Rolling Stone is reporting that George Kooymans, guitarist and co-founder of the Dutch rockers GOLDEN EARRING, has died. He was 77.
Kooymans’ family confirmed his death to the Dutch outlet AD, saying the musician died from the effects of ALS, which he was diagnosed with in 2020. “We say goodbye to a great musician and composer whose work reached far beyond Golden Earring. George was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, but above all, a friend,” the family said.
GOLDEN EARRING drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk added, “What we want now is silence and to remember everything he did. I played with him for 50 years, and that was the best time of my life. I’ll leave it at that for now.”
GOLDEN EARRING spent more than five decades together, enjoying massive success in their home country and achieving international renown with tracks like 1973’s ‘Radar Love,’ 1982’s ‘Twilight Zone,’ and 1984’s ‘When The Lady Smiles.’