Golden Earring Forever!

LAST UPDATE: February 25 2026

"Dig It Now You Still Can" (Save Your Skin - Golden Earring)

This story part is now being edited. Due to a lack of time many facts still have to be edited. Fact subjects are sometimes listed but without the info about the facts. In the upcoming months i will add more info to these facts once i researched them and translated them. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you have facts, scans, info or updates please share them with me by email. Your help is much appreciated!

(Naar story 10 - 2019)

October 2019 Say When vinyl 2track cdsingle release Say When\Back Home (Remastered 2020 Version) check (Catalogue number Red Bullet x check) Vier jaar na hun laatste EP 'The Hague'; De Golden Earring zijn terug met een nieuwe track; 'Say When'. Deze opname herdenkt het feit dat de band meer dan 50 jaar samen is.

Ahoy show final show Golden Earrings career in retrospect Say When performed. Video wall with live views and projections. These images were later on used for the You Know We Love you album, an Ahoy 2019 Live concert recording.

December 2019 Cesar Zuiderwijk started The Sloper project with Triggerfinger drummer and performed a try-out show in Zoetermeer at De Boerderij.

2020 - This Golden Earring story part needs to be build up from scratch. This will be done in the near future but please give me some time. Down below here are already some facts but layout and info need to be updated. In the meantime it's a work of progress and the work on editing other files on this Golden Earring Digital Archive website is also a time consuming and labour of love effort!

Januari 2020 Rinus Gerritsen behind the Music Paard Den Haag video's Barry, Robert Jan Stips, Cesar Zuiderwijk

January 2020 Say When vinyl single release Tracklist 1. Say When \2. Back Home (Remastered 2020 Version)

PIC Say When Vinyl single

February 2020 George Kooymans started to perform a few shows with Vreemde Kostgangers on their third tour "Vreemde Kostgangers Denderen door" (VKG: Vrienten Kooymans De Groot) Then the Corona virus Covid19 caused a worldwide pandemic situation and The Netherlands went into lockdown in March 2020. This meant all public appearances and shows were limited to only a few persons, keeping at least 1,5 meter distance between persons which in general meant theatre shows and large venue performances had to be postponed or even cancelled.

VKG Feb 2020 Rijswijkse Schouwburg ticket scan

Krantenartikelen

Record Store Day 2020 Radar Love single release.

PIC Radar Love \ Radar Love Vinyl single

Corona Covid19 virus pandemic March 2020 lasted into 2021. No Golden Earring shows could be performed and most Sloper Gigs were postponed into 2021 as well.

George Kooymans shows with Vreemde Kostgangers were postponed to 2021 and new dates are planned.

All planned Golden Earring shows had to be postponed to 2021 due to ongoing Corona regulations. The Covid19 pandemic situation made it impossible to perform at festivals or in larger venues as infection rates were still to high and because of visitor limitations shows and festivals couldn't go on.

Cesar Zuiderwijk had the same problem and several planned Sloper shows were postponed due to corona regulations as well.

2021 -

Barry Hay and JB Meijers Paradiso shows were definitely cancelled after being postponed from 2020 due to ongoing Corona pandemic restrictions.

On February 05 2021 the news came out George Kooymans being ill as he was diagnosed with ALS disease.

On February 06 2021 the news came out Golden Earring as a band called it's quits due to the ALS illness of George Kooymans not able to perform in public anymore. Any suggestion of replacing George Kooymans were strongly rejected and the decision stands: No more Golden Earring shows and the end of the band after almost 60 years of existence.

On February 13 2021 writer Bart Chabot brings an ode to Golden Earring in de Matthijs Gaat Door TV show and a Hammond organ version of Radar Love is performed by Sven Hammond x edit. (This version was released on the streaming platforms on March 11 2021 in honour of the 73rd birthday of George Kooymans and the proceeds will be donated to the ALS foundation.

On March 11 2021 George Kooymans celebrated his 73rd birthday and there was a national tribute at 17 hour nationwide. Fans, Radio stations and churchbells played Radar Love all over Holland.

In April 2021 the news came out George Kooymans and the other Vreemde Kostgangers had intentions to finish their third album recordings.

Music on Vinyl album re-releases on coloured vinyl. To The Hilt (July 30 2021), Contraband (July 16 2021), Cut (September 10 2021) and more.

