Formed in 1961, the band was active for 60 years, almost non-stop. They had 56 years of studio output, starting in 1965, which made them the world's longest surviving rock band, formed a year before The Rolling Stones, until their tragic end on 5 February 2021, when guitarist founding member George Kooymans revealed that he had been diagnosed with the neuro-muscular disease, ALS.
The band's core line-up of four was unchanged from 1970 to 2021, although extra musicians had short stints in the band in the 1970s. Golden Earring was always touring, except in 2000 (their only sabbatical year) and the final year of their existence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 1961 George Kooymans (age 13) and his neighbour Rinus Gerritsen (age 15) formed The Tornado's in the Zuiderpark district of their home town of The Hague, The Netherlands. The band's first line-up mainly played The Shadows and The Ventures covers, as well as other instrumental tunes, and played its first gigs at school parties.
In 1963, as the band found out that there already was a British band called The Tornados, they decided to change their name into The Golden Ear-rings (after a Peggy Lee song). The band now performed around The Hague, soon had a devoted local following and landed a record deal with Polydor. Their début single, 1965's Please Go, immediately landed in the Dutch Top 10.
Under the Golden Earrings moniker the band eventually recorded four albums and had twelve hit singles in the Netherlands between 1965 and 1969, ten of which reached the Dutch Top 10. Several of their records were released internationally in Europe and even North America, although they failed to make an impact there.
One of the band's sixties singles became their first Dutch #1 hit: 1968's somewhat carnavalesque Dong-Dong-Diki-Digi-Dong, although that tune is now frowned upon by the band and generally regarded as inferior to other sixties Earrings gems, such as That Day (1966, the first Dutch pop single to have been recorded in the U.K., at London's Pye Studios), Sound Of The Screaming Day (1966) and the epic Just A Little Bit Of Peace In My Heart (1969).
The band's lead singer during the early Golden Earrings years was Frans Krassenburg. He was replaced by Barry Hay (ex-The Haigs) in 1967. The band's drummer for much of the 1960s was Jaap Eggermont. His successors were Sieb Warner (1969) and, in 1970, Cesar Zuiderwijk (ex-Livin' Blues), Golden Earring's definitive drummer.
The band's international career modestly started to take off in 1969, the year of their psychedelic Eight Miles High album, their first haphazard tour of the United States and also the year in which the band name was slightly changed into The Golden Earring and finally (dropping the article within a year), Golden Earring. On their early U.S. tours, their long, wild cover version of The Byrds' classic Eight Miles High impressed audiences and press alike. Golden Earring's 19-minute album version, as well as the stand-alone 1969 single, Another 45 Miles, were the first Golden Earring recordings to get some North American airplay.
The arrival of drummer, Cesar Zuiderwijk, in 1970, completed what would turn out to be the group's definitive line-up: Barry Hay (lead vocals/guitar/flute), George Kooymans (guitar/vocals), Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums) and Rinus Gerritsen (bass/harmonica/keyboards).
1970 saw a dramatic shift in Golden Earring's musical style. After the melodic, often Beatle-esque sixties beat of The Golden Earrings and a brief phase of psychedelia and hippie rock in 1968 and 1969, the single Back Home marked the birth of Golden Earring's trademark heavy, riff-based brand of hard rock with catchy hooks. Back Home hit #1 in the Dutch charts and 'broke' Golden Earring in most of Europe, notably countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.
This marked the start of a decade of domestic and international glory. Between 1966 and 1976 seventeen consecutive Earring singles rocketed into the Dutch Top 10, while their international popularity increased, especially after their lengthy 1972 tour of Europe, supporting The Who. Buddy Joe (1972) achieved considerable chart success in the German-speaking countries of Europe, but 1973's Radar Love was their breakthrough smash hit worldwide: #13 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 in the U.S. Cashbox chart, #5 in Britain, #8 in Australia, #10 in Canada, #5 in Germany, #6 in Belgium, #1 in Spain and also #1 in (last but not least) Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), to name but a few.
