Ruud Jolie

in Spotlight
and Shadow

My Road Trip with Within Temptation

about Ruud

Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of artists, but most people know me as the guitarist of the internationally successful rock band Within Temptation. With this band, I’ve been touring the world for twenty-four years — playing everything from arenas to the biggest festivals in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Japan.

When I was twelve, I watched Iron Maiden’s concert film Live After Death on videotape. From that moment on, I knew for sure: I wanted — nay, I had to — play electric guitar. The idea of standing on stage and connecting people through music never left me.

I took that passion seriously right away. I started playing in bands at the age of fourteen, exploring a variety of styles. With Within Temptation, I’ve performed around a thousand shows since 2001. I can truly say that the dream that began with Iron Maiden has come true.

Another long-held wish was to publish a book. In October 2023, I began writing down anecdotes from my time with Within Temptation. This resulted in the book In Spotlight and Shadow — not an autobiography, but a collection of funny, self-deprecating stories about life inside a globally renowned band.

in Spotlight
and Shadow

Let there be no mistake. This is not an autobiography.

Over the past twenty-four years as the guitarist for Within Temptation — one of the most successful rock bands ever to come out of the Netherlands — Ruud Jolie has found himself in more than his fair share of bizarre and unexpected situations. In this book, he pulls back the curtain to share a collection of his most personal, awkward, and hilarious adventures—the kind that never make it into interviews or press releases.

Told with brutal honesty, sharp humor, and a generous dose of self-mockery, these stories come packed with exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos from the highs, lows, and weird in-betweens of a life in music.

Public Speaker

For twenty-four years, I’ve toured the world with Within Temptation. At the end of 2023, my hand began to tremble severely, and playing guitar became increasingly difficult.

I share a personal story about forced change. What started as a hobby became my profession—and even my identity. But playing guitar is getting harder and harder. Every day is a challenge, and the fear is real that one day I will have to make the tough decision to let go of my life as a professional guitarist.

My neurological condition, ‘functional tremor,’ initially brought anger, fear, and sadness. For a while, I felt like a victim. But gradually, I found acceptance—and I hope it will ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise.

I’m now walking new paths and sharing my transformation. Change is daunting, but it can also bring surprisingly beautiful things. We often ask ourselves, “What if it goes wrong?” But you can also flip it: “What if it actually works out?” I had no choice—I had to change. And that brought unexpected growth.

With my experience as a musician and teacher, I feel at home on stage. I use my story about resilience and adaptability to connect, inspire, or simply entertain—of course with a few tasty anecdotes from my book In Spotlight and Shadow – My Road Trip with Within Temptation.

Because no matter what changes, the need to connect through stories and music remains. Only the tools have changed.