VANDENBERG's undisputed leader Adje 'Adrian' Vanderberg (a.k.a. Adrian van den Berg) was a highly touted guitarist, having first made his name as a session musician before forming TEASER, an Enschede based Blues Rock influenced act. The guitarist started out in 1970 with MOTHER OF PEARL. Recording with a number of Dutch acts, Vandenberg had made his recording debut on a single entitled 'Guitar Man' with a group called DARLING. He had also played with JAAPDEKKAR, MAGIC BOX as well as touring in Germany as a backing musician to the POINTER SISTERS. With TEASER the guitarist issued a solitary 1978 self-titled album, recorded at Wisseloord Studio with producer Peter Koelewijn. The latter incarnation of this band would also include another MOTHER OF PEARL member, drummer Jos Zoomer. The group switched to the CBS label to issue the 1980, harder edged transition single 'Now I Need You More Than Ever'. However, TEASER folded, Jos Veldhuizen opted for a Blues path and duly became the lead singer of FLAVIUM.

With a reliant on melody paired with aggression, Vandenberg has never been short of work, thus once TEASER had split he was recommended for the then vacant THIN LIZZY guitar spot in 1980. Once these auditions failed to gel, Vandenberg and Zoomer teamed up with vocalist Bert Heerink, who earned a living as a vacuum cleaner repair man and ex-TURBO bassist Dick Kemper to form what would become VANDENBERG. A demo followed shortly after, which excited many record companies.

DEF LEPPARD's manager Peter Mensch referred the tape to Phil Carson in the A&R Department at Atlantic and the band was signed following a show at Hilversum in Holland. VANDENBERG promptly recorded their debut album, simply titled 'Vandenberg', at JIMMY PAGE's Sol studios in Berkshire, England. Adrian Vandenberg himself painted the album cover, a tradition he was to continue throughout the band's career.

Following the album's release, which hit number 8 on the Dutch charts and number 65 in the USA, the group first appeared on British shores as support act to MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP in 1982. Their first American foray came courtesy of OZZY OSBOURNE, when VANDENBERG were invited to open for him as their debut album was beginning to enjoy strong sales Stateside.

Outside pressures were brought to bear on the band when WHITESNAKE's David Coverdale requested Vanderberg's services for the recently departed MICKY MOODY. Vandenberg declined the offer, due to the success of the 'Burning Heart' single, peaking at number 8 in Holland and number 39 in the USA, but it was to be the first of many from the Coverdale camp. The follow up 1984 VANDENBERG album was once again recorded at Sol studios, with Stuart Epps at the production helm. Titled 'Heading For A Storm', and, like the debut, which had simply utilised the band's logo, once more featuring artwork by Vandenberg himself, the record amply displayed the quartet's increasing maturity. Strangely, record company support seemed lacking in the USA, the album making only a minor dent on the charts at number 169. In their homeland 'Heading For A Storm' repeated the success of the debut, the album reaching number 9 whilst the single 'Different Worlds' gaining a number 7 place.

Following a further North American tour, including dates opening for KISS, VANDENBERG performed a headline tour of Japan before dates in their native Holland. However, personnel shifts at the record company delayed the recording of the third album, putting paid to much of the momentum gained.

'Alibi' was produced by Jaap Eggermont. However, mere months after the release of 'Alibi' in 1985, Bert Heerink was sacked in early 1986. He was to briefly join fellow Dutch act PICTURE later. The new VANDENBERG front man was announced as Peter 'Strike' Strujk, but this liaison was short-lived with the singer, together with Jos Zoomer, briefly joining AVALON and later joining 1ST AVENUE. Meantime, Dick Kemper took some time out to gain producer credits on Den Bosch Heavy Metal band ALLIED FORCES album 'The Day After'. Kemper also guested on the record under the pseudonym of "Dicky Dick" in order to avoid his legal obligations to Atlantic Records.

Unable to resist further overtures from DAVID COVERDALE, Adrian Vandenberg finally joined the WHITESNAKE camp to become part of the highly successful '1987' line-up, although an injury prevented his recording with the band. After the break-up of VANDENBERG, drummer Jos Zoomer went on to form PERFECT STRANGER together with English ex-AIRRACE and HAMMERHEAD vocalist IAN PARRY. Meantime, all three VANDENBERG albums would be re-issued in Japan as part of the 'Forever Young' series.

Following some quite staggering highs with the rejuvenated line-up, Coverdale decided to put WHITESNAKE on the back burner whilst he teamed up with former LED ZEPPELIN guitarist JIMMY PAGE. Having enjoyed considerable success with WHITESNAKE, prompting Atco to issue a 'Best Of' Vandenberg' compilation as a means to cash in, Adrian would set about forming a new project with ex-THE BABYS vocalist JOHN WAITE, who had just split from BAD ENGLISH. This union occurred in November 1991 but although the project was booked to debut on the European 'Countdown' TV programme in January 1992 the collaboration faltered and stalled. However, before long Vandenberg had formed MANIC EDEN together with the then WHITESNAKE rhythm section of bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge. The trio had begun to work with erstwhile HOUSE OF LORDS vocalist JAMES CHRISTIAN, but he decided to opt out, likening the project to being too much like WHITESNAKE. Oddly, MANIC EDEN hired ex-LITTLE CAESAR frontman Ron Young in his stead. The eponymous album saw a 1994 release but by later the same year Vandenberg had rejoined the revitalised WHITESNAKE line-up. Meantime, ex-singer Bert Heerink and bassist Dick Kemper returned fronting UNDERCOVER for the 1994 album 'All Lined Up'.

Whilst Adrian Vandenberg set to work with David Coverdale on recording a brand new WHITESNAKE album, two of the guitarist's old colleagues from VANDENBERG had joined forces during 1996. Bert Heerink forming a live band reunited with Jos Zoomer together with ex-WHISTLER and PERFECT STRANGER guitarist Barend Courbois and former 1ST AVENUE bassist Chris Allistair.

Zoomer was a member of SOYLENT GREEN in 2000. Reports surfaced during late 2002 that VANDENBERG had reformed with a new line up comprising original guitarist Adrian Vandenberg and singer Bert Heerink. A Warner Bros February 2004 compilation 'The Definitive Vandenberg' would include an exclusive new symphonic version of 'Burning Heart', previously unheard live material and unreleased demo recordings.

During 2009 BERT HEERINK launched a Michael Voss produced solo album entitled 'Better Yet...' An esteemed cast of musicians and songwriters contributed material, including HAREM SCAREM's Harry Hess, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE and RAINBOW bassist Bob Daisley, RUSS BALLARD, former BLACK SABBATH singer TONY MARTIN and Chris Lausmann.