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highplainsdem

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79. George was in the news again today, but not because of his health or his recent music. The lead

Fri Nov 11, 2022, 10:31 PM

Nov 2022

guitarist, and one of the lead vocalists, of a band he had helped, long ago, has passed away. Chris Koerts, one of the founders of the Dutch group Earth & Fire, died yesterday, a month before what would have been his 75th birthday. Chris and his twin brother Gerard formed Earth & Fire in the '60s, with Gerard on keyboards, Hans Ziech playing bass, Cees Kalis on drums, and Jerney Kaagman the female lead singer after another singer left soon after the band was formed.

They were supporting Golden Earring at some shows, and George gave them a song he'd written - "Seasons" - which became their first hit, reaching #2 on the Dutch charts in early 1970 and staying on the charts for months.

Found old video of Earth & Fire from 1969 or 1970 on YouTube. That's Chris singing the first verse.

George never recorded or performed the song with Golden Earring, but did perform it with Vreemde Kostgangers. Video from 2019:

And he recorded it for Mirage, the album he did with Frank Carillo, released last summer:

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I would appreciate some of DU's good vibes or [View all] highplainsdem Jun 2022 OP

You got it, vibes going out to George K. MLAA Jun 2022 #1

Thank you! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #10

Thank you for that bit of rock history. CrispyQ Jun 2022 #2

You're welcome, and thank you! The band's history highplainsdem Jun 2022 #11

Btw, the guitar on "Twilight Zone" is amazing, too, but I've been highplainsdem Jun 2022 #37

Healing vibes on the way! To George 💓💓💓 SheltieLover Jun 2022 #3

Thanks, SheltieLover! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #13

Yw! SheltieLover Jun 2022 #31

All else aside, it's good to see you here. NNadir Nov 2023 #137

I'm so sorry I didn't see your reply to SheltieLover's very old message when you posted it last month, after highplainsdem Dec 2023 #138

Oh, that's too bad. tanyev Jun 2022 #4

{{{{{tanyev}}}}} Thank you! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #14

Radar Love is the ultimate driving song. Turn it up and GO! Lochloosa Jun 2022 #5

I agree, and I'm sure a lot of other DUers would, too. A highplainsdem Jun 2022 #15

Totally agree. debm55 Oct 2022 #70

Many positive vibes for George, thanks for posting. appalachiablue Jun 2022 #6

Thanks, appalachiablue! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #16

Healing vibes and much love for Mr. Kooymans Glorfindel Jun 2022 #7

Same here re Golden Earring and "Twilight Zone." Fell in love with the band highplainsdem Jun 2022 #17

Healing vibes nt BootinUp Jun 2022 #8

Thank you, BootinUp! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #18

Damn, what a tragedy. Thanks for bringing him to our attention... good thoughts en route! Karadeniz Jun 2022 #9

I think it's tragic, too. Well, ALS is tragic for everyone who's highplainsdem Jun 2022 #19

Positive thoughts for your Friend so far away. Deuxcents Jun 2022 #12

Thanks, Deuxcents! I don't know George, though -- I'm a highplainsdem Jun 2022 #23

Sending healing energy to George. StarryNite Jun 2022 #20

Thank you, StarryNite! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #25

It is always a tragedy when this happens to a fellow musician DFW Jun 2022 #21

Thanks, DFW! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #27

Sent up a prayer for his healing. Keep us posted. n/t iluvtennis Jun 2022 #22

Thanks! And I'll try to keep you posted, but this update highplainsdem Jun 2022 #28

Sending good vibes out to The Universe for George. Hopefully, the progression will be slow LoisB Jun 2022 #24

Thank you! I keep praying for the same thing, that there's time for a successful treatment highplainsdem Jun 2022 #29

All the best to George! Radar Love is one of my favorites. LuckyCharms Jun 2022 #26

Thanks, LuckyCharms! "Radar Love" is about telepathy, and they've done at highplainsdem Jun 2022 #30

wishing the best for Mr. Kooymans Skittles Jun 2022 #32

Thanks, Skittles! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #34

oh dear Skittles Jun 2022 #38

Re that speeding ticket: It's a shame you weren't dealing with a cop like the highplainsdem Jun 2022 #40

awesome! Skittles Jun 2022 #41

Vibes en route: malthaussen Jun 2022 #33

Thanks for the healing vibes for George, Mal! highplainsdem Jun 2022 #35

I've edited the OP to add links to info and videos about highplainsdem Jun 2022 #36

I loved Golden Earring since way back when Radar Love hit the air. Swede Jun 2022 #39

Thanks for sending those vibes to George, Swede! And we feel the same highplainsdem Jun 2022 #42

