1,000 People Attended Lange Polle’s Farewell at Leuven’s Het Depot

Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – About a thousand people attended Paul Van Bruystegem’s (Lange Polle, 66) farewell at Het Depot, Leuven. Friends, family, and Triggerfinger colleagues honoured his music, humour, and legacy with songs and tributes.

As VRT News reported, about a thousand people came to Het Depot in Leuven to say goodbye to Paul Van Bruystegem, who was known as Lange Polle. The 66-year-old musician died after a period of illness. Van Bruystegem played guitar for bands such as The Wolf Banes and The Boxcars. He became best known as the bassist for the rock band Triggerfinger. Even so, he often joked that

“playing bass was for wimps.”

What made Paul Van Bruystegem known as Lange Polle, a Beloved musician?

Lange Polle was a well-known figure in Leuven and the surrounding region.

“An icon and a true maverick,”

his friends say.

“But above all, a beautiful man with a gingerbread heart in an impressive physique that instilled fear in some.”

Officials mentioned that the farewell ceremony for Paul Van Bruystegem was full of tears and laughter. Friends, family, and fellow musicians shared memories of Lange Polle.

“De Lange is awash with anecdotes,”

said Triggerfinger’s lead singer, Ruben Block.

“Those anecdotes showed the unique life of this Leuven native, who often dared to cross the line but was above all a source of humour.”

Block said.

“Tripping along with you was the best. We’ve seen each other in the best and worst of times. But you were the best thing that could ever happen to us. We were invincible together, until we fell flat on our faces again. But that’s part of it.”

Songs that had special meaning for Van Bruystegem, including the fitting “As the Bottle Runs Dry,” were played to honour his life and talent. The ceremony ended with a heartfelt standing ovation from the audience. 

Paul Van Bruystegem, known as Lange Polle, was a prominent figure in the Belgian music scene. Born on June 13, 1959, in Leuven, he began his musical journey at a young age. At 14, he left home to pursue his passion for music, performing in cafés and collaborating with various bands. He played guitar for groups like The Wolf Banes and The Boxcars, but he gained wider recognition as the bassist for the rock band Triggerfinger, joining them in 2003. 

Despite his role as a bassist, he often humorously claimed that “playing bass was for wimps.” In June 2023, after more than 2 decades with Triggerfinger, Van Bruystegem stepped down due to health reasons and to focus on


Comments

3 responses to “1,000 People Attended Lange Polle’s Farewell at Leuven’s Het Depot”

  1. thickskn Avatar

    A thousand folks turning up for a farewell? Guess that’s what happens when you play bass and still manage to be the life of the party. 🎸🇧🇪 A proper send-off, or just an excuse for a good old Belgian beer? 🍻

  2. Only a mere thousand showed up? Seems like the entire city of Leuven has been slacking on their social obligations! 🎸🤣 No worries, Lange Polle would probably have joked that they were all just too weak to carry a bass guitar.

  3. ThickSKN Avatar

    1,000 people for a farewell? Guess everyone wanted to make sure they were counted in the ‘Who’s Who’ of Leuven. Must’ve been the best gig in town—who knew being a bassist could be so popular! 🎸😏

  4. So, a thousand people turned up to bid adieu to a bloke who said bass playing was for wimps—what a turnout! I suppose they all just wanted to ensure he had a proper send-off without any bass strings attached. 😂

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