ABSTRACT
Studying the life and legacy of Herman Brood is complicated by the fact that he had two major professional careers, one in popular music and one in painting, partly overlapping in time and subject matter. In 1977, the death of Elvis Presley, Ian Dury and the Blockheads released their UK debut single "Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll." That same year saw the birth of a cult hero in the Netherlands, the Land of Sex and Drugs according to its reputation abroad. Anton Corbijn immortalized the handsome rock 'n' roller as a loner, immaculately dressed, his shock of jet black hair loosely styled, with dark sunglasses, in a back alley reeking of danger, drugs, and love for sale, like a scene from "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed, one of Brood's heroes. Recurring themes were cartoon-style people in big city street scenes, references to sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, featuring guitars, cars, and airplanes.
