ACCEPT is set to grace the stages of all European festivals throughout 2024 and embark on a South American tour in May, featuring Joel Hoekstra
For the South American tour, Hoekstra will be filling in for Phil Shouse, who remains the band’s permanent live guitarist for all other performances.
ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann comments: “It is a great honor for us to be on stage with Joel Hoekstra. 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.”
Hoekstra added: “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!!”
Renowned as a current member of the iconic WHITESNAKE and a contributor to TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, Joel Hoekstra is based in New York and has an impressive resume that includes collaborations with Cher, NIGHT RANGER, and FOREIGNER, among others.
ACCEPT recently wrapped up work on a new studio album scheduled for release in 2024 through their new record label, Napalm Records.
In the fall of 2022, the band concluded a North American tour supported by NARCOTIC WASTELAND. The tour featured a comprehensive setlist encompassing both new and classic tracks, including hits like “Balls To The Wall,” “Princess Of The Dawn,” and “Fast As A Shark.”
Back in February 2022, the band announced a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. Their album “Too Mean To Die” was released in January 2021 via Nuclear Blast and marked the band’s first without bassist Peter Baltes, who departed in November 2018. Martin Motnik has since taken over on bass. The lineup has also expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who initially filled in for Uwe Lulis during the 2019 “Symphonic Terror” tour before becoming a permanent member.
Recorded in Nashville with producer Andy Sneap (known for his work with JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH), “Too Mean To Die” showcases the continued collaboration between Sneap and ACCEPT since 2010.
Mark Tornillo, who joined the band in 2009 as the replacement for original lead singer Udo Dirkscheider, has been featured on the band’s last five studio albums, including “Blood Of The Nations” (2010), “Stalingrad” (2012), “Blind Rage” (2014), “The Rise Of Chaos” (2017), and “Too Mean To Die.”