David Lowry got the chance to talk with the always busy Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake in the middle of The Purple Tour to talk about the new guitar spot in Whitesnake, The Purple Album, VHF, Joel Hoekstra’s 13 project, his appearances on That Metal Show and how to make it in the music business. A big thank you to Joel Hoekstra for doing this interview on such short notice!
Joel Hoekstra
Interview Link: Live From Music City Interview with Joel Hoekstra June 2015
Sponsored by the following:
New York guitarist Joel Hoekstra plays for Night Ranger, the Broadway hit ‘Rock of Ages’ and Trans Siberian Orchestra. Most recently, Joel can be heard on Night Ranger’s new release ’24 Strings & a Drummer (live & acoustic), Jack Blades’ new cd ‘Rock ‘n Roll Ride’, Trans Siberian Orchestra’s new cd ‘Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night) and Jeff Scott Soto’s release ‘Damage Control’. In 2011, he had the pleasure of filling in for Mick Jones of Foreigner. Joel’s cd’s ‘undefined’, ‘The Moon is Falling’ and ’13 acoustic songs’ have found a strong cult following and critical acclaim. Keep an eye out for Joel in the Warner Bros. movie ‘Rock of Ages’!
Joel has worked on/with the following….
ARTISTS/MUSICANS (LIVE & RECORDING):
Night Ranger
Trans Siberian Orchestra
Foreigner
The Turtles
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Scrap Metal
Dee Snider
Jeff Scott Soto
Eric Martin (Mr Big)
Alan Parsons
Rik Emmett (Triumph)
Tommy Shaw (Styx)
Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)
Wyclef Jean
John Waite
Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)
Beth Hart
Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple)
Ted Nugent
Sebastian Bach
Donnie & Johnny Van Zant
Don Barnes (38 Special)
Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon)
Gunnar and Matthew Nelson (Nelson)
Mike Reno (Loverboy)
Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
David Pack (Ambrosia)
Martha Davis (The Motels)
Mickey Thomas (Starship)
Constantine Maroulis (American Idol)
Dave Bickler (Survivor)
Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)
Hugh Jackman
Nuno Bettencourt
Chan Marshall (Kat Power)
Henry Paul (The Outlaws, Blackhawk)
Ray Parker Jr.
Debbie Gibson
Jim Peterik (Ides of March, Survivor)
Tom Keifer (Cinderella)
Kip Winger
THEATRE:
Rock of Ages (Broadway, off-Broadway)
Love, Janis (New York, San Francisco, Phoenix, Cleveland, Louisville, Cincinnati, Tucson, Sag Harbor)
The Boy From Oz (Broadway)
Tarzan (Broadway)
La Cage Aux Folles (Broadway)
It Ain’t Nothin But the Blues (Tucson, Phoenix, Kansas City, Seattle, Chicago*)
A Chorus Line (Broadway Cast Recording 2006)
Lovely Day (off-Broadway)
* nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for ‘Best Musical Direction’
TV
The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno
America’s Got Talent
Celebrity Apprentice
Late Night with Conan O’Brien
Bachelor Pad
Last Call with Carson Daly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Tony Awards (2009)
Visa Signature Tony Preview Concert
The Sandra Bernhard Experience (A&E)
M3 Festival (HDNet)
Imus in the Morning (Fox Business)
20/20 (ABC)
Nick Cannon (Nickolodeon)
Rock Star Kitchen (Comcast/NBC)
FOX Morning news (New York, Chicago, Tucson, Kansas City, Atlanta, Louisville, Cincinnati)
WGN Morning News (Chicago)
ABC’s View From the Bay (San Francisco)
The Loose Leaf Report (LA)
WB Morning News (New York)
The New York Today Show
ABC’s New Years Eve Countdown (Chicago)
NBC “Good Company” (Cleveland)
UPN: Live at the Taste (Chicago)
I-90 North (Chicago)
NBC Morning News (Louisville)
Barry Z Show (New York)
Guitar Talk (Chicago)
NBC’s ‘The Bay Area Today’ (San Francisco)
NBC’s ‘Arizona Midday’
NY1
FILM:
Rock of Ages (the movie)
Resurrection Mary
The Last Winter
May the Best Man Win
OTHER:
Played the national anthem for a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden
Guitar Player magazine feature (May ’09 issue)
Guitar World magazine feature (30th anniversary issue-Fall ’09)
Guitar Player magazine article (May ’11 issue)
Guitar World Playlist article (November ’11 issue)
Jeff Scott Soto video – Look Inside You Heart
Dee Snider video – Mack the Knife
ENDORSEMENTS:
Gibson guitars
Suhr amps & guitars
EVH amps
Taylor acoustic guitars
DBZ guitars
Atomic guitars
Nady wireless systems
Ernie Ball strings
Monster Cable
Big Bends Nut Sauce
Seymour Duncan pick-ups
Schecter guitars
Star Access picks
Fernandes Sustainers
Mono Cases
Fractal Audio Systems
Head straps
Morpheus Drop Tune pedal
Tech 21 midi pedals
G7 Capos