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.
