Golden Earring Tribute: A Night to Remember with 1000 Talented Musicians

Golden Earring Tribute Concert: A Historic Event

DEN HAAG - 'An amazing evening with a bittersweet touch.' At a sold-out Ahoy in Rotterdam, a thousand fans honored 'their Golden Earring.' After more than sixty years, the band abruptly stopped in 2021 due to guitarist George Kooymans’ ALS diagnosis. On Monday night, fans presented 'De Earring & Ik,' a farewell concert for the nation's greatest rock band. Among the guests, a highly sought-after star took the stage.

Rehearsals and Dedicated Fans Unite

Months of rehearsal led up to this special night for organizer Yaël Vinckx. 'All summer long, groups across the country rehearsed. It's a bit of a gamble, but not entirely,' she said during an interview.

• Over a thousand musicians registered to participate.
• The concert was widely supported, with a large group assisting in organizing.
• Five euros from each ticket sold directly goes to ALS Foundation Netherlands.

Musical Performances: Celebrating Legends

In Ahoy, eight hundred musicians performed Golden Earring tracks. This featured an eclectic mix of players, including:

• 400 vocalists
• 100 drummers
• 200 guitarists
• 100 bass players

They came from all over the Netherlands, creating a lively and diverse community.

Proudly, clarinetists shared that many of their number came from Friesland. They practiced together to perform during the medley segment.

Star-Studded Morning and Heartfelt Moments

Before 'the thousand' took the stage, various artists performed songs from Golden Earring. Martin van der Starre kicked off the night with 'Holy Holy Life,' followed by Hans Vandenburg and his band.

The show continued with a heartwarming medley played by a rock fanfare band. As the concert reached its peak, emotions soared when one original member, drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk, joined in with the other drummers to perform 'Radar Love' twice.

A Legacy of Love and Music

'This was the best performance ever. A huge thank you from Barry, George, and Rinus!' said Cesar, garnering prolonged applause. Fans expressed their lasting admiration for the band: 'We’ve been Golden Earring fans since childhood.'

Yaël Vinckx also announced plans for a documentary featuring five musicians sharing their personal stories connected to Golden Earring songs. This documentary will premiere on New Year’s Day at 20:30 on NPO2.