Jango Edwards
Collaboration: Autumn 1992
In the autumn of 1992, guitarist Tjeerd van Zanen joined forces with the legendary countercultural American clown and entertainer Jango Edwards. Van Zanen stepped into the lineup and survived, as live guitarist from Germany to an intense, continuous three-month tour across France, anchoring the theatrical rock-and-roll madness that defined Jango’s massive European performance footprint.
Welcome to the Ultimate Clownpower Archive! 🤡🎸
The anarchic genius of Jango Edwards alongside his legendary musical co-conspirators. Video compiled by Jango Edwards and Rick Parets, features the evolution of the unstoppable Little Big Nose Band through two distinct, powerhouse lineups:
• The Classic Sessions: Davy Norket (keyboards), Ced Curtis (guitar), Ted Bunting (saxophone), and Ed Simpson-Baikie (bass).
• The “20 Years Clownpower” Finale: Taped live at the Schmidt’s Tivoli in Hamburg, Germany (February 1992). Backed by Harry Hardholt (guitar), Sjoerd van Bommel (drums), Tjeerd van Zanen (guitar), and Martin Bakker (bass).
JANGO EDWARDS & THE NOUVEAU CLOWN EXPLOSION (THE AMSTERDAM DAYS)
Jango Edwards (born Stanley Ted Edwards, 1950–2023) represents one of the most provocative, transgressive figures in modern performance art. Often described as a cross between a rock star and a countercultural evangelist, the Detroit-born entertainer bypassed traditional American circuits to completely reinvent the art of clowning in Europe.
Before conquering the stages of Paris and Barcelona, Jango established the Netherlands as his creative basecamp. In 1975, he became a primary driving force, organizer, and performer behind Amsterdam’s legendary International Festival of Fools. Over the next decade, this festival transformed Amsterdam into the global epicenter of radical, anti-establishment street theater and cabaret. Jango became an iconic figure in the Dutch artistic community, gaining a massive cult following and famously winning over audiences ranging from standard theater-goers to royalty.
The 1992 French Tour & Holey Moley Era
By the early 1990s, Jango’s popularity in France had exploded into a true phenomenon.
Driven by high-profile, unpredictable television appearances on legendary French networks (such as Canal+’s Nulle part ailleurs), Jango’s live shows required a tight, powerhouse musical unit that could effortlessly shift between rock-and-roll precision and spontaneous comedic chaos.In the autumn of 1992, Tjeerd van Zanen was brought into this electric world as the touring guitarist for an exhaustive three-month trek across France. Backing Jango required elite session musicians who could hold down a groove while providing the sonic foundation for large-scale, high-octane stage productions like the celebrated Holey Moley era. Playing alongside Jango meant navigating a show that was part physical theater, part rock concert, and completely unhinged.
The Final Act & Barcelona Legacy
Jango Edwards eventually migrated further south, spending his final decades heavily rooted in Spain. In 2009, he institutionalized his lifelong philosophy by founding the Nouveau Clown Institute in Granollers, Barcelona—a training center dedicated to keeping the art of transgressive comedy alive for future generations of entertainers.
In September 2022, Jango publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Facing his mortality with the same rebellious spirit that defined his career, he spent his remaining months compiling his work and ensuring his institute would survive him. On August 3, 2023, Jango Edwards passed away peacefully in his sleep in Barcelona at the age of 73. His death was marked by official tributes from the Mayor of Barcelona and major media outlets across the Netherlands and France, cementing his status as a true king of countercultural entertainment.
Tour Roster Context (1991–1992)
Jango’s live setups during this golden era of French touring heavily cross-pollinated with elite Dutch rhythm sections and jazz-rock elite players, shifting between studio sessions at Paris venues like La Cigale and full national tours.
The Live & Touring Ensemble Core
- Jango Edwards (🪦) – Lead Performer / Vocals
- Tjeerd van Zanen – Guitar (Autumn 1992 French Tour Lineup)
- Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums & Vocals
- Martin Bakker – Bass & Vocals
- Davy Norket – Keyboards & Vocals
