Splattered records. If you want to follow me today take a look on www.4-killer.be my metal band, or on www.net-blackjack.be for my classic rock and blues rock cover band, or on facebook.

Kind regards.

Killer playing live at the Alcatraz Festival in Kortrijk, Belgium circa: 2021.

Dakota Brown