The history of Pro Patria dates back until 1985, when Peter Vercauteren (15 at the time) was asked by one of his grammar-school comrades, Erwin, about his ability to play keys. Peter was also a student at the local conservatory, had the highest degree in music theory, and attended piano classes weekly. Together with a friend who played the guitar, they come together in their homes and set up a very first recording session. The band's name was 'the 7th. Avenue Revenge', very silly, but so were the members. Their musical tastes proved to be so very different that after the first two sessions the guitarist quit. Nevertheless these early recordings, how silly they may have sounded, were the foundations for their future music. Their means were far too small: a piano, a small keyboardand a drumbox. Not really sufficient. Also for the vocals a lot of problems arose. Neither of the two proved to be very good singers.

Finally in 1988, the Roland D-20 keyboard was introduced and gave the band their future dimension. Even today all the songs have originally been composed on that keyboard. The recordings they made on November 1st of that year were probably the most refreshing they've done in their entire history. Pro Patria then consisted of 4 members, including Peter's younger brother and his best friend. But neither of them proved to be very motivated to continue with the band all the way. And again, none of them really had a great voice. And a good voice was important as the band at that time tried to mix Frankie Goes To Hollywood with Depeche Mode influences. That spring also meant the split between Peter and Erwin, the bloke who started everything.

Now Peter (from then on known as PVC) had his hands free to do with the band whatever he liked. Being more Electro-minded, he changed his compositions towards Front 242. The first hits like 'Manslayer' and 'Jump to Nowhere' were born.

Via an advert in one of the local mags, PVC engaged Pierre as vocalist. Pierre was exactly the person who the band needed. 100% charisma, style and a tremendous musical knowledge. The same year meant also the start of commercial television in Belgium. And immediately PVC and Pierre were shocked by it. Many old local café-artists came on that TV-station, because they only wanted so called Flemish (the main part of Belgium) spoken songs. They wanted to promote the Flemish culture, but in such a way that they ridiculised if. Many good songs and musical styles were brutally covered and violated. The more idiotic, the better. And, surprisingly, the Flemish grandmothers and children seemed to like if, because nothing else seemed to be played on TV and radio anymore. Now, the band also had a quest: to show the Flemish people that there is a lot more culture in that country than just that TV station. And the song' 10 to See' was created. The title is the English translation of one of the most popular TV shows where these so called 'artists' show their level of dementia.

It was also the period of the first live-performances. 30000 Watts of light, strobos, smoke and effects were dragged on stage to please an audience of... 50 people. The name of the band was mostly blamed, so it was changed into 'Pro Patria', meaning 'for the Nation'. Maybe because PVC was a real Latin-addict, or maybe because of a song from the Belgian Electro-band SA42. But the name gained a lot in strength when the ideology was introduced, later on. Anyway, it proved to be a bigger success than the first name. The second performance meant already 200 people (at the beginning of the show!), but the mainly hard-rock orientated scum didn't really appreciate the Electro-music. A small detail: a large part of the profit that night was found on stage by means of a lot of small coins, thrown by the angry audience. Both of these first two concerts are still on videotape!

October 1990 meant the turnaround. A small hall, about 100 people present. Pierre was as drunk as Hell (5 pints of strong Belgian beer in 22 minutes on stage), and PVC had a fever of over 38,5C because of a food poisoning in the Air Force, where he had just begun his training to become a fighter pilot. Nevertheless, if was brilliant. The recording from that concert still exists and shows the real potential of the band. But it also showed their limitations, and that was mainly caused by their equipment. A D-20 is a very limited keyboard, and even with a drum-machine and an effects-processor the quality remained poor.

In the beginning of 1992 the band's biggest fan, Bert, an engineering-student, joined the team. He also owned a keyboard (Yamaha SY22), didn't play very well, but had a lot of excitement. Two concerts (10/'91 and 01/'92) were played as a trio. And in April 1992 Pierre quit. He had other projects for the future, he was studying very hard, and most of all he didn't feel at home anymore within Pro Patria. PVC took over all of the singing. And introduced his military-trained voice. A good combination it seemed. And during interviews done for local radio stations, Pro Patria became conscious about their ideology. Pro Patria had to be more than just music. It had to be a way of life. We people should start to work together, and to construct instead of to destroy. Most bands preach nothing but anarchy, nihilism and death. Pro Patria wanted to combat this ridiculous attitude. No more drugs, because they lock you up in a selfish dreamworld. No more religion, astrology or para-normal bullshit, because we people should rather start looking for the truth instead of taking the easy explanations like 'it's like that, because god made it that way'. We should rather read 'a brief history of time' by Stephen Hawking. We should work, because it is the only way we can improve this imperfect world. You will never succeed in doing so when you just tear it down. 'Mens sana in corpore sano' (a healthy mind in a healthy body).

