The band was formed in 1979 and had its glory days in the Nineties. The band had a great variety of members throughout the years, but the sound remained basically the same. Thé Lau’s characteristic raw and hoarse voice and his hypnotising compositions are the focal point of the band.
At the beginning of 1980, the band is called ‘best dutch band without an album’ by magazine OOR.
In May of the same year, the first album is released. All the songs are sung in English save for two tracks with lyrics in Dutch. The album is received well by the magazines, yet was commercially less successful.
It took seven years to make a follow-up (Rij Rij Rij), due to various occasions. The members in 1987 are, next to Thé Lau, Emilie Blom van Assendelft (bass) and Wim Zeeman (drums).
In 1989, the band welcomes two new members: Otto Cooymans (piano) and Eus van Someren (guitar). The single Rauw, hees, teder is released. Wim Zeeman is replaced by Jeroen Booy in January of 1990. The band also signs a record deal with Phonogram.
The results are the singles Rigoreus and Iedereen Is Van De Wereld and the album Blauw with all-Dutch lyrics. Everybody is very enthusiastic about this album, especially the people in Belgium.
One year later, the band is invited for the international Torhout/Werchter-festival. ‘Rij Rij Rij’ is released again.
The 1992 album Open receives an Edison, a Dutch music award, followed by the ‘Popprijs’ in 1993.
In October 1993 the next album is released: Avenue De La Scene. This album is a bit darker than the previous ones, and is a bit of a setback. The three singles get some airplay, but aren’t big hits.
In April 1996, the album Arena is released on the Island label. This album is produced by Emile den Tex and tells the story about the battle against the nonchalance of existence. It’s one of the best albums recorded bij The Scene.
Otto Cooymans leaves the band in 1997, due to ‘artistic disagreements’ as he calls it. He is replaced by Dante Oei, only 20 years old at that time.
Marlene is the first album with Dante Oei and is produced bij Thé Lau himself and is released in 1998.
It takes until 2000 before The Scene releases another album. The compilation album Rauw, hees, teder: Het beste van contains the hit single Helden, part of a Dutch commercial. That year, the band also receives a platinum record (100.000 albums sold) for ‘Blauw’.
In 2002, the band can’t get to an agreement for a new album, so Thé decides to make a second solo album. This appears to be the end of this band and in November, Thé tells the press that The Scene has disbanded.
In 2007 the band get together again for a series of concerts (mainly festivals). They release another album, simply called 2007, which contains new versions of old songs and two brand new songs.
The reunion becomes more solid when the album Liefde Op Doorreis gets released at the end of 2009.