George Kooymans

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George Kooymans
2015 Golden Earring - George Kooymans - by 2eight - DSC1419.jpg
George Kooymans in 2015
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Jan Kooymans
Born (1948-03-11) 11 March 1948 (age 75)
The Hague, Netherlands
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1967–2021

George Jan Kooymans (born 11 March 1948, The Hague, Netherlands) is a Dutch guitarist and vocalist. He is best known for his work with the Dutch group Golden Earring. [1] Kooymans wrote "Twilight Zone", the group's only Top 10 Pop Single on the US Billboard Hot 100, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart. [2]

Contents

Kooymans also wrote and produced for other artists. In 2017 and 2018 he released two albums as a member of Vreemde Kostgangers (Strange Boarders), a Dutch-language supergroup he formed with Henny Vrienten (bass player of the band Doe Maar) and singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot.

Kooymans is married to Melanie Gerritsen, the younger sister of Golden Earring bassist Rinus Gerritsen. Kooymans primarily played a Gibson Les Paul, a Gretsch 6119, a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson Marauder, a Gibson SG, a Yamaha SG2000, several BC Rich guitars, a double cutaway Gibson Melody Maker and a Gibson Firebird, with his primary amps being a Roland Jazz Chorus, a Vox AC30 amp, and a Fender Twin Reverb. [3] [4]

In February, 2021, Kooymans announced that he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and would retire. Shortly afterward, Golden Earring announced they would disband. [5]

Discography

Golden Earring

Solo albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Earring</span> Dutch rock band

Golden Earring was a Dutch rock band, founded in 1961 in The Hague as The Golden Earrings. 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, "Twilight Zone" in 1982, and "When the Lady Smiles" in 1984. During their career they had nearly 30 top-ten singles on the Dutch charts and released 25 studio albums.

<i>Golden Earring</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Golden Earring

Golden Earring is the self-titled album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released in 1970. Fans often refer to it as Wall of Dolls due to the cover artwork. This is the first Golden Earring album with drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk as a member. From that time, all four members of the band on this album have remained in the lineup.

<i>Seven Tears</i> 1971 studio album by Golden Earring

Seven Tears is an album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released in 1971. The album was not issued in the U.S.

<i>Switch</i> (Golden Earring album) 1975 studio album by Golden Earring

Switch is the tenth album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released in 1975.

<i>To the Hilt</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Golden Earring

To the Hilt is an album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released in 1976.

<i>No Promises...No Debts</i> 1979 studio album by Golden Earring

No Promises...No Debts is an album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1979. In the U.S. the album was released with a different cover photo showing the group standing around.

<i>2nd Live</i> 1981 live album by Golden Earring

2nd Live is the second live album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1981. The album was not issued in the U.S.

<i>Cut</i> (Golden Earring album) 1982 studio album by Golden Earring

Cut is the sixteenth studio album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1982. The album spawned the hit song "Twilight Zone," which reached No. 1 in the Netherlands and No. 1 in the United States on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks

<i>N.E.W.S.</i> (Golden Earring album) 1984 studio album by Golden Earring

N.E.W.S. is an album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1984.

<i>Something Heavy Going Down</i> 1984 live album by Golden Earring

Something Heavy Going Down is the third live album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1984.

<i>The Hole</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Golden Earring

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<i>Bloody Buccaneers</i> 1991 studio album by Golden Earring

Bloody Buccaneers is an album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1991.

<i>Face It</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Golden Earring

Face It is an album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1994. The album was not issued in the U.S.

<i>The Naked Truth</i> (Golden Earring album) 1992 live album by Golden Earring

The Naked Truth is the fourth live album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 1992. All songs were performed with acoustic instruments. The album has been released over the decade with additional tracks under the titles The Complete Naked Truth and Fully Naked.

<i>Last Blast of the Century</i> 2000 live album by Golden Earring

Last Blast of the Century is the sixth live album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 2000. The album was not issued in the U.S.

<i>Millbrook U.S.A.</i> 2003 studio album by Golden Earring

Millbrook U.S.A. is an album by Dutch hard rock band Golden Earring, released in 2003. It was named after Millbrook, New York, where the band stayed to record the album. Despite this, the album was not issued in the U.S.

<i>On the Double</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Golden Earring

On the Double is a double album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released in 1969. It was the last album released under the name Golden Earrings as well as the last to feature drummer Jaap Eggermont, who left to pursue a career as a record producer, ultimately creating Stars on 45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twilight Zone (Golden Earring song)</span> 1982 single by Golden Earring

"Twilight Zone" is a 1982 hit by Dutch band Golden Earring. It was written by the band's guitarist George Kooymans, who drew inspiration from the book The Bourne Identity. "Twilight Zone" appears on their 1982 album Cut and pays tribute to the 1960s television series The Twilight Zone. It spent more than half a year on the U.S. Pop charts. It was the group's sole Top 10 Pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart, the band's only No. 1 hit in America.

<i>Just Ear-rings</i> 1965 studio album by The Golden Earrings

Just Ear-rings is the 1965 debut album by Dutch Nederbeat band Golden Earring.

<i>Tits n Ass</i> 2012 studio album by Golden Earring

Tits 'n Ass is the twenty-fifth and final studio album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring, released on 11 May 2012. It was their first studio album since 2003's Millbrook U.S.A., but was not issued in the U.S. It was the group's final album before their 2021 breakup.

References

  1. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Biography: George Kooymans". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits',' 9th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 259.
  3. ↑ http://www.golden-earring-museum.nl/articles/art0520.htm
  4. ↑ https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/songs-snaren-gitaren/9200000054117392/
  5. ↑ "Golden Earring Co-Founder George Kooymans Retires After ALS Diagnosis; Band Calls it Quits". 11 March 2021.
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