Rock icon behind ‘Radar Love’ dead at 77
The founding member, guitarist and co-lead singer of Dutch rock legends Golden Earring George Kooymans has died at the age of 77. The band’s attorney confirmed the cause was complications related to ALS, the progressive neurodegenerative disease that George had been battling since his diagnosis back in 2021 (Picture: Getty Images)
In a statement, the band remembered Kooymans not just for his musical legacy, but for the personal connections he leaves behind. ‘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 group shared (Picture: Getty Images)
Kooymans was just 13 years of agewhen he started the band in The Hague with his neighbor and bassist Rinus Gerritsen in 1961. Over time, they were joined by Barry Hay and Cesar Zuiderwijk, rounding out the classic Golden Earring line-up that would remain intact until the band called it quits in 2021 after Kooymans’s health forced his retirement (Picture: Getty Images)
Golden Earring is widely regarded as one of the Netherlands’ most iconic rock bands, with a career spanning six decades. Their biggest hit, Radar Love, became a global radio staple in the mid-70s, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number 10 in the UK. The track’s propulsive rhythm, cryptic lyrics and Kooymans’s tight guitar work made it a truly enduring rock anthem that still holds up and sounds fresh today (Picture: Getty Images)
Radar Love has been covered by everyone from U2 to R.E.M. and its influence stretches far beyond its chart peak. It remains a road trip essential and a showcase of Kooymans’s songwriting, which blended driving rock grooves with subtle melodies. The band would later find success again in the ’80s with hits like Twilight Zone and When the Lady Smiles (Picture: Getty Images)
Outside of Golden Earring, Kooymans also pursued solo projects. He released two albums on his own - Jojo in 1971 and Solo in 1987 - and continued recording later in life, including a 2022 collaboration with Frank Carrillo. Even as ALS limited his physical abilities, Kooymans remained connected to music for as long as he possibly could (Picture: Getty Images)
Despite his retirement, Golden Earring's influence hasn’t faded. The band were scheduled to play five farewell shows at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena in 2026 - a final tribute to a career that helped shape European rock. While Kooymans won’t be on stage, should the gigs go ahead, his presence will still no doubt be felt in every note the band play (Picture: Getty Images)
George Kooymans leaves behind not only a deep musical catalog, but an impressive legacy of endurance, creativity and rock 'n' roll spirit. For fans who discovered Radar Love on a worn-out cassette, movie soundtrack or a Spotify playlist decades later, his riffs and lyrics remain instantly recognizable. He helped put Dutch rock on the global map. And Radar Love will forever keep it there (Picture: Getty Images)
