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| Rinus Gerritsen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rinus Gerritsen |
| Birth name | Marinus Gerritsen |
| Birth date | 1946-11-09 |
| Birth place | The Hague |
| Occupation | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Associated acts | Golden Earring, The Buddy Miles Express, Frank Carillo, George Kooymans |
Rinus Gerritsen is a Dutch bassist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock band Golden Earring. He has been a central figure in Dutch rock alongside contemporaries from The Hague and has collaborated with international artists across rock music, blues rock, and progressive rock scenes. Gerritsen's career spans seminal periods in European popular music, connecting him to movements and figures from Beat music to classic arena rock.
Gerritsen was born in The Hague and grew up amid postwar cultural shifts that influenced many Dutch artists including members of Shocking Blue, Focus (band), and The Nits. He attended local schools in The Hague and studied music informally while integrating influences from British acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who as well as American performers such as Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and Ray Charles. Early participation in youth bands placed him in scenes associated with venues in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht where he encountered musicians connected to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin.
As a founding member of Golden Earring, Gerritsen helped shape the band's output alongside bandmates connected to Dutch scenes similar to Doe Maar and Kane (Dutch band). Golden Earring toured extensively in Europe and North America, sharing bills with acts like Deep Purple, KISS, and Aerosmith while appearing on festivals alongside Pink Floyd, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. Gerritsen contributed to landmark albums and hit singles that achieved chart presence in markets influenced by labels such as Polydor Records, Capitol Records, and United Artists Records. The band's visibility placed them in the context of events including European festivals and televised appearances with presenters linked to BBC Television and MTV.
Outside Golden Earring, Gerritsen worked with a range of artists from the Netherlands and abroad, collaborating with musicians in projects that intersected with names like Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, and session players associated with Stones Mobile Studio. He has participated in studio and live projects with contemporaries connected to George Kooymans, Barry Hay, and touring musicians who have worked with Bob Dylan, Eric Burdon, and Van Morrison. Gerritsen's collaborations extended to producers and arrangers tied to George Martin, Phil Spector, and European producers who worked with U2 and Roxy Music-era personnel.
Gerritsen's bass playing reflects traditions established by players such as Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, and James Jamerson, while incorporating rhythmic approaches reminiscent of Bootsy Collins and Carol Kaye. His songwriting shows affinities with narrative-driven work by artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty, and has influenced Dutch musicians in scenes connected to Golden Earring alumni and newer acts similar to Within Temptation and Kensington (band). Gerritsen's role in arranging and producing linked him with trends in progressive rock and hard rock, situating him among figures influenced by David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Neil Young.
Throughout his career Gerritsen favored bass instruments and amplification associated with players like Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, and Geddy Lee, reportedly using brands linked to Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Rickenbacker International Corporation, and Ampeg. His technique blends fingerstyle grooves with pick-driven attack, paralleling approaches by Chris Squire, Berry Oakley, and Jack Casady. In studio settings his equipment choices intersected with engineers and technicians who worked with studios such as Abbey Road Studios, Sun Studio, and European facilities tied to producers mentioned earlier.
Gerritsen and Golden Earring received national honors and industry awards comparable to accolades presented by organizations like the Edison Award and recognition within lists curated by outlets such as Billboard (magazine), Rolling Stone and Dutch cultural institutions associated with VPRO and NOS. His contributions have been acknowledged in retrospectives alongside Dutch music figures such as Herman Brood, Anouk (singer), and André Hazes.
Category:Dutch bass guitarists Category:1946 births Category:Living people