Mirage, George's new album with American singer/songwriter/guitarist Frank Carillo, highplainsdem Jun 2022 #43

Found a good review of George's new album, Mirage, with Frank Carillo. highplainsdem Jun 2022 #44

There's an article on George in the Dutch magazine Oor (Dutch for Ear), the oldest highplainsdem Jul 2022 #45

George did another radio interview yesterday with classic-rock NPO Radio 5 in the highplainsdem Jul 2022 #46

I don't know if it's just that we're hearing about it more, but it seems more musicians... AZSkiffyGeek Jul 2022 #47

Billboard article from late May on John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band: highplainsdem Jul 2022 #48

I posted Golden Earring's stunning acoustic cover of the Byrds' "Eight Miles High" in highplainsdem Jul 2022 #49

Vibe Baggies Jul 2022 #50

Thanks, Baggies, and welcome to DU! Not sure how long you've been highplainsdem Jul 2022 #51

I'll keep that in mind Baggies Jul 2022 #52

Man, that's rough! Different Drummer Jul 2022 #53

Thanks! It really is rough, and I can't offhand think of any other musician whose highplainsdem Jul 2022 #54

George did another interview, this one with Radio Veronica in the Netherlands, highplainsdem Jul 2022 #55

Another interview/update + a good review of his new album with Frank Carillo. highplainsdem Jul 2022 #56

Another interview, this time for a radio station. highplainsdem Jul 2022 #57

As I mentioned in reply 57 above, I found out that the magazine subscription service Readly highplainsdem Jul 2022 #58

Good review of the new Kooymans/Carillo album Mirage at Outsiderrock.ca: highplainsdem Jul 2022 #59

Ran across an interview IN ENGLISH with George Kooymans and Frank Carillo. highplainsdem Aug 2022 #60

Vibes... malthaussen Aug 2022 #61

Those are great vibes, Mal! Thanks! highplainsdem Aug 2022 #62

There haven't been any new interviews or updates for a month. I'm not going to pretend this highplainsdem Aug 2022 #63

Finally ran across a new interview with George, a month and a half since the last ones. But highplainsdem Sep 2022 #64

An update on George via an article on Golden Earring's drummer today. highplainsdem Sep 2022 #65

No news - I wish there were some good news to post - but I wanted to link to highplainsdem Sep 2022 #66

Ran across an article on a Dutch band doing free concerts if highplainsdem Sep 2022 #67

Some news this morning, though no update on George's health. highplainsdem Oct 2022 #68

A bit of news, and a CBS video about another musician with ALS. highplainsdem Oct 2022 #69

I remember the songs. Sending good vibes to George. debm55 Oct 2022 #71

Thanks, Deb! highplainsdem Oct 2022 #72

George's former bandmate Boudewijn de Groot, as mentioned in reply 69 above, highplainsdem Nov 2022 #73

I've finally found some info on how George contributed to Boudewijn de Groot's new album, highplainsdem Nov 2022 #74

+ + + quaint Nov 2022 #75

{{{{quaint}}}} The song, and the background on it, brought tears to highplainsdem Nov 2022 #76

TY quaint Nov 2022 #77

The demo George did of that song co-written with Boudewijn WILL be released highplainsdem Jan 2023 #96

I found a good English translation of the Volkskrant article highplainsdem Nov 2022 #78

George was in the news again today, but not because of his health or his recent music. The lead highplainsdem Nov 2022 #79

I was really happy this morning to discover there was a new podcast about highplainsdem Nov 2022 #80

George's name popped up in another news story today, though this one was highplainsdem Nov 2022 #81

I keep running across more info on artists whose careers George has helped, highplainsdem Dec 2022 #82

Healing thoughts nt XanaDUer2 Dec 2022 #83

Thank you! highplainsdem Dec 2022 #84

Just realized I never included a link here to a thread posted highplainsdem Dec 2022 #85

I want to quote some of the reviews of Golden Earring's last album, a highplainsdem Dec 2022 #86

I was checking Google for any news of George and found a New Year's message his friend and highplainsdem Jan 2023 #87

Google is usually pretty reliable, including when you narrow search results to highplainsdem Jan 2023 #88

Great article on Boudewijn's latest album (which George helped him with, as highplainsdem Jan 2023 #89

Article IN ENGLISH - with new photos - about George being made an honorary citizen highplainsdem Jan 2023 #90

Linking to a separate, much shorter thread I posted 5 days ago about the honorary-citizen award that highplainsdem Jan 2023 #91

News this morning of a Golden Earring reunion that will take place next week: highplainsdem Jan 2023 #92

