Golden Earring – “Radar Love” And “Buddy Joe”

Possibly the biggest hit from Dutch band Golden Earring was “Radar Love”, which came out in the early Seventies.

The band itself was founded way back in 1961 by 13-year-old George Kooymans (vocals and guitar) and his 15-year-old neighbour Rinus Gerritsen (bass and keyboard), and close to 50 years later they are still going strong!

And, despite a number of comings and goings, with the same lineup since 1970, when drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk joined the group (Barry Hay, on vocals, guitar, flute and saxophone became a member in 1968).

You can count the number of acts that can say that on one hand!

Another song I remember well is “Buddy Joe”. It’s on the Best of Golden Earring album I taped off a room mate’s vinyl back in 1974.

Golden Earring never made it to Down Under, but they certainly toured with some big names in the United States and Europe, and continue to perform frequently in their native country, the Netherlands, espeially in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

In 2009 they did gigs in the UK, and as I write this, they are due to perform at the Ahoy in Rotterdam on 20 February 2010 (and today in Zaandam!).

While putting this post together I discovered versions of the two songs mentioned spanning decades, and it’s fascinating to see the people transforming while the songs remain pretty much as they were.

First here’s a video production of “Radar Love” from around the time it first came out:

Then there’s this concert clip of “Radar Love” live in 1973, with slightly washed out colours but definitely a colourful performance:

A few years later, “Radar Love” live in 1977…

and “Radar Love” in 1984, with an impressive drum solo:

From 1992 Golden Earring performed and recorded a number of “unplugged” shows.

Here is “Radar Love” unplugged from that year (acoustic guitar, double bass) at the Grand Café De Kroon on Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam, (you’ll notice the singing is not very well synched…):

Still going strong a decade and a half later, looking a little older but still a lively performance of “Radar Love” live at the Ahoy in Rotterdam in 2006:

And, like I said above, here’s “Buddy Joe”, first a live version from 1972…

… and much more recent, with shorter and in most cases greyer hair, “Buddy Joe” live in 2008:

The song “Radar Love” even has its own website at http://www.radar-love.net/, which includes information about 375+ cover versions of the song.

The official website of the band Golden Earring can be found at http://www.goldenearring.nl/.

Like I said, after 49 years they’re still going strong, and if everything is going to plan, I expect they are playing right now at the Zaantheater in Holland.

Enjoy the show guys!

Paul