German heavy metal legends ACCEPT have announced a very special collaboration for their packed 2024 live schedule. The band confirmed that renowned guitarist Joel Hoekstra will join them for all South American shows in May as well as their highly anticipated European festival appearances. Hoekstra, widely celebrated for his virtuosic playing and larger-than-life stage presence, will stand in for Phil Shouse, who remains the group’s permanent live guitarist and will continue performing with ACCEPT at all other concerts.
The announcement has electrified fans around the world, uniting two iconic names in the hard rock and metal universe.
A Guitarist of International Renown
Based in New York, Joel Hoekstra is no stranger to global stages. His career spans decades of standout performances with some of the biggest names in music. Currently, Hoekstra is a key member of Whitesnake, contributing his technical brilliance and melodic flair to the group’s sound. He is also an integral part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, thrilling audiences each year with theatrical holiday rock spectacles.
Beyond these high-profile gigs, Hoekstra has also collaborated with Cher, Night Ranger, and Foreigner, among many others, proving his versatility across rock, pop, and metal genres. His reputation as both a consummate professional and a powerhouse performer has made him one of the most respected guitarists in the business.
Wolf Hoffmann Praises Hoekstra
For ACCEPT’s founding guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, inviting Hoekstra onboard was an opportunity to share the stage with one of today’s most skilled and charismatic players.
“It is a great honour for us to be on stage with Joel Hoekstra,” Hoffmann said in a statement. “Joel is an exceptional guitarist and I have huge respect for him. The whole band is really looking forward to playing with this string magician.”
Coming from Hoffmann—himself a legend whose riffs helped define European heavy metal—such praise underscores the excitement within the ACCEPT camp.
Hoekstra Ready to Rock
Hoekstra, equally enthusiastic about the collaboration, shared his own excitement for joining the group:
“I’m super honored and excited to riff out and rock out with Wolf and the guys! I’m really looking forward to meeting all the Accept fans in South America and Europe! Let’s rock!!”
His message, brimming with energy, reflects the chemistry fans can expect when he and ACCEPT hit the stage together.
ACCEPT in 2024: A Year of Metal Thunder
The year 2024 is shaping up to be one of ACCEPT’s busiest in recent memory. The band has long been a staple of the global metal scene, with a legacy stretching back to the late 1970s. Their powerful catalog—featuring timeless anthems such as “Balls to the Wall”, “Fast as a Shark”, and “Metal Heart”—has earned them a loyal fanbase across continents.
This year’s tour cycle includes a full run of South American dates in May, where Hoekstra will make his debut with the band, followed by performances at major European festivals throughout the summer. For metal fans, the shows promise a unique blend of classic ACCEPT fury with the added firepower of Hoekstra’s signature guitar style.
The Dynamic with Phil Shouse
While Hoekstra’s involvement has made headlines, ACCEPT has made it clear that Phil Shouse remains their permanent live guitarist. Shouse, who has been with the band since 2019, is a beloved member of the lineup and a fan favorite. His absence during these select shows is due to scheduling, and the band emphasized that Hoekstra’s role is temporary and celebratory in nature.
By bringing in Hoekstra for this special run, ACCEPT ensures that audiences will experience the same dual-guitar attack that has long defined their sound, keeping the band’s live energy intact.
Fans React with Anticipation
Reaction from fans online has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media has been buzzing with comments celebrating the collaboration, with many highlighting Hoekstra’s technical chops and ability to adapt seamlessly to any band’s style. The pairing of ACCEPT’s Teutonic metal tradition with Hoekstra’s American hard rock pedigree is being hailed as a “dream team” scenario.
A Legacy Still Growing
More than four decades into their career, ACCEPT continues to prove their relevance and vitality in the ever-evolving metal scene. Their willingness to collaborate with artists of Hoekstra’s caliber not only enriches their live performances but also showcases their enduring spirit of experimentation and camaraderie.
For fans in South America and Europe, the 2024 tour is shaping up to be an unforgettable chapter in ACCEPT’s story—one that blends history, legacy, and fresh firepower on stage.
As Wolf Hoffmann put it, “The whole band is really looking forward to playing with this string magician.” And with Joel Hoekstra himself declaring, “Let’s rock!!,” fans can rest assured that the upcoming shows will deliver exactly that—pure, unrelenting heavy metal magic.
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Do you want me to also create a tour date breakdown for the South American leg with Joel Hoekstra?
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