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BZN’s SA tour a “celebration of life”
To Anny Schilder and Jan Keizer, lead singers of the legendary band BZN, their upcoming tour to South Africa is a “celebration of life”.
Anny was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and they were forced to cancel their world tour, which included shows in South Africa.
“Everything changes when you hear such terrible news,” says Anny. It is then when you start to appreciate life all over again. “I wanted to live, to get better and most of all, I wanted to get back on stage,” says Anny.
The treatment was successful and once Anny was feeling stronger, the BZN team started planning their world tour.
“This tour means so much to me,” says Anny. “I now know what it feels like to be afraid, to almost lose everything you’ve been looking forward to. Life is a gift and I want to share my joy with our South African fans. I am healthy and happy and I’m so looking forward to doing the thing I love most: to sing.”
Jan agrees. He too had a serious health scare in 1999 when he undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery. “Afterwards you tend to appreciate life more,” says Jan. And, just like Anny, the thing he wanted most was to get back on stage and perform.
Even though the two of them have performed together for decades, the on-stage chemistry is still there between them. “One Dutch reporter was convinced for years that Anny and I were romantically involved. We never were, but when we perform together on stage, it sure looks like it,” says Jan.
Jan and Anny will be accompanied by their own six-member orchestra during their South African tour. Two popular South African TV presenters and singers, Nàdine and Gerrie Pretorius, will join them on stage for a couple of songs, including the song “First Kiss Goodnight”, which Gerrie and Anny recorded in 2007.
Fans will be able to see BZN perform in the following towns and venues:
- 24 October, Kimberley, Flamingo Casino
- 25 October, Bloemfontein, Windmill Casino
- 28 October, Port-Elizabeth, Feather Market Centre
- 29 October, East London, Homingways Casino
- 31 October, Paarl, Amphi Theatre
- 1 November, George, Tramonto
- 3 November, Klerksdorp, Stadsaal
- 4 November, Pretoria, Weiveld
- 6 November, Nelspruit, AGS Church
- 7 & 8 November, Johannesburg, Big Top Arena, Carnival City
Tickets available from Computicket. (Pretoria show available from iTickets)
