Biography

George Kooymans was born on March 11, 1948 in The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was an actor and composer, known for End of Watch (2012), Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (2024) and Frankie and Johnny (1991). He was married to Melanie Gerritsen. He died on July 22, 2025 in Rijkevorsel, Antwerp, Belgium.

Between 2017 and 2023 he released three albums as a member of Vreemde Kostgangers (Strange Boarders), a Dutch-language supergroup he formed with Henny Vrienten (bass player of the band Doe Maar) and singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot.

In 1961 he and his neighbor Rinus Gerritsen formed a rock duo, originally called "The Tornados", but changed their name to "The Golden Earrings". The name "the Golden Earrings" was taken from an instrumental called "Golden Earrings" performed by the British group the Hunters.

Primarily played a Gibson Les Paul, a Gretsch 6119, a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson Marauder, a Gibson SG, a Yamaha SG2000, several BC Rich guitars, a double cutaway Gibson Melody Maker and a Gibson Firebird, with his primary amps being a Roland Jazz Chorus, a Vox AC30 amp, and a Fender Twin Reverb.