Volumia! founder seeks compensation if reunion goes ahead without him

Hans Paul Nieskens, a founding member of Volumia!, says he wants compensation if his former bandmates reunite under the group’s name without him. At a court hearing in Amsterdam on Thursday, he said he would grant them a licence if they would not perform with him.

Nieskens said he would prefer all nine original members to perform together. If that did not happen, he wanted the band’s income shared fairly among the members, including himself. “I have no choice, then I’ll just give a licence,” he told the judge.

Singer Xander de Buisonjé plans to perform as Volumia! next year with seven other former members. His lawyer said talks with a concert promoter about shows in 2027 were at an advanced stage. De Buisonjé said the group did not trust Nieskens and that he would never perform on stage with him.

The dispute centres on the band name, which both men have registered as a trademark. The latest hearing follows earlier legal proceedings between them. Nieskens has said he hopes for a reunion and is open to mediation; De Buisonjé does not want mediation.

Two other former members, Axel Lindelauf and Tamara Hoekwater, also told the court they did not want a reunion with Nieskens. Lindelauf said the idea of reuniting without him had been around for ten years. Hoekwater said the band’s behind-the-scenes relationships had sometimes been difficult and she did not want to repeat that experience.

The judge appeared doubtful that the parties would reach an agreement. The court is due to issue its written ruling on 23 December.

Volumia! was founded in 1992 and had hits including “Afscheid” and “Hou Me Vast”. The band split in 2002, after which De Buisonjé pursued a solo career. Nieskens’s earlier court action over the band name is described in our report on the case.