Vibes for best outcome, please keep us posted. niyad Jan 2023 #93

Thanks, niyad! I really appreciate the vibes for him. highplainsdem Jan 2023 #94

The first single from the third, unreleased Vreemde Kostgangers album is out, new music highplainsdem Jan 2023 #95

Another release from the upcoming VK album. George singing about his Strat. highplainsdem Feb 2023 #97

Another review of the new single, "Fender Strat" - this one from a Dutch site: highplainsdem Feb 2023 #98

Another good review of the new album: highplainsdem Feb 2023 #99

Today is George's 75th birthday. I hope he's having as good a day as possible, surrounded highplainsdem Mar 2023 #100

A new interview with George's VK bandmate Boudewijn de Groot has some great comments on highplainsdem Mar 2023 #101

There's a new, fairly long interview with George, with lots of photos, in the highplainsdem Mar 2023 #102

So sad. SheltieLover Mar 2023 #103

Yes. Tragic. highplainsdem Mar 2023 #104

I'll sure keep the healing energy flowing to him. 💓💓💓 SheltieLover Mar 2023 #105

Thanks! highplainsdem Mar 2023 #106

Yw SheltieLover Mar 2023 #107

Another news story on George today, this one more worrisome. highplainsdem Mar 2023 #108

I found the longer article the snippet in reply 108 is from, and I was highplainsdem Mar 2023 #109

5-star review for the new Vreemde Kostgangers album! This has to highplainsdem Mar 2023 #110

Story today on the Dutch newspaper site Ad.nl about a tribute concert for highplainsdem Mar 2023 #111

George's new Vreemde Kostgangers album is #1 on the Dutch vinyl albums chart, #2 on highplainsdem Mar 2023 #112

Good vibes going out for George Cadfael Mar 2023 #113

Thanks, Cadfael! And kudos to your cool mom for introducing you to great highplainsdem Mar 2023 #114

The Belgian paper De Tijde (The Times) had a long article on highplainsdem Apr 2023 #115

Ran across a tweet yesterday with a page on George as a guitar hero highplainsdem Apr 2023 #116

Thread in Music Appreciation about Bojoura, the singer whose career George highplainsdem Apr 2023 #117

Golden Earring were back in the Top Ten on the Dutch charts, the chart for vinyl albums highplainsdem May 2023 #118

I found out today that George influenced Dutch music in a way I'd never highplainsdem May 2023 #119

How is George doing? Loved Golden Earring's songs. Sending good vibes his way. debm55 May 2023 #120

Thanks, Debbie! I haven't been able to find any very recent news via Google or highplainsdem May 2023 #121

There was some news yesterday about the tribute concert highplainsdem Jun 2023 #122

+++++++ quaint Jun 2023 #123

Ran across a feature story in several Dutch newspapers about two of highplainsdem Jun 2023 #124

Found an interesting March 1974 article on Golden Earring yesterday, one highplainsdem Jul 2023 #125

Finally, a bit of an update on how George is doing, highplainsdem Jul 2023 #126

I mentioned Cesar's 75th birthday last month in the reply above. Omroep West, the Dutch broadcaster highplainsdem Aug 2023 #127

Sadly, the tribute concert scheduled for October, first mentioned here in reply 111 highplainsdem Aug 2023 #128

highplaindem.I will continue to send good wishes and vibes. I am sorry this is happening. You are a debm55 Aug 2023 #129

Thanks, Debbie! I was sorry to see that the tribute concert was postponed, and the highplainsdem Aug 2023 #130

Videos of two recent appearances by the other members of Golden Earring, highplainsdem Sep 2023 #131

There was a great interview with Boudewijn de Groot mentioning George in a highplainsdem Oct 2023 #132

Kicking after editing the OP because some web pages I'd linked to about Ernie Wallengren, a friend who highplainsdem Nov 2023 #133

I will continue to pray, highplainsdem. debm55 Nov 2023 #134

{{{{{Debbie}}}}} Thanks! You're an angel. highplainsdem Nov 2023 #135

Just discovered there's now a fundraiser for ALS, mentioning George, via the website of NPO3 radio in the Netherlands. highplainsdem Nov 2023 #136

Thank you, highplainsdem. You a tireless person working for a cause that will one day have a cure. debm55 Dec 2023 #139

Two of George's Golden Earring bandmates, bassist Rinus and drummer Cesar, took part in a Queen tribute highplainsdem Feb 2024 #140

New video on YouTube with Frank Carillo, who recorded two albums with George, talking about their decades of highplainsdem Mar 2024 #141

I posted in reply 128 last August that the tribute concert scheduled for last October had been postponed. It's now highplainsdem Apr 2024 #142

This message was self-deleted by its author highplainsdem Jun 2024 #143