And that was also the time when the band met Marc Schellekens. Marc was a professional studio-engineer who had worked with bands like Front 242, Frankie G.T.H., Tina Turner, the Simple Minds and even Bryan Adams. He also owned a small private studio in his kitchen. He liked the music very much and thought that with better equipment and a better management, the band could go a long way. From November 1992 until April 1993 they worked in the studio. The outcome was 'Spasmaticae', their first official demo. Much to the band's surprise, the demo was received very well by the people. More than 200 were sold very quickly, encouraging the band to go on. 'Spasmaticae' was indeed far from perfect. Many songs needed improving, and the vocals were really 'horrible'. At the day of the recording, PVC suffered from an infection at his throat.

From April till August 1994, 'Militaria', their second demo was recorded. Its quality was better, the songs were better, and most of all were the vocals! If contained only 5 songs. 4 brand new ones and a better mix of 'Hard Times', which was generally regarded as their best song. Also of this tape more than 300 were sold. And with the new digital way of working, also the live-performances gained a lot in strength, aggression and quality as a whole. To prove this, Pro Patria released 'Veni Vidi Vici', a digitally recorded live tape. And most of all, their best work at that time. Other live gigs were done together with DIVE and even on a large 'Rock'-festival, in front of a crowd of 1500 people. Pro Patria proved for more successful than the others as they were the only band that night to be begged for 'more'.

Finally, after a long struggle. Pro Patria awakened the interest of record labels, be it only in Germany. The Belgian labels, which were formerly very Electro-minded, turned their backs and started to concentrate on House and Dance-music. And most of all, Peter would not give in to anybody. Many offers were mode to the band. But all of them included that Pro Patria should have to change attitude, style or music. But if one gives in to these offers, what would still remain original? Peter never wanted Pro Patria to become a second 'Prodigy'. Pro Patria should always remain Pro Patria.

Pro Patria signed with Celtic Circle in July 1996 and their first CD was due in the summer of 1997, called 'Quod erat demonstrandum' (what still needs to be shown). More in the sense of 'needs to be proven', because at last after all these years Pro Patria had the chance to show the world what they were worth. The CD contained 12 songs, 3 of which were brand new. All the rest was a compilation of almost 8 years Pro Patria. The CD was accompanied by a first maxi-CD release, called 'Hard Times', containing mixes of 'Hard Times' and 'Spasmatic Movements'. The recordings lasted for 7 months. Peter is not only known as probably the best keyboard player in the Belgian Electro world, but he also is a perfectionist. Not the smallest error was allowed on the CD, which was eventually remastered in the famous Galaxy studios, one of the biggest studios in Europe.

But more troubles worried the band. At the time the CDs would have to be released, Celtic Circle collapsed. 2000 copies of 'Quod erat demonstrandum' were made, but the factory would not release them until all of the debts made by Celtic Circle were paid. So apparently, the copies are still there but no one will even hear them.

1998 was also the year that Bert left the band. He found that the music had become to clean and that much of the old 'rough' Pro Patria was lost on the CD. A dramatic live gig in November of that year officialised their split. It was the worst performance ever. Moreover, Pro Patria had engagements for the future, i.e. a concert on a festival in Bruges in January 1999. And Peter would not get on stage all by himself. So he contacted David Vallée, more known as 'Lith' and 'Semper Eadem'. This french bloke had already been penpals with Peter for years, and he was quite statled when he was asked to join Pro Patria on stage. He quickly received a crash course Pro Patria, and the performance turned out to be... brilliant. David had such a new and refreshing view on the music, and together with Peter's ideas if proved to be just magic.

Unfortunately, Peter suffered a lot of personal problems that same year, and much of his energy was lost. Now in 2000, Pro Patria is coming up again, much by the never-ending enthusiasm of David, who is now doing the management and distribution of the CD on a small scale.