Let the Games Begin
Joel Hoekstra’s 13 was created as a side project in 2015 by current Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra guitarist Joel Hoekstra. Under the 13 moniker Hoekstra released Dying to Live that same year. On February 12, 2021 the group returns with it’s follow-up Running Games.
Hoekstra is once again flanked by Russell Allen (Symphony X), Vinny Appice (ex-Black Sabbath, Dio), Tony Franklin (Every Hard Rock band that had a record in the 80s), Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo), and Jeff Scott Soto (Sons of Apollo, W.E.T.). I jumped at the chance to speak with Joel Hoekstra about the new album.
Highlights Include:
- Discussion of Running Games
- Why he prefers home recording and file sharing to recording in the studio
- Were any songs on Running Games leftovers from the last Whitesnake album
- Why Jeff Scott Soto is only doing background vocals this time around
- His YouTube jam sessions
- Is there any future with his Echobats project with Tony Harnell (TNT)
- How he got the gig as the live guitarist for Cher
- Is Whitesnake working on new material
- How Jim Peterik (Ex-Survivor) helped jump start his career
- … and much, much more!
Joel Hoekstra’s 13 is:
Joel Hoekstra – Guitar
Russell Allen – Vocals
Vinny Appice – Drums
Tony Franklin – Bass
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards
Jeff Scott Soto – Backing Vocals
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