Den Haag outfit GOLDEN EARRING made a huge global impression with two near perfect slices of radio Rock 'Radar Love' and 'Twilight Zone'. So influential was 1973's 'Radar Love' that such high profile names as U2, REM, WHITE LION, THUNDER, CROWDED HOUSE, SANTANA, DEF LEPPARD and BRYAN ADAMS have performed the song. Although having scored these successes in the seventies the band had already attained veteran status long before that, having dominated the Pop charts in the Netherlands through much of the sixties. GOLDEN EARRING formed from the ashes of THE TORNADOS, a school band from The Hague that guitarist George Kooymans and bassist Rinus Gerritsen had formed in 1961 and the first official GOLDEN EARRING line-up comprised of Kooymans, Gerritsen, vocalist Franz Krassenburg, guitarist Peter De Ponde and drummer Jaap Eggermont.

In 1964 the band scored a top ten hit in Holland with 'Please Don't Go', although a landmark moment in the group's history came in 1967 when a line-up shuffle saw the addition of vocalist Barry Hay , whilst drummer Sieb Warner took the place of Eggermont (who much later formed part of STARSOUND).

Prior to joining GOLDEN EARRING, Hay had played in another successful Dutch band called THE HAGUES at the age of 18 and his involvement with that band led to his recruitment into the GOLDEN EARRING ranks as both acts were produced by Freddie Haayen

In 1970 the band found itself the victim of further line up shuffles when Warner departed, his position being filled by Cezar Zuiderwijk. GOLDEN EARRING also added guitarist Ellco Gelling and saxophonist Bertus Borgers who appeared on the eponymous album of that year. The new duo's tenure was brief though as both had left the scene upfront of the 1971 album 'Sing My Song'. However, these turbulent times were to end as GOLDEN EARRING from this point on enjoyed a stable line up for the next three decades!

GOLDEN EARRING supported THE WHO in 1972 which led in turn directly to a deal with Track Records by which time George Kooymans had managed to find time to release a solo album, 'Jojo', the previous year.

Undoubtedly the band's biggest breakthrough came with 1973's 'Moontan' album and the release of the single 'Radar Love', a big hit throughout Europe, Britain and in the States. 'Moontan' would sell over 80,000 copies in Holland but its sleeve artwork, depicting a topless girl, was thought too provocative for the US market where a rather obvious earring design was devised in its stead. The album also contained the curiously titled 'Just Like Vince Taylor'. GOLDEN EARRING have since gone on record to reveal that Vince Taylor was of English descent and built a career for himself in Paris during the 50s, a leather bedecked rock n'' roller, clearly a man who had made a big impression on one Barry Hay! 'Moontan' would score gold sales status in North America for half a million copies sold. Road work in the States would be extensive, including a run of shows with support coming from a youthful KISS.

After a couple of compilation 'Greatest Hits' style records, clearly designed to cash-in on the group's new found popularity, 'Moontan' was followed up by 1975's 'Switch' and 'To The Hilt' the following year. During this period the band had been joined on keyboards by Robert Jan Stips between 1974 and 1976 whilst guitarist Eelco Gelling was a member of the band from 1976 to 1978.

Having performed at the Reading Festival in 1977 the group kept a relative low profile in subsequent years, content to play throughout Holland, Belgium and Germany and release the odd album. Indeed, until the band's virtual re-birth in the early 80s, GOLDEN EARRING hadn't played anywhere outside continental Europe since 1978. The same year the group had trimmed down to a quartet of Hay, Kooymans, Gerritsen and Zuiderwijk for the 'No Promises...No Debts' album, having dispensed with both Eelco Gelling Robert Jan Stips due to "communication problems" and a desire to toughen up the band's sound. In North America, noted biker band THE GODZ lent 'Candy's Going Bad' valuable exposure by including a rendition on their 'Power Rock from USA' album.

The band promptly hit back with the 'Prisoner Of The Night' album (titled 'Long Blond Animal' in some territories) and the double live '2nd Live' recorded on the group's 1981 European tour to promote the earlier effort.

The lifespan of the veteren Dutch Rockers was undeniably extended with the success of 1982's 'Cut' album, which was released on Polygram in America and charted extremely well due to the arrival in the top 10 of single 'Twilight Zone' (a number one hit at home in Holland).

The record found the group working with Shell Shellekens in the producer's chair. Previous efforts had, in more recent years, ben handled by Kooymans who, Hay was once quoted as admitting: "was not a producer...we just didn't know anybody who could do (the job) better".

In fact, the ensuing n'.E.W.S.' album maintained GOLDEN EARRING's golden streak, also being well received in America and in 1984 GOLDEN EARRING toured the States with .38 SPECIAL and also RUSH.

1986 found 'Radar Love' back in the Dutch top ten courtesy of a cover version by all girl trio CENTERFOLD. 'N.E.W.S.' and 1989's 'Keeper Of The Flame' both Hay and Kooymans cut solo albums (Hay's was 1987's 'Victory Of Bad Taste'), but still kept the GOLDEN EARRING flag flying with two other studio albums to boot. The US hair Metal band WHITE LION took on 'Radar Love' for their 1989 album 'Big Game', this effort peaking at no. 59 in the US Billboard charts. 'Radar Love' once more bounced back onto the scene during 1990, this time a Dance version performed by OH WELL making it into the UK charts. The song's longevity would be sustained with its inclusion on the soundtrack to the hit comedy movie 'Wayne's World 2' in 1993.

Hay took a musical diversion by featuring as guest vocalist on the 1996 AYERON single 'Sail Away To Avalon'. He has since been heavily involved in guiding Dutch chart sensation ANOUK alongside George Kooymans, the pair having contributed a few songs and co- produced the blonde songstress' debut album 'Together Alone' with longtime GOLDEN EARRING producer John Sonneveld. The album reached the number one slot in Holland and quickly achieved gold status before being released throughout Europe in late '97.

Hay had been introduced to Anouk (a part-time nursery school teacher) by a contractor, Edwin Jansen, who was working on Barry's house who turned out to be her ex husband and is now her manager. Anouk's album was recorded in George Kooyman's Belgian based Langune Studios in 1996

Over the years a number of artists have had stabs at covering GOLDEN EARRING tracks. Two that spring to mind are WHITE LION's attempt at 'Radar Love' (featuring the sounds of a motorcycle instead of the de rigeur automobile!) and, back in the late 70s, US Biker Rock outfit THE GODZ brilliantly offered an interpretation of 'Candy's Going Bad'. British Metal institution IRON MAIDEN covered 'Kill Me Ce Soir' as a B side to their 'Holy Smoke' single.

GOLDEN EARRING enjoyed a renaissance in their homeland toward the end of the century earning platinum albums for their famous live acoustic sets. The 'Lovesweat' album for the first time found the band covering other artist's songs. GOLDEN EARRING rounded off the millenium with the monumental 'Last Blast Of The Century' double album which featured past members of the band as guests.

GOLDEN EARRING's 40th anniversary would be marked by a very special, fan only release of local Den Haag acts covering songs from their famous hometown heroes entitled succinctly enough 'The Hague's Golden Earring Tribute'.