Tag: Udo Dirkschneider

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Udo Dirkschneider Welcomes Back ACCEPT Bassist Peter Baltes OFFICIALLY – 2023

U.D.O.:

It really wasn‘t easy to hold back these killer news… Welcome to the band Peter 🙏🏻

After standing in as live musician for about 3 months last autumn, the band are pleased to announce that Peter Baltes has now joined their ranks as new band member on bass (also for DIRKSCHNEIDER) with his live premiere taking place in Australia and Japan during the last few days. Baltes, who played with singer Udo Dirkschneider for many years in his former band ACCEPT, which the bassist left in 2018, had already collaborated with Udo again as part of DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG and other projects in recent years.

Peter Baltes: “Since my departure from ACCEPT I kept myself very busy writing and recording for film/TV productions and various artists around the globe. That’s how I reconnected with Udo working on his solo album »My Way,« the U.D.O. album »We Are One« and the D&TOG album »Arising.« Since Stefan Kaufmann [guitars; ex-ACCEPT drummer] was also involved, it all had a very familiar feeling.

That’s why when Udo called me in September to fill in for his injured bass player I did not hesitate. The set list had mostly U.D.O. songs which I was not familiar with, and a few ACCEPT tunes. When I arrived in Berlin a few days later for the first show, I was nervous and had no idea what to expect.

But as soon as we all took the stage standing next to Udo, it felt like home: His voice took me right back to where it all began. It was a total surprise for the audience at first, but as we played on I realized they where as happy as I was to see Udo and me together again.

Over the next three months, I really got to know Sven, Dee and Andrey as extremely talented musicians but also as very humble and respectful guys. It all feels very authentic.

That made my decision to say “yes” very easy when Udo asked me to join the band permanently.”

Udo Dirkschneider adds, “I have a very long friendship with Peter Baltes which has never been shadowed by the disagreements with ACCEPT over the past few years. The arguments were exclusively with another person and his wife. It should be clear to everyone who is meant! All other ACCEPT members have always been united in friendship.

It meant a lot to me when Peter spontaneously helped us out on some U.D.O. tour dates last year. From the first day, I experienced the great feeling and trust from the past with him again. A feeling that always connected us throughout the years in ACCEPT.

I’m aware that Peter had many lucrative offers from other bands on the table, all of which he had turned down over the years. To be honest, he can’t earn these sums with us. It means even more to me that he still decided to stay with U.D.O. and to also join DIRKSCHNEIDER as bassist. This shows me that he has a real metal heart beating in his chest and that friendship and fun are more important to him than money. Thank you, Peter!

We are very happy that after so many years you are finally having fun on stage again!”

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Music Top Stories

U.D.O. Bassist Tilen Hudrap Announces His Departure from the Band – 2022

U.D.O.: Dear fans, We want to inform you that Tilen Hudrap decided to leave the band on his own accord.

Tilen states:

After 3 albums (2 studio albums and 1 live album/DVD) and worldwide live performances with both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER I decided that it’s time for me to pursue other interests in the metal world. Thanks to all the fans all over the world and good luck to the band on all future endeavors.

We wish you all the best for the future Tilen! We see you somewhere on the road! 🤘🏻

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Cool Chitz History Listen Music Top Stories

ACCEPT’s 1st Tour Bus – The 1983 Balls to the Wall Tour – COOL AS S**T HISTORY

Accept:

All great artists have to begin from the start!

This picture was taken in 1983 and is Accepts first TOUR BUS!!

It was the simplest of vans, but it had a tv and a fridge and the budding Rockstars were so proud of it! They even had to drive it themselves unlike these days where their tour bus has beds, bathroom, kitchen, lounge and a driver.

Peter Baltes father painted the Accept Logo!

Lesson: Never stop following your dreams and passion!

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Concert Tickets

Udo Dirkschneider: Paris Concert (Petit Bain) Canceled Due to Local Promoter: “He seems to have completely vanished” – 2022 – U.D.O. – Accept

U.D.O.: ‼️ IMPORTANT INFO FOR OUR FANS IN PARIS ‼️

Dear Fans,

It is with the deepest regret that we have to announce that our show in Paris on Nov 29th is cancelled. The local promoter, Black Speech Productions, has left us high and dry. He seems to have completely vanished – he is not answering any of our emails or phone calls and has not upheld any of the terms of the contract we have with him. Our Partner French Agency has informed us that it seems that he is bankrupt and has recently abandoned several other shows (for example Lordi).

For us, it is a really hard blow to suddenly find that we cannot play this show, as we’ve been desperately looking forward to seeing you all again after so many years. We hope that everybody gets a refund of his ticket, and we hope to see you very soon at another U.D.O. show.

