In 1989 Franck met guitarist/composer/singer Math Wyzen and they started a band called Gypsy Cab'. In a very short time they wrote four songs and shortly after they recorded those songs in Studio Klank Tegelen (The Netherlands). They even made a videoclip of the song 'I Don't Think So' which won the local videoclip awards.(Not an Oscar!). Unfortunately none of this material is available anymore.

In 1990 he met guitarist Maarten Wijler who was into 'heavy' guitarstuff at that time.Together they started the band 'Redline' and recorded an instrumental, guitarorientated demotape with six songs.The demo was recorded in Franck’s 'homestudio', a Yamaha SY 77 with a 16-track sequencer, a four-track analog tape recorder and a five track SM-830 personal pre-amp mixer.

In 1991 Franck met guitarist (Fretburner!) Marcel Coenen and he asked Franck to record an intro for his band "Speedica" because he already had done some intro-recording for other bands. (Excavation, Beyond). That was the beginning of 'Apogee'. Marcel and Franck wrote six psychedelic, guitar orientated' songs and recorded a demotape in Franck’s 'homestudio'. All of the guitartracks were direct live recorded because they only had two tape tracks. In 1992 Franck signed up for the 'Midi Awards', a keyboard contest, and he asked Marcel to join him. They ended up being fifth in de finals playing their Apogee song 'Fairy Tale' which is also re-recorded on Marcel's new soloCD. Around that time in 1992 they were looking for a drummer, bassplayer and singer to make Apogee a complete band.