When a scheduled performance by the “Whitesnake Experience“—a lineup boasting current and former members of the legendary rock outfit—was abruptly pulled from a Serbian festival last year, speculation ran rampant. While local reports at the time pointed to potential political friction, guitarist Joel Hoekstra has offered a different explanation: the internet simply spun a one-off jam session into a full-blown band, causing a branding headache that needed to be shut down.
In a recent conversation with “Border City Rock Talk,” Hoekstra addressed the confusion surrounding the 58th Guitar Festival in Zaječar, which was set to feature himself alongside Dino Jelusić, Marco Mendoza, Tommy Aldridge, and Michele Luppi in August 2025.
According to Hoekstra, the issue wasn’t the performance itself, but the “language” used to promote it. What was intended as a casual reunion of bandmates was marketed in a way that suggested a permanent new project—something that hadn’t been cleared by Whitesnake mastermind David Coverdale.
“No. That was something that was really just set up [to be a one-off thing],” Hoekstra explained regarding plans for future shows (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “We did one of those [in July 2023], technically in France, just over the border from Switzerland. I think we were staying in Switzerland, but the gig was in France [at the Guitare En Scène festival]. And it was just kind of called ‘all-star band featuring members of Whitesnake‘, and it was just kind of something that David [Coverdale, Whitesnake‘s founding singer] said, ‘Yeah, that’s cool with me.’ And that was fine. As it turns out, this ‘Whitesnake Experience‘ thing, there was some language involved there that got out ahead of what we were doing. I mean, it was intended to be a one-off gig.”
Hoekstra emphasized that while Coverdale is generally supportive of his bandmates working, the optics of a “Whitesnake Experience” gaining traction online as a long-term entity crossed a line of professional courtesy.
“Anything long term with that, that would have to come from David. This was meant to be just kind of, like, ‘Hey, let’s get together and have some fun and do a one-off,’ and suddenly all [there was] this traction online about it being a project,” Hoekstra continued. “The only thing David had given approval for was for us to do a one-off. There was no talk about this being a full-time thing. That was — I don’t know where it got started, I don’t know who to attribute that to, but it got out ahead of itself. I made a social media post trying to say, like, what’s everybody doing. That’s not what this is. [It was supposed to be] just a one-off. And David, to his credit, was cool with all that. And anything like that, somebody who spent their life building a brand, building Whitesnake, if it was gonna turn into anything — even a one-off was something that I personally wanted to talk to David about and be, like, ‘Is this cool with you?’, out of respect [and] out of loyalty. But anything long term, that, I think, would have to come from David. I don’t think that would be us putting something together and going, ‘Is it cool with you if…?’ So, that would be something that David would say, ‘I’m interested in doing this.’ And as far as I know, there’s not really anything really happening with that. There was, I think, rumors and not a whole lot there, to be honest.”
The interview also touched on the guitarist’s relationship with Coverdale following the singer’s recent retirement announcement. Hoekstra, who joined the band in 2014, had nothing but praise for his former boss, dispelling any notion that the business mix-up had soured their friendship.
“[David] is absolutely a great guy to work for and with,” Hoekstra said. “So as far as that friendship and camaraderie, all that’s still there. And I don’t think that’ll go away just because he’s chosen to retire, which is well earned and has my full support. I mean, dude, what are you gonna say? That’s great. I’m really, really happy for David. What a career. I mean, what a career. Any of us would be so lucky to be able to say that: ‘Oh, yeah, I joined Deep Purple at a young age and then formed my own band and had this amazing 45-year run’ or whatever it’s been with Whitesnake. And not only that, but to do the Coverdale/Page stuff. And to be a great guy to boot, on top of it all. So, for me, everything with David is golden. And I wish him nothing but the best.”
On November 13, 2025 David Coverdale has announced his retirement, closing the curtain on a career that has spanned more than five decades. The 74-year-old rock veteran shared the news in a personal video message posted today on his YouTube channel.
Speaking to the fans, Coverdale said: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters of the ‘Snake, a special announcement for you. After 50 years-plus of an incredible journey with you, with Deep Purple, with Whitesnake, Jimmy Page, the last few years has been very evident to me that it’s time really for me to hang up my rock and roll platform shoes and my skintight jeans. And as you can see, we’ve taken care of the lion’s wig. But it’s time for me to call it a day.”
He continued with thanking everyone who has been part of his journey: “I love you dearly. I thank everyone who’s assisted and supported me on this incredible journey — all the musicians, the crew, the fans, the family. It’s amazing, but it really is time for me to just enjoy my retirement. And I hope you can appreciate that.”
In closing, Coverdale delivered a touching farewell: “Once again, I love you with all my heart. Fare thee well.”
Over his remarkable career, David Coverdale became one of rock’s most recognizable voices. He first gained fame as the lead singer of Deep Purple from 1973 to 1976, performing on classic albums like Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), and Come Taste the Band (1975). After forming Whitesnake in 1978, Coverdale helped craft some of hard rock’s most enduring records, including Trouble (1978), Lovehunter (1979), Slide It In (1984), and the multi-platinum Whitesnake (1987), which cemented the band’s status worldwide. Across decades, his soulful vocals and charismatic stage presence made him a true icon of rock and metal.
