Joel Hoekstra is quite possibly the busiest guitar player you’ve never heard of….yet. Joel has been touring the world alongside Brad Gillis, Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy in Night Ranger for the last 4 years. When at home, he is in the hit Broadway show Rock of Ages 8 shows a week and as if that isn’t enough, he has set it all aside (replacing Alex Skolnick) for the arena-filling Trans-Siberian Orchestra winter tour. Recent projects? Did we mention filling in for Foreigner’s Mick Jones, playing on Jeff Scott Soto’s and Jack Blades’ solo albums, appearing in Dee Snider’s new video or making a cameo in the Warner Bros. movie Rock of Ages?
What part did you play in the movie, “Rock of Ages”?
I am in the protest scene. Basically they took Sebastian Bach, Nuno Bettencourt, Kevin Cronin, Debbie Gibson and me and put us around Russell Brand, singing a song across the street at Catherine Zeta Jones.
Did you learn anything from that experience?
Yeah, Baz (Sebastian Bach) is a madman!  In a great way. I love that dude! We had a blast on the set.
What would you like to share about it?
A cool moment was putting on a concert for the actors in catering on no rehearsal, soundcheck etc. We played everyone’s hits. It was really crazy to be playing and look out and see Russell Brand, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta Jones all watching us.
How did you get your gigs with so many well know bands?
I got Night Ranger through playing in the house band for Jim Peterik’s World Stage shows. Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger drummer) was one of many artists to come out to sing their hits each year and eventually that led to my “audition”, which was basically a gig on no rehearsal..haha! Rock of Ages I got through knowing the music supervisor. We met while I was subbing on the show Tarzan and he was the keyboard player. With Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I had a couple friends put in a good word for me, but I had to audition just like everyone else.

When taking over guitar duties in a well-known band, do you do your own solos, play them note-for note, or something in-between?
I’m a big believer in making the OTHER people in the band feel comfortable. It’s not about you. The gigs are always bigger than you are, so I try to play things initially as note-for-note as possible. As time goes by, I gradually put my own spin on things.

Why did you change out your stock pickups?
Mostly, I made the change simply because I prefer Seymour Duncan. I always request Seymour Duncan pickups if a guitar is being built for me.
Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
My Atomic Rock in America guitar has a Seymour Duncan Custom SH-5 in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan L’il 59′ in the neck (alongside a Fernandes Sustainer). My Schecter Hellraiser has a JB in the bridge and a ’59 in the neck. On my Gibson Les Paul Axcess, I have a Little 59 in the neck position (also alongside a Fernandes Sustainer.)
How would you describe the sound of those pickups?
The SH-5 is a high gain monster with a good, solid fat punch! The JB is very punchy, but delivers a nice midrange that cuts beautifully on lead work, etc.  The ‘59 and the L’il ‘59 both deliver a beautiful, warm, round tone for me in the neck position. Both are warm, not woofy and deliver clarity and sustain. Whatever sound I’ve been in need of, Seymour Duncan has always delivered.
How has it changed your playing? (if it did)
Having the right sound and obviously pickups are a huge part of that, helps you to play the way you WANT to play. If your sound isn’t right, you can end up fighting with your instrument and that in turn, compromises your performance.
How would you describe your playing?
Lately through Night Ranger, Rock of Ages and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I am known mainly for playing hard rock.  I have also released 2 albums of my own that could be described as rock/fusion and another album that is all acoustic. Over the years, I have played all types of gigs from blues, country, jazz, etc…
What was your favorite gig and why?
There are two. My first gig with Night Ranger was with no rehearsal and a limited soundcheck. It was like jumping out of a plane without knowing if you had a parachute and when the chute opened it felt damn good. I had a very similar experience filling in for Mick Jones of Foreigner. I only had 24 hours notice to get their set together and it was a blast having everyone from the tour watching in the wings.
How would you describe your music?
Undefined has elements of rock, funk, blues, country and jazz. The Moon is Falling is more in a prog-rock direction. Virgil Donati (Steve Vai, Planet X) and Ric Fierbracci (Andy Summers, Frank Gambale) play absolutely amazing stuff on both of them. 13 acoustic songs is a collection of chord melody songs I wrote. It’s more about nice songwriting and arranging than blowing chops.
My music is my escape from the commercial world, so I just view it as EXACTLY what I feel like playing at that time. When it comes to playing other gigs, I do my best to deliver what they are looking for and try my hardest play it at the very highest level possible.  You can check it out my music and some of the albums I have played on here:
http://www.myspace.com/joelhoekstra/music/songs?filter=POPULAR
I’m at Rock of Ages 8 shows a week in NYC when I’m not on tour with Night Ranger or Trans-Siberian Orchestra, so it’s very easy to catch me live these days.  You can check dates here anytime:
http://www.joelhoekstra.com/live.html
To visit with Joel please go to:
http://www.joelhoekstra.com
http://www.facebook.com/JoelHoekstra13
https://twitter.com/#!/JoelHoekstra13
Keep an eye out for Joel in the Warner Bros. movie Rock of Ages premiering June 15, in theaters everywhere as well as Dee Snider’s new video Mack the Knife.