Golden Earring Strijen Open Air

The dutch rock ‘n roll band Golden Earring from the Hague, more than 40 years together in the same line-up without any change.

The band was formed in 1965 by George Kooijmans (vocals and guitar) and Rinus Gerritsen (bass guitar and keyboards). They first started playing together in 1965 as the Golden Earrings, with their first hit single Please Go. George and Rinus were joined by Jaap Eggermont on drums, vocalist Frans Krassenburg and rhytm guitarist Peter de Ronde. Peter de Ronde left the band in 1966 just before the band recorded Winter Harvest. After this record also Frans Krassenburg left the band. He was replaced by Barry Hay.

In 1969 they were one of the first dutch bands to tour the United States, they toured there for about 3 months. After returning from the States Jaap Eggermont decided to leave the band and was replaced by Sieb Warner. That year they also dropped the S from Golden Earrings and moved on as the Golden Earring. Sieb Warner was an introvert person and didn’t really fit in the band, and things went wrong on their second US tour during the winter of 1969-70. They found a replacement in Cesar Zuiderwijk. The band line-up hasn’t changed since. In 1973 they recorded the album Moontan, which brought them their US number 1 hit Radar Love, which is up to this day the number 1 road song in the US, and a constant factor in their live set since then. Many hits followed.

Moving forward in time to their second most famous hit, Twilight zone, which became another US hit for them as well, and with that the invitations for another US tour kept coming in again. The story of the Golden Earring is a lot longer than this, but we’re giving a short recapitulation. The photo’s you see here are from their latest performance june 6 2009 in Strijen. The show was good, and loud as they’ve always been known to play.

All the hit songs were played still with as much power and vitality as if they were playing them for the third time!!!

GOLDEN EARRING FOREVER!!!

Rock and roll lubricates your smile and satisfies your soul!

Rock'n roll, rockabilly, psychobilly, blues, rock, bluesrock, country, western and even bluegrass all have one thing in common. It's music made by real musicians not by computers. Though sounds can be sampled, and parts can be layered on top of another part. But in the end it's all about the feeling the musician can put in his playing or singing, that really creates the atmosphere of the song.

The most instrumental instrument for this that really lets the musician express himselve and his feelings is the guitar... Especially in the forementioned types of music..... Different guitar models have been made famous by different musicians in the different music streams. No two guitarists can sound alike, you can try to imitate certain styles, you can play the same notes, but it's virtually impossible to put the same feeling in the same notes.

Some are more inventive than others, but each have their own style in music. Express yourselve and show your emotions in your playing, that's what sets guitarists apart from other musicians. It's hard to put your feelings and emotions in piano playing.

The notes sound the same, you can't bend a note to make it scream different. The only instrument that comes close to a guitar in that respect is a saxophone. Also when you listen to guitar and sax solo's you will find real similarities which you will not find with any other type of music. Great guitarists like Jimmie Vaughan and Dereck Trucks for instance also try to transpose Saxophone solo's in their guitar solo's. Which makes it more clear that these two instruments really work well together and both bringing feeling in the music.

To me guitars are the instrument of choice, it's a beautiful instrument, great female body shapes, round forms, and functional too, listen to the the sounds it produces, approaching singing....not for nothing that when the electric guitar came around, Rock and roll had it's beginning. Rock on forever, follow your heart, and let that music touch plenty of soles!!!

Cesar on drumssssssss!!!

Undoubtedly one of the worlds best drummers, Cesar Zuiderwijk, the solid back bone of the worldfamous rock band Golden Earring.

After Keith Moon passed away the other members of the Who invited Cesar to be his replacement....however he declined their proposal and sticked with the Earring. Being their drummer for almost 40 years now, and still enjoying every second of it.

Aside to the Golden Earring, occassionaly Cesar has his own theatershow based around every possible kind of percussion which he presents with his famous sense of dry humor. Looking at the faces he makes while he's playing on these pics, you can see he enjoys his playing and gives his fullest in every performance...

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Cesar Rocks!!!

Ride to play, play to ride.

Big purple Ranchero.

She ain’t no hot rod

But sure as hell she’s hot

She ain’t no drunk

But she sure drinks a lot

She spends all my money

But she still is my honey

Big purple Ranchero

She’s my eight cylinder hero

Let the plugs light her fire

Shift her gear into drive

Just to know you’re alive

With her big ass high five

She leaves El Camino’s in her shadow

She goes ahead and can’t accept no

Ain’t got no trunk

But she can carry what you got

She ain’t no phony

But she’s got a lot of pony’s

Big purple Ranchero

She’s my eight cylinder hero

Let the plugs light her fire

Shift her gear into drive

Just to know you’re alive

With her big ass high five

New Products!!!

New in Fretboards range of products, Greasy Groove pickguards, neckplates and dice grover style tuners, for Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Paul and Gretsch guitars. Available from stock, for pricing email Fretboard at sales@fretboard.nl and check out www.fretboard.eu

LES PAUL LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME!

Les Paul,born Lester Polfuss, originator, inventor, comedian and legendary guitarist. He virtually invented the solidbody electric guitar.