Radar Love remains an enduring 'car classic' and radio anthem of global fame to this day. Between 1969 and 1985 Golden Earring completed ten major tours of North America, building a considerable North American fanbase, as well as five headlining tours of Great Britain in 1973 and 1974 alone. Golden Earring toured as 'special guests' of The Who, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, .38 Special, Rush and many more, whereas bands like Aerosmith, KISS, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd opened for Golden Earring. The album that spawned Radar Love, 1973's Moontan, was certified 'Gold' by North America's RIAA in 1974 and sold millions of copies worldwide.
The band failed to achieve similar chart success in the years after Radar Love: the progressive Switch (1975) and To The Hilt (1976) charted in Billboard's album charts, but yielded no major U.S. hits. The singles were clearly not what North American audiences wanted from the 'Radar Love guys'.
Golden Earring was forgotten by many outside of The Netherland and by 1980 even Dutch audiences started to lose interest: albums such as No Promises, No Debts (1979) and Prisoner Of The Night (1980) were commercial flops, leading to the band's decision (in 1981) to record a 'final LP and then call it quits.
The lead single from 1982's 'farewell album', Cut, a Kooymans-penned tune called Twilight Zone, surprisingly became an even bigger hit in the U.S. than Radar Love: #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, thanks to heavy MTV rotation of the Dick Maas-directed video. The song (#1 in The Netherlands) revived Golden Earring's stateside career overnight. The Cut LP was certified 'gold' in Canada, with Twilight Zone hitting #3 in the Canadian charts.
In their native Netherlands the band did manage to extend their creative and commercial peak this time: the single When The Lady Smiles and the album N.E.W.S. ('NorthEastWestSouth'), both released in 1984, repeated the success of Twilight Zone and Cut. 'Lady' peaked at #3 in Canada, but fared disappointingly in the U.S. as MTV and even radio stations banned the track because of its controversial video, once again directed by Dick Maas, in which the rape of a nun was suggested.
After 1985 things rapidly went downhill for Golden Earring internationally (they would not tour the U.S. again), but - after a creative and financial crisis that lasted throughout the second half of the 1980s - the band wrote one of their most enduring Dutch hits in 1991 (the power-ballad, Going To The Run, which fared partially well in Russia) and discovered a new gold mine in their home country a year later: acoustic concerts in theatres, the concept of MTV Unplugged.
To everybody's surprise, the band's acoustic live album, The Naked Truth, slowly became their all-time biggest selling album in The Netherlands. Its sequels, Naked II (1997) and Naked III (2005) also went platinum at least once in The Netherlands.
Golden Earring's by far most succesful album internationally remains 1973's Moontan, which sold well over 3.5 million copies outside of The Netherlands and was certified 'gold' in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom (and platinum in the U.S. in later years).
Golden Earring released 25 studio albums, 9 live albums and countless succesful compilations. Almost all of these records were certified gold, often platinum, in The Netherlands. More than anything else, though, the band remained a live force of legendary status in their home country and beyond. They toured throughout each year until the very end, almost exclusively in the Netherlands, although there are still occasional live appearances in Belgium and Germany. 2009 saw Golden Earring's long overdue return to the United Kingdom: their sold out shows in Ipswich and London's Shepherd's Bush Empire were their first live appearances in England since 1978.
In 2011 the band recorded their first album of new material since 2003's Millbrook U.S.A.: Tits 'n Ass - studio album #25 for the Dutch legends - was released on 11 May 2012 on Universal Music and hit #1 in the Dutch album charts one week after its release to become Golden Earring's 8th #1 album in their home country. Certified 'gold' in The Netherlands, the album was generally believed to be Golden Earring's final studio outing, but December 2015 saw the release of a five-track mini album entitled The Hague, released more than fifty years after their début single and just before the band's sold out 'Five Zero' anniversary concert at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome in front of a 17,000-strong crowd. 2019 saw the release of a stand-alone single, Say When: Golden Earring's final studio recording.