Please accept our deepest apologies for the cancellation but it is completely out of our hands! And please note that we are absolutely, definitely going to play the show in Strasbourg Nov 30th, which is also the very last show of our European Tour 2022.

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Behind the Album Guitars Listen Music Top Stories

ACCEPT’s Wolf Hoffmann on “Balls to the Wall” & Flying V Guitars: “I’ve never recorded with a Flying V in the studio” – 2022 – INTERVIEW

Metal Edge:

Accept’s Wolf Hoffmann talks ‘Balls to the Wall,’ ‘Fast as a Shark’ and being ‘too mean to die.’

You can read the entire interview @ this location. An excerpt from the feature has been provided below.

INTERVIEW EXCERPT:

“We were fucking freezing our asses off,” guitarist Wolf Hoffmann says, thinking back to the music video shoot for Accept’s 1984 metal anthem, “Balls to the Wall.” “But, hey man, it was still exciting. It was glorious.”

The big-budget video, which depicts the German band rocking before a clock tower and riding a wrecking ball, was directed by Julien Temple. Temple helmed a slew of now-classic clips, from Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law” to Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’ ” to Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On.”

“It was filmed in London in an old, dilapidated building near Heathrow Airport,” Hoffmann says of the “Balls” vid. “The building in the background that was supposed to be destroyed was an old Black & Becker [hardware tools] factory, they told us. It was November or December or something like that, and it was raining, almost like ice-rain, during the filming. Everything was set up and there was no way we would cancel because it was so expensive, so we had to do it within a few hours. You could hardly feel your fingers.”

Previously, it was Hoffmann’s same fingers that manifested that snarling, stutter-stepping riff for “Balls to the Wall,” back when they were writing what became their breakthrough 1984 album of the same name. Hoffman is known for playing Flying V guitars onstage. He brandished a V in the “Balls to the Wall” video, too.

“But I’ll tell you the secret,” Hoffmann says. “I’ve never recorded with a Flying V in the studio. ‘Balls to the Wall’ and all that stuff was played on a Strat. But I’ve always preferred Vs onstage just because when you’re putting on a show, it looks good and it feels good and, you know, it makes a statement. It feels like metal when you hold that thing in your hand.”

Six decades later, “Balls to the Wall” remains Accept’s signature tune. “I remember it started with a title,” Hoffmann says of the track’s musical origins. Meanwhile, its lyrics reflected the band’s interest in human rights. “The title inspired me to write the riff and the chorus. And it all happened within minutes, really,” he says. “I sat at home and came up with the basic chunks of the song and then brought it to the guys in the rehearsal room. We jammed on it, and it felt perfect. Peter [Baltes, then-bassist] came up with the verse, the verse structure, but everything else was basically already there and fell into place super easy. It was almost unreal.

You can read the entire interview @ this location.

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Listen Music New Releases Top Stories

U.D.O. NEW ‘Best Of’ Album ‘The Legacy’ – 2 CD – Greatest Hits – Udo Dirkschneider of Accept – 2022 SONG/VIDEO “Dust and Rust”

U.D.O. announce career-spanning “best of” compilation ‚The Legacy! Rare track “Dust And Rust” available for streaming!

Rounding off a special anniversary year for the band (35 years since the founding of the group as well as launching the debut album, Animal House) and its fearless leader & voice Udo Dirkschneider (who turned 70 this April). November 18th, 2022, will see German heavy metal legends U.D.O. release an extensive career-spanning “best of” compilation, titled The Legacy.

PRE-ORDER

With such a rich, high-class catalog gathered within the past three and a half decades, it’s simply an impossible task to compile a double CD of material to satisfy everyone, but The Legacy is by far the most extensive retrospective the band has ever released, featuring 33 tracks overall and including songs from all U.D.O. studio albums. Among these 33 tracks are 4 rare songs, which a lot of U.D.O.‘s loyal followers will hear for the first time here.

The Legacy proves that U.D.O. produced classics throughout their entire career. Their longevity and quality of output is almost unmatched within the heavy metal scene.

The rare track “Dust And Rust” (originally from 2013‘s U.D.O. album Steelhammer and now included on The Legacy) is available for streaming:

Tracklisting:
CD 1:
01. Fear Detector
02. Metal Never Dies
03. Wilder Life (rare track)
04. Pandemonium
05. One Heart One Soul
06. Make The Move
07. What A Hell Of A Night (rare track)
08. Pain
09. Decadent
10. Falling Angels (rare track)
11. Metal Machine
12. Steelhammer
13. Dust And Rust (rare track)
14. I Give As Good As I Get
15. Rock’n’Roll Soldiers
16. Dominator

CD 2:
01. Mastercutor
02. Vendetta
03. 24/7
04. Blind Eyes
05. Man And Machine
06. Like A Lion
07. Shout It Out
08. Holy
09. Freelance Man
10. Independence Day
11. Metal Eater
12. Future Land
13. Blitz Of Lightning
14. We’re History
15. Break The Rules
16. Go Back To Hell
17. They Want War

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Health Listen Music Top Stories

Udo Dirkschneider Bassist Hospitalized After Nearly Collapsing Onstage – Accept Bassist Peter Baltes Named as Replacement – 2022

U.D.O.:

As you may already have heard, last night Tilen Hudrap, our bass player & invaluable member of the U.D.O. family, had to be rushed to the hospital after nearly collapsing on stage. Tilen is a guy who would walk barefoot over burning coals to play a show, but his body, after months of stress of every kind, just could not take it any longer.