2021 RSD Twilight Zone\When The Lady Smiles single release June 2021 (RSD 2021 drop).

July 25 2021 - Added several 2021 Supersister Project tourdates (With Rinus Gerritsen on bass and keyboards) to the 2021 Tourdates file on this website.

July 16 2021 Today the Music on Vinyl label released a limited edition Contraband coloured vinyl lp re-release. It's a limited pressing of 1500 individually numbered copies on orange and black mixed 180 gram audiophile vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet

On July 30 2021 Today the Music on Vinyl label released a limited edition To The Hilt coloured vinyl lp re-release. It's a limited pressing of 1500 individually numbered copies on x colour 180 gram audiophile vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet

August 02 2021 Cesar Zuiderwijks Sloper band News: Their new single 'I'm Gonna Getcha' is catch of the day on Studio Brussel Radio today! Go to the StuBru website or tune in on your radio to listen. They are also playing @alcatrazfestival on 15th of August in Kortrijk. See ya there. #stubru #catchoftheday #newmusic #rockandroll #tarantino #sloper #suburbanrecords

August 05 2021 Cesar Zuiderwijk was seen in the EenVandaag tv show. EenVandaag TV show NPO1 today had large item about Golden Earring with nice live footage and Cesar Zuiderwijk drumming.

On August 06 2021 Cesar Zuiderwijk was one of the guests at the Humberto TV show on RTL4 today. At the end of his item he performed a drum solo together with drummer Koen Herfst. Telegraaf newspaper has a two page article about Sloper today called Twee drummers, een gedachte.

August 08 2021 - New Sloper (featuring Cesar Zuiderwijk) Fall Tourdates overview published (including 2 Belgium shows now)! Note they did several festival shows at the end of August 2021, these tourdates are not on this overview but are added to the 2021 tourdates file. If you should have any Sloperupdates please email me!.

The Sloper debut record "Pulverise" will be released in less than two weeks on August 20 2021! They cannot be happier seeing that all streaming the tracks The Thin Line, Drive It In and the latest single I'm Gonna Getcha. They are all on the new record and it's ready for pre-orders! Get your copy on vinyl and CD via the Pulverise Sloper CD and LP at Suburban Records website. The artwork is made by the wonderfull Hannelore Celen. She shares a lot of her work on her Facebook page so you should check it out! #sloper #pulverise #vinyl #CD #thinline #driveitin #imgonnagetcha #suburbanrecords

Sloper cannot be happier seeing that all streaming the tracks The Thin Line, Drive It In and the latest single I'm Gonna Getcha. They are all on the new record and it's ready for pre-orders! Get your copy on vinyl and CD via the Pulverise Sloper CD and LP at Suburban Records website.

Rinus Gerritsen on tour with Robert Jan Stips and his Supersister Club project.

August 08 2021 - Rinus Gerritsen should have performed on August 28 2021 in concert with Nico's Wizard's in Oosterbeek - Park Hartenstein at Het Park vertelt festival. The concert was planned but postponed to August 27 2022 due to Corona regulations.

October: promotional gigs at radio stations like Radio Veronica and instore gig at Bergen op Zoom.

Cesar Zuiderwijk was seen at Humberto TV show, a few weeks later Cesar Zuiderwijk and Sloper attended the same talkshow and performed Struck by Lightning at the end of the Humberto TV show. On YouTube a video is found where Humberto drums with both Sloper Drummers in an aftershow item.

October start Sloper tour . Support act for all the Fall 2021 Sloper shows was Splinter.

Rinus Gerritsen was special guest during several of the Jimi Hendrix RE-Experience shows from guitarist Erwin van Ligten.

October November 2021 Supersister Clubtour. Sadly the last three planned 2021 shows in Den Haag, x and x had to be cancelled at the very last minute due to illness Robert Jan Stips. The Paard Den Haag show is now re-scheduled to June 06 2022

On December 16 2021 Rinus Gerritsen and Cesar Zuiderwijk were guest at the NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 Award show. They received the award award as a hommage to Golden Earring's legendary oeuvre and history.

Dutch info: Top 2000 Nieuws. NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 Award voor Golden Earring. De NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 Award gaat dit jaar naar Golden Earring. Stemmers hebben de lijst der lijsten aangegrepen om een eerbetoon te brengen aan de legendarische Haagse band die dit jaar is gestopt. NPO Radio 2 bekroont deze hommage met de Top 2000 Award, waarmee de zender jaarlijks een Nederlandse artiest of band extra in de schijnwerpers zet. Eerdere winnaars zijn DI-RECT, Danny Vera en Davina Michelle.

