Golden Earring was a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as the Tornados. They achieved worldwide fame with their international hit songs "Radar Love" in 1973, which went to number one on the Dutch chart, reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, and went to number thirteen on the United States chart, "Back Home" in 1970, "Twilight Zone" in 1982, and "When the Lady Smiles" in 1984. A number of other musicians also appeared in short stints with the band over its history.

Kooymans died 22 July 2025. Although the band initially declined a concert afterwards, the band organized a series of farewell concerts under the title One Last Night in Rotterdam Ahoy from 26 to 30 January 2026, together with other Dutch artists.

History

Early years (1961–1969)

What became Golden Earring was formed in 1961 in The Hague by 13-year-old George Kooymans and his 15-year-old neighbor, Rinus Gerritsen. Originally called "the Tornados", the name was changed to the Golden Earrings Initially a pop-rock band with Frans Krassenburg on lead vocals and Jaap Eggermont on drums, the Golden Earrings had a hit with their debut single "Please Go", recorded in 1965.

In 1968, Barry Hay joined the band, replacing Krassenburg as frontman. Two years later, the band earned their first number one hit in the Netherlands with the song "Dong Dong Diki Digi Dong". In the United States, ground work for entering the US market was being laid by East Coast FM radio disc jockey and music critic Neil Kempfer-Stocker, who is credited as the first radio DJ to play the band in the US. This single was followed by a successful psychedelic album Eight Miles High, The band's American records during this period were issued by the Perception Records label in New York, and the band's Golden Earring LP, known as Wall of Dolls, and single "Back Home" performed poorly in the US but became a number 1 hit in the Netherlands.

International fame (1970s and 1980s)

In 1969, drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk joined the band, The album was recorded at London's Rainbow Theater.

Golden Earring enjoyed a brief period of US stardom, but were unable to secure further chart success until 1982's "Twilight Zone".

"When the Lady Smiles" became an international hit in 1984, reaching No. 3 in Canada and becoming the band's fifth number one hit in their native country, but was not successful in the United States, reaching no higher than No. 76 on the US Singles Chart. The video was banned from MTV because of its "unholy desires about a nun and a lobotomy"; this was Dick Maas's second video for the band, and helped launch his career as a film director. and became the third-best selling album of 1993 in the Netherlands.

Golden Earring celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2011, which the Dutch postal service honored with a stamp that contained a music link: when a smartphone with a special app is held up to the music stamp, Golden Earring's "Radar Love" plays.

On 11 May 2012, the band released what was to prove to be their final studio album, Tits 'n Ass.

Reunion and death of George Kooymans (2025–2026)

In January 2025, the band announced that they would play one final concert, titled "Golden Earring: One Last Night", at the Rotterdam Ahoy on 30 January 2026. Due to his ALS diagnosis, Kooymans was not scheduled to play, but several famous Dutch artists were to perform with the band, and five euros from each ticket sold went to ALS research. Because of extra demand, four more shows from 26 to 29 January were added, which also all sold out immediately.

Kooymans died on 22 July 2025 at the age of 77.

The five farewell shows took place from 26 to 30 January 2026. Golden Earring performed their songs with Dutch artists such as Son Mieux, Acda en De Munnik, Maan, Davina Michelle, Danny Vera and Di-rect. The shows concluded with a pre-recorded video of Kooymans playing the song "Hold Me Now".

Band members

Principal lineup

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals <small>(1961–2021; died 2025)</small>
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica <small>(1961–2021, 2026)</small>
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone <small>(1967–2021, 2026)</small>
  • Cesar Zuiderwijk – drums, percussion <small>(1970–2021, 2026)</small>

Former members

  • Fred van der Hilst – drums, percussion <small>(1962–1965; died 2026)</small>
  • Hans van Herwerden – guitar <small>(1962–1963)</small>
  • Peter de Ronde – guitar <small>(1963–1966)</small>
  • Frans Krassenburg – vocals <small>(1964–1967)</small>
  • Jaap Eggermont – drums, percussion <small>(1965–1969)</small>
  • Sieb Warner – drums, percussion <small>(1969–1970)</small>
  • Robert Jan Stips – keyboards, synthesizers <small>(1974–1976; 1977–1978, 1980, 1982, 1986 as a session musician)</small>
  • Eelco Gelling – guitar <small>(1976–1978; 1973-1975 as a session musician)</small>

Session musicians

  • Bertus Borgers – saxophone <small>(1971, 1973–1976)</small>
  • John Lagrand – harmonica <small>(1979)</small>

Lineups

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99%

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1961–1962

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1962–1963

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1963–1964

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1964–1965

|-

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Hans van Herwerden – guitar
  • Fred van der Hilst – drums, percussion

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Fred van der Hilst – drums, percussion
  • Peter de Ronde – guitar

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Fred van der Hilst – drums, percussion
  • Peter de Ronde – guitar
  • Frans Krassenburg – vocals

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1965–1966

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1966–1967

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1967–1969

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1969–1970

|-

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Peter de Ronde – guitar
  • Frans Krassenburg – vocals
  • Jaap Eggermont – drums, percussion

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Frans Krassenburg – vocals
  • Jaap Eggermont – drums, percussion

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Jaap Eggermont – drums, percussion
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone
  • Sieb Warner – drums, percussion

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1970–1974

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1974–1975

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1975–1978

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1978–2021

|-

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone
  • Cesar Zuiderwijk – drums, percussion

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone
  • Cesar Zuiderwijk – drums, percussion
  • Robert Jan Stips – keyboards, synthesizers

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone
  • Cesar Zuiderwijk – drums, percussion
  • Eelco Gelling – guitar

| valign=top |

  • George Kooymans – guitar, vocals
  • Rinus Gerritsen – bass, keyboards, guitar, harmonica
  • Barry Hay – vocals, guitar, flute, saxophone
  • Cesar Zuiderwijk – drums, percussion

|}

Timeline

Discography

  • Just Ear-rings (1965)
  • Winter-Harvest (1967)
  • Miracle Mirror (1968)
  • On the Double (1969)
  • Eight Miles High (1969)
  • Golden Earring (1970)
  • Seven Tears (1971)
  • Together (1972)
  • Moontan (1973)
  • Switch (1975)
  • To the Hilt (1976)
  • Contraband (1976)
  • Live (1977)
  • Grab It for a Second (1978)
  • No Promises...No Debts (1979)
  • Prisoner of the Night (1980)
  • Cut (1982)
  • N.E.W.S. (1984)
  • The Hole (1986)
  • Keeper of the Flame (1989)
  • Bloody Buccaneers (1991)
  • Face It (1994)
  • Love Sweat (1995)
  • Paradise in Distress (1999)
  • Millbrook U.S.A. (2003)
  • Tits 'n Ass (2012)
  • The Hague (EP) (2015)

References

Sources

  • Biography by Golden Earring founder and bass player Rinus Gerritsen published on the band's website.
  • Biographical books on the Golden Earring: Haagsche Bluf by Pieter Franssen, 1993, and Rock die niet roest by prof. Maarten Steenmeyer, 2005. Both titles are in Dutch.
  • The Story of Golden Earring by Karin and Mechteld Beks, Picture publishers, an authorized biography published on the occasion of the band's 45th anniversary. Text in Dutch. (2005)
  • Interviews with the band over the years, many of which can be traced back through the Golden Earring Museum website.

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  • Radar Love TimeTravel
  • English-language interview with George Kooymans for MusicMirror