ACCEPT’s renowned guitarist, Wolf Hoffmann, has embarked on a creative journey alongside his girlfriend, violinist Ava-Rebekah Rahman, and accomplished London-based composer, arranger, and conductor Stephen Bentley-Klein for an innovative musical project.
On Monday, September 25, Rahman shared a series of captivating photos on her Instagram account, capturing moments with Hoffmann and Bentley-Klein during their collaboration. Accompanying the images was a message from Rahman, in which she excitedly revealed, “Dear friends! Just wanted to share some exciting news with all of you! This past week has been an absolute blast working with the wonderful Steven Bentley-Klein and Wolf Hoffmann as we’ve been pouring our hearts and souls into our thrilling and exotic new musical project! It’s been non-stop productivity and inspiration, and we couldn’t be happier with the results so far! Every single day has been filled with sonic fireworks, as we experiment with a new sound world, sexy melodies, and rhythms. We’ve been creating something truly special that we can’t wait to share with all of you!”
Classical music has always played a subtle yet influential role in ACCEPT’s Teutonic approach to rock and heavy metal. However, it wasn’t until 1997, during an extended hiatus from ACCEPT, that Hoffmann had the opportunity to fully explore and express his interest. He accomplished this by recording his first remarkable solo album, “Classical,” which featured his rock-guitar-driven interpretations of classical music’s beloved compositions. Following the success of “Classical,” a follow-up album, “Headbangers Symphony,” was released in July 2016 through Nuclear Blast.
Hoffmann explained his motivation behind these ventures, stating, “I have always incorporated classical music into my songwriting with ACCEPT, especially with ‘Metal Heart,’ but I constantly felt there was so much more that I could do, and I did not want to overload ACCEPT or force it in any way. I always knew I could make a whole record of it, and that’s how the first record ‘Classical’ was born.”
In April 2022, Rahman took to Instagram to announce her romantic involvement with Hoffmann, spanning three years. Describing their relationship as a “mad, crazy messy, blissful, soaring, heart-breaking heart-healing union and love,” Rahman celebrated the depth of their connection.
Prior to his relationship with Rahman, Hoffmann had been married to Gaby Hoffmann, who served as ACCEPT’s dedicated manager, designer, and lyricist for virtually the entirety of the band’s history.
In July 2019, it was officially announced that Gaby was retiring, as stated on ACCEPT’s website. The announcement clarified that she was “a bit tired after many years of intense activity, and she needs some rest and time for herself. It’s not a farewell,” the statement added. “Her heart will still be with us, but she won’t engage in professional activities anymore.”