2022 -

On January 15 2022 a new tv program started. It's called The Tribute a battle of the bands. Amongst the jury members Cesar Zuiderwijk and Spike van Zoest (di-rect guitarist)

Later that week Cesar Zuiderwijk was seen in several tv programs talking about the Tribute - Battle of the bands tv show.

For August 2022 a new DrumDrieDaagse was announced. This is the 3day event where 72 drummers can experience workshops, lessons and performing together at the Musicon music centre in The Hague.

On April 25 2022 the news came out Henny Vrienten passed away at the age of 73. He was ill as was announced late 2021 (and a planned Doe Maar reunion tour was cancelled) Henny was part of the Vreemde Kostgangers band along with George Kooymans and Boudewijn de Groot. It is rumoured their third still to be released album will be released soon as George Kooymans was still working on re-doing some vocals.

2023 -

January 27 2023 - The third Vreemde Kostgangers cd release titled Mist is planned for March 17 2023! It will be released on cd, limited edition transparant vinyl and limited edition black vinyl!

Cesar Zuiderwijk started the 2023 leg of his 6th theatre show De Naakte Waarheid. 2 planned shows had to be re-scheduled due to logistic reasons. (Rijswijk to March 12 2023 and Voorburg to May 06 2023 shows)

In 2023 a limited edition 7" vinyl single of the Kooymans Carillo Seasons track was be released. The single b-side is the non-album track August Moon!

From September 2023 on the second leg of the Moontan Iconic Albums tour took place. In this theatre show Rinus Gerritsen explains the Moontan album and it's recordings. He is interviewed on stage by Martin Kuiper and several interview video's are shown on screen. More info to be added!

On October 20 2023 the fourth print of the Radar Love 50 years book was released.

2024 2024 Info to be added. Die to a lack of timme info have to be gathered, edited and published. This will be done in the near future.

2025 -

On January 25 2025 The George Kooymans Solo album was released as a 750 copies limited edition on grey coloured vinyl (1 lp with lyric insert)

On February 14 2025 the Barry Hay Victory Of Bad Taste album was released as a 750 copies limited edition on gold coloured vinyl (1 lp with lyric insert)

George Kooymans passed away in July 2025. The exact date is 22 or 23 July but remains unsure for now. He will be missed!

Info ALS Website in Dutch (To be translated):
23 juli 2025 George Kooymans (Den Haag, 1948), voormalig gitarist bij de bekende Haagse band Golden Earring, is overleden aan de gevolgen van ALS. In februari 2021 kreeg hij de diagnose, waarna hij hard achteruitging. Hoewel we wisten dat hij deze dodelijke ziekte niet kon overleven, komt zijn overlijden toch hard aan. Limore Noach, directeur Stichting ALS Nederland: "Wij zijn in gedachten bij zijn familie, vrienden en de andere bandleden en wensen hen veel sterkte. Toen bekend werd dat George Kooymans ALS had en hij niet meer kon optreden, was het hartverwarmend om te zien hoe heel Nederland massaal in actie kwam." Heel Nederland in actie voor George en ALS. Zo kwamen op 30 september 2024 duizenden fans samen in de Ahoy in Rotterdam voor een indrukwekkend eerbetoon aan de band Golden Earring. De muzikanten speelden voor een uitverkocht stadion en haalden het geweldige bedrag van €58.300 euro op voor Stichting ALS Nederland. In januari 2026 is een serie afscheidsconcerten gepland waarvan 5 euro per verkocht ticket gaat naar onderzoek naar ALS. John van Ierland (tekenaar en auteur) stelde 9 prachtige potloodtekeningen ter beschikking aan Stichting ALS Nederland. “In februari 2021 hoorde ik van George dat de ziekte ALS steeds meer bezit van hem aan het nemen was. Als ode aan George wilde ik ook zijn portret tekenen” aldus John. De tekeningen, gesigneerd door Kooymans zelf, werden geveild en de opbrengst ging naar de strijd tegen ALS. Cesar Zuiderwijk, mede-bandlid en drummer van Golden Earring, zette zich eveneens in voor de strijd tegen ALS. Na zijn solo-optredens verkocht hij speciaal gesigneerde drumvellen en drumstokken, waarvan de opbrengst volledig naar Stichting ALS Nederland ging. Bovendien veilde hij na elk optreden het t-shirt dat hij die avond had gedragen. Het kunstenaarsechtpaar Marcello en Els creëerde een tableau met 33 tekeningen waarop de hit ‘Radar Love’ wordt afgebeeld, is er door het Kunstenaars Collectief (KuCo) een digitale expositie opgericht voor de verkoop van kunstwerken en werden er een hoop online collectebussen aangemaakt. Tot slot brachten Sven Figee en Thijs Boontjes een cover uit van het nummer Radar Love die ten gehore werd gebracht tijdens een uitzending van "Matthijs gaat door." De cover kwam beschikbaar op diverse streamingsdiensten en de opbrengst van de streams komt ten goede aan de strijd tegen ALS. Allemaal mooie initiatieven voor een Haags icoon!

