Dutch artist Waylon, who represented The Netherlands together with singer Ilse DeLange as The Common Linnets at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, has received the Herman Brood Award in his home country. He is thus crowned “rebel of The Netherlands”.

The Herman Brood Award is an initiative of the online newspaper ThePostOnline and the family of deceased Dutch rockstar Herman Brood (1946-2001). Brood was a self-taught artist, singer, painter, actor and author, know for his flamboyant behaviour, becoming the epitomy of the phrase “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll”.

Waylon received the award on 27 November in club Paard van Troje in The Hague, in company of Herman Broods widow Xandra and daughter Lola. Besides the award, Waylon was gifted with a painting made by Brood, given by Xandra Brood. Lola Brood called Waylon “selfwilled and charming”. Waylon earned the award for his candid choices, in life as well as in his music. Furthermore, Waylons decision to leave The Common Linnets, and his honesty concerning his former drug abuse made him this years’ Dutch rebel. Afterwards, Waylon performed a version of Broods hit Never Be Clever, together with Broods former band members Dany Lademacher and Ivo Severijns.

Waylon (born Willem Bijkerk, Apeldoorn, 1980) is a Dutch soul, rock ‘n roll and country singer from The Netherlands. He named himself after his idol, American country star Waylon Jennings, and is the first Dutch artist to be signed by famous American record label Motown. In 2014, Waylon joined artist Ilse DeLange in DeLange’s country initiative The Common Linnets.

With their song Calm After The Storm the group won the first semi-final at Eurovision 2014, eventually earning the second place in the grand final with 238 points. Although the song was a huge success across Europe, Waylon left The Common Linnets soon after Eurovision because of artistic differences, and focussed on his solo career. His 2014 solo-album Heaven After Midnight has proven to be very successful. Waylon recently released the new single from the album Heaven After Midnight, called Love Me.

Stay tuned to ESCToday. for the latest news on Waylon, The Netherlands and the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.