The news of George Kooymans’ death brings the end of an era for Golden Earring, the iconic Dutch rock band he co-founded as a teenager. His passing at 77 follows a long battle with ALS, a condition he had battled since 2020.
Here are more details of George Kooymans’ death.
George Kooymans cause of death explained
George Kooymans, guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of the Golden Earring, has passed away at the age of 77, according to a report by Dutch news outlet AD. His family revealed that he died due to complications from ALS.
In a statement to the press, Kooymans’ family said, “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.” Golden Earring drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk also paid tribute, saying, “I played with him for 50 years, and that was the best time of my life.”
Kooymans and his lifelong friend Rinus Gerritsen formed the band in 1961 while still teenagers growing up in The Hague. Originally called The Tornados, the group soon became The Golden Earrings, then simply Golden Earring. By 1965, they had released their debut album Just Ear-rings, followed by early Dutch chart hits like “Please Go” and “That Day.”
Their international success grew steadily. In 1970, they released the self-titled album Golden Earring. Just a few years later, the band achieved worldwide recognition with the 1973 release of “Radar Love.” Over the decades, the band remained consistently active. Their final studio album, Tits ‘n Ass, was released in 2012. It was followed by the EP The Hague in 2015 and the single “Say When” in 2019.
Kooymans’ ALS diagnosis was revealed to his bandmates at the end of 2020, effectively ending plans for a farewell tour. However, prior to Kooymans’ passing, Golden Earring announced a farewell event titled One Last Night, scheduled for January 2026. Additional musicians will join surviving members, with all proceeds benefiting ALS research.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
