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Question: please name a rockband, which is together for more than 36 years in the same line up, and has never had a change inbetween. Not even the Rolling Stones can say that. And to be honest, spontainously I can only think about one artist, and that's Golden Earring. Noone really can explain this phenomen, if it is actually one, or just the fact of a brilliant personal foundation and friendship over all those years. Founded in 1964 by George Kooymans and Rinus Geritsen, these two got Barry Hay  in in 1967 and Cesar Zuiderwijk in 1970. And since there nothing has changed, as I said before. Yep, they are a so called Living Legend, and apart from the Netherlands Golden Earring has survivid all these years  with exactly two songs - 'Radar Love' and 'Twiglight Zone' - in the rest of the world. What a shame! Because they have got so much more great music to offer. Only in their homecountry most probably every tune, they've ever written is well known. And there, the band is still constantly touring and on the road and playing their asses off. - 'Just let's have fun' is the slogan and not money anymore in first place. 

And yes the dutch band has neclected us for about at least 10 years with their Live presence - in Germany and beyound, which is probably the fault of the ignorance of the media world, who has put Golden Earring as a fossile with cultstatus  to the cut out files. The radiostations here still play 'Radar Love' and 'Twilight Zone' but ain't aware about the fact, that now and then, there is a new CD out as well. 

Thanks to this fact, the average musiclover in Germany knows exactly those two tracks and not much more of this really great rockband, who still know their job sooo good damn well after almost four decades.
However, Golden Earring are here right now, tonight and luckily we live in Munich. George Kooymans, Rinus Gerritsen, Barry Hay und Cesar Zuiderwijk have made the one time move from the Netherlands to southern Germany to play this single show included in the program of our yearly summer tollwood festival. 
Playing in the usual tend with an athmosphere of aprox. + 35 centogrades and starting  at 7 p.m. (CET) which is far too early for a Rock'n'Roll show. But as all Tollwood events run this early, there's nothing you can do about it. No need to mention, that the acoustical circumstances are more than critical as usual in this place. And this is definately not the band's fault. No supportact happening, Golden Earring start off with 'Love Chain'. Later on the play another title named 'Gambler's Blues' - both from the, in my opinion best album they've ever put out. Not the most successful though. 
Whatever the cultstatus means, the guys are still brilliant musicians and do not seem like a tired Oldieband from the sixties. In the Netherlands they are still  the biggest band ever. And there is still drive and this certain sparkle within their performance. But they make one mistake by not thinking about, that 90% of all those classic hardrock friends are only familiar with the, above  mentioned ,two cult tracks.Only some freaks here know all the music of Golden Earring and complain within the next second about some pieces, which are not included in tonight's setlist like  ‚Back  Home’ oder ‚Kill Me Ce Soir’. But as Life goes, you can't please everyone, can you. At least the band proves, -  exspecially with a very long version of 'Radar Love' including some interesting soundstructure improvisions , -  the art of their kind of Rock'n'Roll. Maybe a little less would have been more, and instead puttin' in 'Back Home'. 
Back home that's where they head straight after the one and only show here in Germany. And we are left with the hope, that Golden Earring will be returning for more in the future, - hopefully under different circumstances - next time.... 

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Diary for Aftershow Pics                                  .... and a complette Picture Gallery of this gig  - here


There will be an extnsive interview online soon