The company has provided transport for international artists including Teddy Swims, Beyoncé, the Foo Fighters and Kasabian over the years
The Star Bus was used by MM Band Services to transport Teddy Swims to gigs across the UK and Europe.(Image: Supplied)
An East Yorkshire company which provides luxury tour buses to the stars has been snapped up by a Dutch rival. MM Band Services has been making sure some of the world’s biggest music artists get to their gigs in style for more than 25 years.
Over the years the company, based in Burstwick, Holderness, has provided transport for international artists and their crews, including Teddy Swims, Beyoncé, the Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Neil Young, Linkin Park, Kasabian and dozens more. And now the company is set to motor ahead after being acquired by one of the largest businesses of its kind – Netherlands-based Pieter Smit Group.
The deal, struck for an undisclosed amount, means the Dutch group can expand its Nightliner tour bus fleet by 24, while also establishing a strategic hub in the UK. Meanwhile, the MM Band Services team and brand will continue to operate as it does now, with managing director Mike Moulds remaining on board.
Mike founded the business 26 years ago, with his first bus purchase being a vehicle designed for veteran British rock band Status Quo. The company’s drivers cover millions of miles every year, across the UK and as far as Greece and Finland, with links to Scandinavia and mainland Europe.
The majority of the buses are provided for major artists in the music industry, as well as comedians, drag shows, podcast creators, pantomime casts and golf tours. Last year the company designed and built a special double decker “Star Bus” for US singer-songwriter Teddy Swims, specifically tailored to the star’s requirements for his UK and European tour.
The £650,000 vehicle is believed to be the only model of its kind in the world to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel – an alternative to diesel which reduces fuel emissions by 90 per cent. The Star Bus – designed and created by the MM Band Services team over 18 months – had -an en-suite bedroom for the star, downstairs toilet, kitchen facilities with a sink and fridge, desk and office space, lounge area and comfortable, quilted sleeping bunks with gel-cooled mattresses for up to 10 people.
Louise Smit, Pieter Smit chief executive, said: “This step is a natural continuation of how we have always approached our business: staying close to our clients and adapting to the realities of international touring. Since Brexit, operating between the UK and Europe has become more complex. While we already had a strong Nightliner offering, the addition of MM Band Services significantly expands our capacity, allowing us to offer greater flexibility and more reliable support across both regions.”
Pieter Smit Group was launched in 1980 and has hubs in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland and Portugal.
Chief financial officer and chief operating officer Jeffrey Ringenier added: “This acquisition is about positioning. International tours increasingly move between the UK and mainland Europe. With MM, we now have the right structure in place.”
A statement on MM’s website added: “For years, MM Band Services has been a trusted name in premium artist and crew transportation across the UK and Europe. From intimate club tours to massive arena productions, our mission has always been clear: providing artists and crews with a seamless, comfortable, and reliable home on the road.
“To elevate our service to the next level, MM Band Services is proud to operate as a Pieter Smit Group Company. By joining forces with the premier name in European entertainment logistics, we have completed the puzzle for international touring.
“While we maintain our dedicated UK team, specialist management, and premium fleet of luxury sleeper buses, this partnership gives our clients direct access to a massive European network of trucks, trailers, and specialised event logistics.”
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