Song:Radar Love
Album:The Continuing Story of Radar Love
In North America, Golden Earring is known for their 1974 hit Radar Love and the 1982 hit Twilight Zone. Though Twilight Zone reached a higher chart position, Radar Love is the more memorable song. The group is a bigger deal in Europe. Golden Earring started out in 1961 in The Hague, Netherlands. Teens George Kooymans and his neighbour Rinus Gerritsen called themselves The Tornados. But there was already a group called The Tornados so it was changed to The Golden Earrings and then Golden Earring. They were named after a song by the British group The Hunters. They added lead singer Frans Krassenburg and charted in The Netherlands with their 1965 debut single Please Go. At this point Golden Earring was a standard pop group. Barry Hay replaced Krassenburg in 1967 and took Golden Earring in a more psychedelic direction. They became known for an 18 minute version of The Byrds hit Eight Miles High. But they were on a terrible record company in the US. So in 1970 Golden Earring returned home to regroup and added drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk. He became known for leaping over his drum kit and the end of every show. You'll see him do that in the video. They broke through in the US when Radar Love reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album Moontan was certified Gold in 1973. Golden Earring became a very popular live act but were unable to sustain chart success in the US. Twilight Zone reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 but by the late 80s, Golden Earring stopped touring in the US and focused on touring Europe. They still do that today. This budget comp is a good intro to their music. Radar Love got a big boost when the metal band White Lion charted with their cover in 1989. It encouraged fans to check out the original. Radar Love also appeared in the 1993 film Wayne's World 2. They're still a big deal at home. Golden Earring is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2011 a postage stamp is being issued in their honour. Here's Golden Earring performing Radar Love on The Midnight Special 1974.
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