in 2025 The Switch album was remastered and expanded on cd (Catalogue info: Red Bullet 66.383)and 2LP (Catalogue info: Music On Vinyl x), containing a never released bonustrack caled Action Alice & Bow-tie Basil.More info to be added.

Just after the passing away of Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans in July 2025 several books about Golden Earring were released. Some are informative, one is a photo book release with info, one is a fan release and one is a biography of Cesar Zuiderwijk.) More info to be added in time.

Book releases 2025
We've Got A Thing (Yvonne Wingenbach) (Online release)
Golden Earring de biografie (Robert Haagsma) Bookpresentations at Paagman Bookstore and Rockart Museum.
Golden Earring in the USA (Gerard Wessel) Book presentation at Max Guitar shop Scheveningen.
Golden Earring (Bart Chabot)
Cesar Het verhaal van een drummer (Jean Paul Heck) Book prresentation at Paagman bookstore The Hague and several venues around the Netherlands (Amstelveen/Naaldwijk/Bergen op Zoom etc)

Cesar Zuiderwijk continued his theatre show De Naakte Waarheid again in September 2025 and ended it in 2026.

In December 2025 Rinus Gerritsen released a new single titled "Live Up To Your Love." It's part of a whole lot of songs which are recorded with guest vocalists. On this track it's Berget Lewis and the lyrics are by Barry Hay. Rinus performed all instruments himself except for the drums which are done by Ton Dijkman.

December 2025 TheWolff opened the Top2000 TV broadcast with a heavy Radar Love covcer version.

On December 27 the final episode of The Battle: Tribute of the band season 5 was broadcasted. Opening the show and final were Golden Earring Tribute Coming On Strong (Formerly known as Golden Earring Undercover). The band performed The Devil Made Me Do It and earned 34,3 points, enough to ensure themselves going into round two in which the ranking shows how many minutes the finalist bands may perform in the April 2026 Ziggo Dome The Tribute Battle of the Bands shows. These shows will take place on April 16, 17 and 18 2026.

In round two Coming On Strong ended at fourth position earning up a 15 minute performance during the Ziggo Dome shows.

2026 2026 Golden Earring and bandmembers related info to be added here.

January 2026 Going Out With A Bang shows Ahoy.

On january 31 2026 Rinus Gerritsen was one of the performing artist at the "Rock Party of the Year show" in Zoetermeer - de Boerderij.

CZ final Naakte Waarheid shows, video registration Amare The Hague.

On April 16, 17, 18 and 19 2026 The Tribute - Battle of the Bands in concert shows at the Amsterdam Ziggo Dome venue took place. Golden Earring Tribute "Coming On Strong" performed a 30 minutes set which they earned with their 3rd place in the top four ranking of the The Tribute Battle Of The Bands finals tv show season 5. The other three band performing were Beach Boys Best (Beach Boys Tribute) and Donna's Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Tribute) (Both acts a 50 minute set due to shared position number one in the final) and Child of Destiny (Destiny's Child tribute 15 minute set, position 4)

In April 2026 two Vreemde Kostgangers albums will be re-released on vinyl again. The albums Vreemde Kostgangers and Nachtwerk are on limited editio coloured vinyl available again.

Rinus Gerritsen will perform again some shows with Supersister Project.

Later on in 2026 Cesar Zuiderwijk and Rinus Gerritsen will perform along with The Clarks performing a Golden Earring show.