Already in the forties he created his "log" based on a hollowbody Epiphone guitar. He then approached the Epiphone guitarcompany to take it to the next level,but they were not interested. A few years later Leo Fender produced his first solid body guitar with the Broadcaster,which created an interest with the Gibson guitar company, who in turn invited Les Paul to show them his solid version. Which after some brainstorming back and forth resulted in the Gibson Les Paul model. Which over the years became the most iconic guitar in rock and roll, with everyone from Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jimmy Page, Slash and Joe Walsh and way to many others playing on it.

Les also a virtuoso guitarist himselve, especially reached his own musical fame with his wife Mary Ford, with songs like "Vaya con dios" and "Mockingbird hill" as some of their most famous hits. During this time in the fifties, Les Paul also invented multi track recording, creating layers over layers and thus creating his own unique sounds.

The last years Les Paul has been playing 2 gigs every monday night at the Iridium Jazz Club on Broadway in New York. He continued playing there with a lot of pleasure and a terrific sense of humor which you had to experience to understand the greatnes of the man. Unforunately the news of the passing of Les Paul just reached the world. Les Paul passed away aged 94, the music world will never be the same again.

His legend will continue!

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Keep on rocking in heaven!

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Brian Setzer Orchestra rocks Amsterdam!!!

Mischief, rockabilly trio from Utrecht the Netherlands, opened for the Brian Setzer Orchestra in the Heineken Music Hall, July 15th. Their driving rockabilly made sure the crowd was warmed up for the main act to come on stage. The dance steps by Mischief’s guitarist Daze are amazing, you should really see him jump into one of his great solo’s. Rockabilly, and great vocal harmonies, making Mischief a real crowd pleaser!

Wednesday July 15th the world famous Brian Setzer Orchestra rocked the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam.

BSO opened with their version of the “Batman” intro, unfortunately when Brian started his guitar part he discovered his vintage Fender Bassman Amp gave up on him, so it had to be replaced by the extra amp…..but it didn’t spoil the fun for a second, the band filled in and Brian picked up as soon as he could.

Rocking on with all the classics, from “Drive like Lightning”, “Jump, Jive and Wail”, “Sexy and 17” and so many others.

Also bringing “Rumble in Brighton”, psychobilly big band style! Half way the show the horn section of the band stepped down, and Brian performed with just drums and bass in the old fashioned trio style, bringing songs from the 50s classic “True Love”,” Gene and Eddy” and many more, and half way Stray Cat Strut continuing with the complete big band again.

When it became time for the encore Brian came back on stage to perform “I won’t stand in your way” solo on his vintage black and white Gretsch duo-jet. The show finished when it was time to “Rock this Town”!

They showed Amsterdam once and for all:

Don’t mess with a big band!!!

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Stray Cat Strut - Brian Setzer Orchestra - Amsterdam

Dirty Boogie - Brian Setzer Orchestra - Amsterdam

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Mischief!

My green Forty Five! [by R. Bosselaar]

My baby she leaks

My baby she squeeks

But when I kick her alive

She’s like an angel to drive

67 years old

With a heart of pure gold

She’s my green forty five

The one that keeps me alive

She can rock she can jive

She knocks my gear into drive

With a twist of the wrist

She lets her power assist

A little rumble and roar

We’re crossing the floor

Discover the night

With that old body so tight

She’s my green forty five

The one that keeps me alive

She can rock she can jive

She knocks my gear into drive

She’s dressed all in green

My old fashioned beauty queen

Her tail is so rigid

Nowhere near frigid

Three speed in the box

Shifting through this old fox

She’s my green forty five

The one that keeps me alive

She can rock she can jive

She knocks my gear into drive

Booker T & The MG's

In 1962 Booker T and the MG's was formed as the houseband for Stax-Volt records in Memphis Tennessee. Formed with Booker T Jones on organ, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Steve Cropper on guitar and Al Jackson on drums. They
backed all the great Stax-Volt stars on their tours and records, Rufus
Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, and the legendary Otis Redding. Booker T Jones co-wrote the blues classic Born under a bad sign, and Steve Cropper co-wrote classics, like Eddie
Floyds in the midnight hour and Otis Redding's dock of the bay. They also had their own hits, Groovin, Time is tight, hip-hug-her, Hang em high, Soul Limbo and last but not least Green Onions.

The band was officially disbanded
in 1972 and each followed their own careers. In 1975 they were planning a reunion, but drummer Al Jackson was shot to death when he discovered a burglar in his house in Memphis on October 1 1975. Booker and Cropper and Dunn reunited at several different occasions with different drummers, like
Willie Hall, Anton Fig, Steve Jordan and Jim Keltner. But for the long run Steve Potts filled in behind the drums. In the late seventies Cropper and Dunn got back together backing the Blues Brothers in the Saturday Night live
performances, concert tours and also in the 1980 cult movie of the same name, adding their distinct style to the Blues Brothers music.

They also got
back together again for the sequel in 1998 Blues Brothers 2000. The last few years Booker T and the MG's have been touring again on and off, bringing their classic vibes to the stage. Cropper and Dunn occasionally still play in the Blues Brothers band backing the original Elwood Dan Aykroyd and the
official brother of Jake (John Belushi) James Belushi.

Booker T and the MG's keeping the soul alive!!!