George Jan Kooymans (born 11 March 1948) is a Dutch retired guitarist and vocalist. He is best known for his work with the Dutch group Golden Earring.[Joel Whitburn (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits',' 9th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 259.]
In 2021, Kooymans retired from the music business after he was diagnosed with ALS.
Career
In 1961, Kooymans and his neighbour
Rinus Gerritsen formed a rock duo.
They originally called themselves "The Tornados", but changed their name to "The Golden Earrings" when they learnt of
The Tornados, a UK instrumental group who had just had a hit with "Telstar".
[Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 187/8. .] The name "the Golden Earrings" was taken from an instrumental called "Golden Earrings" performed by the British group the Hunters,
for whom they served as opening and closing act. 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.
After two albums,
Barry Hay joined on lead vocals permanently, and by 1970, Sieb Warner had been replaced by
Cesar Zuiderwijk, and the principal lineup (that would last for 50 years) was finalised.
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 13 on the United States chart,
[ US-Singles: Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2006. Billboard Books, New York 2007, / US-Alben: The Billboard Albums von Joel Whitburn, 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ] "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.
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.
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.
Personal life
Kooymans is married to Melanie Gerritsen, the younger sister of Golden Earring bassist
Rinus Gerritsen.
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.
Equipment
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.
Discography
Golden Earring
Solo albums
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Jojo (1971)
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Solo (1987)
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On Location (as Kooymans-Carillo with Frank Carillo) (2010)
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Mirage (as Kooymans & Carillo with Frank Carillo) (2022)
Singles
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"Lovin' and Hurtin'" / "For Gail" 1971
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"Lost For Love" / "The Devil Rides Again Tonight" 1987
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"The Beat Goes On" / "Again" 1987
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"World of Our Own" / "All Things Are Light" 1987
