Golden Earring Co-Founder George Kooymans Passes Away at 77

George Kooymans, a co-founder of Golden Earring known for his vocals and guitar work, has died at 77.

The news was confirmed by an attorney associated with the band, which disbanded in 2021 after Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS. “We say goodbye to a great musician and composer whose work extended beyond Golden Earring,” read a statement from Kooymans’ family. “George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend.”

“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the other band members, and we wish them much strength,” said Limore Noach, director of the ALS Netherlands Foundation. “When it became known that George Kooymans had ALS and could no longer perform, it was heartwarming to see how the whole of the Netherlands rallied in support.”

Kooymans founded Golden Earring in 1961 with his neighbor, bassist Rinus Gerritsen. The band remained active for 50 years, releasing more than 25 studio albums.

Golden Earring was long popular in the Netherlands, achieving international success in the early 1970s with “Radar Love,” which reached No. 13 in the U.S. charts. Another hit, “Twilight Zone,” written by Kooymans, reached No. 10 in 1982.

On why Golden Earring disbanded, Kooymans’ bandmate Barry Hay said in 2021, “We always said we would keep going until one of us fell over. I didn’t expect George to be the first. Kooymans was always the toughest of the four of us.”

According to Dutch News, the surviving members of Golden Earring are planning a farewell show with guest musicians. Proceeds will benefit ALS research.

“What we want now is silence and to think back on everything he did,” said Golden Earring drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk. “I played with him for 50 years, and it was the best time of my life.”

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