Golden Earring star George Kooymans' acoustic Taylor guitar on auction for ALS research

The unique acoustic Taylor guitar played by George Kooymans in Golden Earrings is up for auction, along with other items related to the world-famous rock band, to raise funds for research into the cause and treatment of the fatal neuromuscular disease ALS. Kooymans died of ALS in July last year.

The online auction, organized by the Dutch ALS Foundation, opened Tuesday night, and was up to 20,000 euros by Wednesday afternoon. Kooymans bought the instrument at the guitar shop, Casa Benelly, in The Hague and played it on the unplugged album The Naked Truth.

Recorded in Amsterdam in 1992, the album includes acoustic versions of the band's most internationally known songs, Radar Love and Twilight Zone. It was certified triple-platinum in the Netherlands after selling over 300,000 copies, peaking at number 2 on the Top 100 Albums weekly chart that year.

After years of touring with Golden Earring, the guitar returned to Casa Benelly, where it hung on the wall for some time. Owners Ben van der Sman and Elly Bruinen donated the instrument to ASL Westland for the auction.

The foundation called George Kooymans’ guitar the “absolute showpiece” in the auction. “An instrument with an exceptionally clear sound and a rich history,” the foundation said. “The highest bidder will become the new owner of a unique piece of Dutch history.”

In addition to Kooymans’ guitar, several of bandmate Cesar Zuiderwijk’s signed drumsticks and painted drumheads will be on auction. Bidders can also put in offers for screen prints of the band, and advanced purchases on shirts that Zuiderwijk will wear during Golden Earring’s farewell concerts.

Golden Earring will perform five sold-out farewell concerts at Ahoy Rotterdam from Monday, January 26, to Friday, January 30. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, starting at just over 70 euros, with 5 euros from each ticket sold going to ALS research.

The ASL foundation called the shows and auction a “tribute to George Kooymans, and a powerful support in the fight against a merciless disease.”