Nobody was aware of it at the time, but the band's 16 November 2019 performance at the Rotterdam Ahoy would turn out to be their final concert. After a year of Covid-19 lockdowns, guitarist George Kooymans announced his ALS diagnosis on 5 February 2021, the disease rendering him unfit to perform. Within hours, the band admitted that carrying on without Kooymans was unthinkable. In the words of lead singer, Barry Hay: "This is the end of the line for the band. It's a death blow. We always said: we'll keep going until the first one of us goes down. I never expected it to be George."
The band's final performance was released as a live CD and DVD in April 2022, named after Barry Hay's final words at the end of countless Golden Earring shows: You Know We Love You!.
Studio albums (released as Golden Earring, unless noted otherwise)
Just Ear-rings (1965, as The Golden Earrings or The Golden Ear-rings)
Winter-Harvest (1967, as Golden Earrings, sometimes spelled as Winter Harvest)
Miracle Mirror (1968, as Golden Earrings)
On The Double (1969, as Golden Earrings)
Eight Miles High (1969, as The Golden Earring)
Golden Earring (1970, colloquially known as 'Wall Of Dolls')
Seven Tears (1971)
Together (1972)
Moontan (1973)
Switch (1975)
To The Hilt (1976)
Contraband (1976, U.S. title: Mad Love)
Grab It For A Second (1978)
No Promises... No Debts (1979, spelled as No Promises, No Debts on most online platforms)
Prisoner Of The Night (1980)
Cut (1982)
N.E.W.S. (1984)
The Hole (1986)
Keeper Of The Flame (1989)
Bloody Buccaneers (1991)
Face It (1994)
Love Sweat (1995, covers album)
Paradise In Distress (1999)
Millbrook U.S.A. (2003)
Tits 'n Ass (2012)
The Hague (EP, 2015)
Live albums
Live (1977)
2nd Live (1981)
Something Heavy Going Down (1984, includes one new studio track)
The Naked Truth (1992, acoustic)
Naked II (1997, acoustic)
Last Blast Of The Century (2000)
Naked III (2005, acoustic, incorrectly listed as Naked Truth III on some streaming platforms)
Live In Ahoy 2006 (2006, live DVD + CD set)
You Know We Love You! (2022, live DVD + CD set)
Additional information:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Earring
Official website: https://www.golden-earring.nl
Ce Soir
Golden Earring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From Victim's last LP
Too much for a risc for a golden disc
The price he paid for money
Ce soir, ce soir
Assassination d'un Rock & Roll star
Ce soir, ce soir
Sing your song, you can't go wrong
Tempted his business advisor
No need for alarm, you'll come to no harm
He didn't mention the sniper
Ce soir, ce soir
Assassination d'un Rock & Roll star
Ce soir, ce soir
Assassination d'un Rock & Roll star
The news is read, the need is fed
One yawn ah, two yawn ah
And back to bed
Turn off the light, and hold me tight
c'mon, madman, bend down your head
And just sing on, immortal song
Fini, belle vie, bonne nuit
Remember that song called kill me
A lecture on political chicanary
Of peoples rape, recorded on tape
Brought shame to the presidency
Tonight, tonight
One more point for human rights
Tonight, tonight
One more point for human rights
remember that song kill me
Once used by a man from Gallilea
He had nothing to lose, he was King of the Jews
Secured his place in history
Ce soir, ce soir
Assassination d'un provocateur
The news is read, the poison's spread
One yawn ah, two yawn ah
And back to bed
Turn off the light, and hold me tight
c'mon, maman, bend down your head
And just sing on, immortal song
Fini, belle vie
Vick played his part, with all his heart
He wasn't prepared for the shock
When hollow lead bit into his head
A new martyr for the book of rock
A new martyr for the book of rock
The book of rock
A new martyr for the book of rock
The Golden Earring's song "Ce Soir" tells a fictional story of a rock and roll star who is assassinated. The song's lyrics paint a picture of a musician named Victim, who is lured by his business advisor to sing a song that is ultimately too controversial for the larger music industry. The song is called "Kill Me," and it is a political commentary on government corruption and abuse of power. The assassination of the rock star takes place, and the news is read by the public, who are too tired to take action against the tragedy. The lyrics ask the audience to continue singing immortal songs and celebrate the beauty of life despite its fragility.
