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| George Kooymans (1948-2025) |
George Kooymans, the guitarist, vocalist, and co-founder of the Dutch rock band Golden Earring, passed away on July 23, 2025, at the age of 77 in Rijkevorsel, Netherlands.
His death was attributed to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative muscle disease he was diagnosed with in 2020.
Following his diagnosis, Kooymans retired from the band in 2021, leading to Golden Earring’s disbandment after a 50-year career. His family and bandmates announced his passing, with a statement noting, “We say goodbye to a great musician and composer whose work extended beyond Golden Earring. George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend.” The statement highlighted his strength and dignity in facing ALS. Drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk reflected, “I played with him for 50 years, and it was the best time of my life.”
Kooymans co-founded Golden Earring in 1961 with bassist Rinus Gerritsen in The Hague, initially naming the band The Tornados before adopting the name Golden Earring, inspired by an instrumental by the British group The Hunters.
The band achieved international fame with hits like “Radar Love” (1973), which reached No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was covered by artists like U2 and R.E.M., and “Twilight Zone” (1982), which hit No. 10 in the U.S. with the aid of an MTV video. Rolling Stone praised “Radar Love” as one of the greatest road trip songs for its iconic opening line, “I’ve been driving all night, my hands wet on the wheel.”
The band, known for its classic lineup including Zuiderwijk and singer Barry Hay, released over 25 albums and had more than 20 top 10 singles in the Netherlands, cementing their status as the country’s most successful rock act.