Biography

William Souffreau was one of Belgium's great rock pioneers. He played music for more than five decades. 

[Click on the band names for more information and pictures]

William was born on the 14th of April 1946, in Erembodegem, under a Belgian moon. He jumped into the music scene in the early sixties with the rock 'n' roll band The Blue Jets. At that time William wrote his first song, 'Feel so Lonely', which was later recorded on the album ‘Shake It’ (2002) by Blink It. Around 1963 William played with The Mings. His first recordings date from 1966, with The Four Rockets. Near the end of the 60s The Four Rockets became the more psychedelic rockband Dementia Praecox.

In 1970 William was elected number one rock singer of Belgium. Earlier that year he had founded the band The Voodoo, which soon became Irish Coffee. This rock band was a large success in many countries. Irish Coffee recorded one album and four singles (including the hit single 'Masterpiece'), all collector's items now. The band played many concerts and did numerous TV and radio shows. Irish Coffee was a support act for Uriah Heep, Chicken Shack and Golden Earring, among others. In 1974 the Irish Coffee story came to an end.

Two years later William established Joystick, with a funky horn section and great musicians such as Tony Boast. They were support act for Motörhead among others. They never made an album, but a few of the Joystick songs were recorded on the Irish Coffee reunion album (2004).

In the eighties William did many gigs with his coverband Oh Boy!. They had a great live reputation and a very underground playlist.

In 1990 he went solo as a singer-songwriter. Until this day he released more than ten albums. He worked together with many great musicians, such as Dave Peabody, Michael Chapman, Philip Catherine, Jo Bogaert and Jan De Wilde. He played on big stages and did support acts for The Kinks and 10cc.

In the late nineties William picked up his rock ’n’ roll years and started the rockabilly band Blink It. They released two swinging albums that were critically acclaimed. In those years William also recorded an album with a new formed Irish Coffee and new songs (2004). Irish Coffee II went to Bonn (Germany) to play 'Live on Rockpalast' (CD/LP/DVD). He also formed a brand new rock ’n’ roll band The Cochrans, together with Rik Vermeir and Kris van der Cammen. They played mostly songs from Eddie Cochran and other great fifties heroes.

Later William recorded an album with The Moonlovers (2008). He played with Kloot Per W in Old School, doing covers from rare songs of the great rock music catalogue. He had the rock 'n' roll band The Rockabilly Rhythm Revue. With Irish Coffee III he played his songs in a firm hardrock-blues mode and recorded the albums 'Revisited' in 2013 and 'When The Owl Cries' in 2015. 

In 2017 William F. Souffreau released his new solo album 'Tobacco Fields'. He gathered a new Irish Coffee IV team and made the album 'Heaven' in 2020.