The song reflects on the role of art and music in society and how it can be used as a tool for political statements. It also highlights the dangers that come with speaking up against the status quo and the potential price that one might have to pay for doing so. The lyrics also hint at the idea that some events in history were perhaps influenced by the power music can have on societal change.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember that song called kill me
Recall the song 'Kill Me' by Victim from their last LP
From Victim's last LP
The song 'Kill Me' was in Victim's previous album
Too much for a risk for a golden disc
The song's risky and controversial nature could hamper its chances of being a popular hit
The price he paid for money
Victim's desperation for financial gain led to him writing this incendiary song
Ce soir, ce soir
Tonight, tonight
Assassination d'un Rock & Roll star
Assassination of a rock and roll star
Sing your song, you can't go wrong
Victim's business advisor urged him to stick to performing his controversial song despite the risks as it would generate publicity and sales
Tempted his business advisor
The business advisor encouraged Victim to perform his song 'Kill Me'
No need for alarm, you'll come to no harm
The business advisor reassured Victim that he would not be harmed despite the song's inflammatory lyrics
He didn't mention the sniper
However, the advisor failed to mention the potential danger of a sniper attack
The news is read, the need is fed
People consume the news to satisfy their curiosity and entertainment
One yawn ah, two yawn ah
The news has become mundane and boring, causing people to yawn
And back to bed
After consuming the news, people return to their mundane lives
Turn off the light, and hold me tight
As the day ends, people seek comfort in their loved ones
c'mon, madman, bend down your head
The singer addresses the listener to focus on his words and be moved by his music
And just sing on, immortal song
The singer encourages the listener to sing and remember his song for eternity
Fini, belle vie, bonne nuit
Finished, beautiful life, good night
A lecture on political chicanery
The song 'Kill Me' serves as a critique of political corruption and manipulation
Of people's rape, recorded on tape
The song protests against the exploitation of common people, exploited and abused for profit
Brought shame to the presidency
The song exposes the flaws of the current political administration, bringing disgrace to the President and his party
One more point for human rights
The assassination of a rockstar teaches the importance of human rights
Once used by a man from Gallilea
The phrase 'Kill Me' was used by Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible
He had nothing to lose, he was King of the Jews
Jesus was the powerful figurehead of Judea, risking his life to deliver his message
Secured his place in history
Despite being crucified, Jesus' message has been recorded and celebrated for millennia
Assassination d'un provocateur
Assassination of a provocative figure
The news is read, the poison's spread
The media spreads venomous propaganda to manipulate its consumers
c'mon, maman, bend down your head
The singer turns to his mother for comfort and support
A new martyr for the book of rock
Victim has become a martyr and legendary figure in rock and roll history
The book of rock
The collection of influential rock and roll musicians throughout history
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Fenton, George Kooymans, Barry A. Hay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tamasklotz5928
This rock and roll band was so underrated. Their unique style still stands against time to this day. Very fortunate to grow up with this fantastic music.
@smwrbd
I agree.
@roxannestorm2616
I agree they never gotten much credit at all but I love their music.
@pamelamack9966
I can't get enough of this song.
@burkhardraum1956
They are always great 😊😊👍😀🎉🇩🇪
@mehmetdogan6319
Golden earring is an underrated band according to me. I am a fan from Turkey.
@gert-janboot3928
Best Golden Earring song ever !!
@richardpascual5491
MOONTAN & SWITCH my favorites, timeless music...
@rammstein1994able
Fabulous band. I've seen them several times.
In the early morning of December 9th 1980 (Dutch time), serving in the army, I heard of the assassination of John Lennon. This was the first song that crossed my mind.
@guitarwithpete
saw them play this song (and many more from switch and moontan) in 1975--small venue. still enjoy thinking about that show even today.