Formed in 1965 by guitarist George Kooymans, Dutch band Golden Earring worked a basically bubblegum routine and built a reputation through support slots with visiting bands like The Who and Led Zeppelin.
Kooymans ultimately changed their style into a harder, more aggressive blend of rhythm and blues which first registered with the British public in 1973.
The band moved out of Holland, first to Germany for two years and then on European tours with The Who, to the States twice, and eventually to England.
Singer Barry Hay, bassist Rinus Gerritsen and drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk all pushed Golden Earring through several new areas of pop and rock and used quadraphonic sound on stage – an innovation which was to become widespread for a while.
They re-recorded their 1974 hit Radar Love in 1977 when it re-entered the UK charts, but America – with the patronage of MTV – was to prove kinder to them in the 1980s.
George Kooymans died in Rijkevorsel, Belgium, on 22 July 2025 (the same day as Ozzy Osbourne), at the age of 77.
George Kooymans
Vocals, guitar Rinus Gerritsen Bass, keyboards Barry Hay Vocals, flute, saxophone Frans Krassenburg Vocals Peter De Ponde Guitar Cesar Zuiderwijk Drums Joap Eggermont Drums Sieb Warner Drums Ellco Gelling Guitar Bertus Borgers Saxophone
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