George Kooymans: Golden Earring Guitarist and Writer of Radar Love and T

George Kooymans was a Dutch guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, best known as a founder of the rock band Golden Earring and co-writer of the hits "Radar Love" and "Twilight Zone." Born on March 11, 1948, in The Hague, Netherlands, he helped make Golden Earring one of the most successful Dutch bands ever.

Kooymans formed the group that became Golden Earring in 1961 with his neighbor Rinus Gerritsen. Their debut single "Please Go" was a hit in 1965. In 1973 "Radar Love" reached No. 1 in the Netherlands, the UK top ten and No. 13 in the United States. In 1982 he wrote "Twilight Zone," the band's only top-10 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100. Between 2017 and 2023 he also released three Dutch-language albums with the supergroup Vreemde Kostgangers.

Kooymans was married to Melanie Gerritsen, the younger sister of the band's bassist Rinus Gerritsen. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and died on July 22, 2025, at age 77. Remembered for guitar riffs that still drive radio, he left behind one of rock's best-loved road songs.

Achievements: Co-formed Golden Earring (1961), scored a hit with "Please Go" (1965), co-wrote "Radar Love," a No. 1 hit in the Netherlands (1973), wrote "Twilight Zone," a U.S. top-10 hit (1982).

Birth: March 11, 1948 - The Hague, Netherlands.

Profession: Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter.

Interesting Facts: The band first called itself The Tornados but changed its name after learning of a UK group with the same name. Kooymans also wrote and produced for other artists in the 1960s.