He is in excellent hands at a great hospital in Munich, where doctors are continuing to run tests on him to ascertain the quickest way to bring him back to full health. But for right now, the best medicine is rest.

U.D.O. will continue the tour without Tilen until he has fully recovered. The next two shows in Pratteln and Stuttgart will be performed without a bass player, then Peter Baltes will join us as temporary replacement from Berlin onwards.

Of course, we will all be devastated to not have Tilen on stage with us, but his health comes first, and as soon as he is able, you can be sure he will be up there, rocking the world, stronger than before.

We love you Tilen! Get well soon!

U.D.O. Band, Crew and Management!

Below is Tilen’s message to all of you in full, written from his hospital bed.

This is the hardest thing I ever wrote publicly.

As a public person, I feel compelled to write what I will write, especially because I owe it to the fans: the fans of the band, my own fans ‘n’ supporters from all the years of touring and to everyone involved in this touring commitment going on at the moment.

Yesterday my body gave in on stage.

In twenty years, I never cancelled one single show and in all my professional years I never cancelled a tour or a concert. Not with a broken finger, not with 40C body temperature, not while barely standing, after I haven’t slept for 52 hours, not ever.

At the beginning of the world tour, this was the last thing I wanted to do (to cancel ANYTHING, let alone a 3-month tour) so despite my burnout condition that I never talked publicly about and against the advice of my doctors and my family I went on tour to not let down my brothers in the band and the hardworking crew and management/booking agency. I always prided myself in being a road warrior and went through way crazier situations in my career, so I thought this would not be a big deal (to do a nice 3-month tour). It turned out it was.

(Un)Fortunately!!! my body gave in during the last two songs yesterday.

Respiratory alkalosis, total hyperventilation, uncontrollable tremors, momentary collapse of body functions and complete burnout. The doctors in the emergency room in München said I should’ve never gone on stage for the last week, let alone during the whole summer. My body was running on fumes. They basically saved me.

I’m in the hospital now, writing this and thinking about everyone involved. Sorry to everyone and all the fans, but I need to take some time to get back to 100%.

Please know I would never not go play if it wasn’t serious as it is. Most of this was caused by unreal amounts of no sleep, stress, e. rollercoasters and on top, corona period. All this, plus decades of work that took me to where I am, put a price on my body.

Yes, I remain in the band, the new album is in the works and someone nice will come to replace me indefinitely until I get back in shape for which you have always known me for. You know I always gave 200% and always will!

I will make a few updates in the following days to keep everyone in the loop. Got many worried msgs, I wanna assure everyone that I will be fine and come back stronger than ever. A metal heart is hard to tear apart!

Last, but not least and most important: indescribable gratitude to my band brothers and crew for their support in the most dire situation yesterday and in general. I love you guys!

METAL Lives! -T.

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Udo Dirkschneider Jams ACCEPT Classics at Wacken Open Air 2022 – PHOTOS/VIDEO – U.D.O. – “Midnight Mover” “Princess of the Dawn” “Up to the Limit” “Living for Tonight” “Breaker” “Balls to the Wall”

Udo Dirkschneider:

Thank you, Wacken Open Air! That was one for the books for sure! Thank you so much for your energy! 🤘🏻

📸 By Nadja Widak

Full Set

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Music New Releases Top Stories

Udo Dirkschneider’s ‘My Way’ Enters German Album Charts @ #4 – 2022 – Chart Positions

Udo Dirkschneider:💥⚡🔥‘My Way’ enters the official German Album Charts on position #4 🔥⚡💥

🤩 Now the sensation is complete! “My Way” enters the official German album charts on a sensational position #4, which marks Udo Dirkschneider’s highest chart position ever in Germany of his entire career. Back in the 80s, the ACCEPT classic “Russian Roulette” went on #5 and with U.D.O. he reached #7 with “Steelfactory” in 2018. 🤩

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Udo Dirkschneider ‘My Way’ NEW ALBUM UNBOXING – 2022 – VIDEO – Earbook Version – CD/VINYL/LP/Digipak

Udo Dirkschneider: 🤩 Unbox the Earbook version of the brand new album ‘MY WAY’ together with Udo 🤩

The album is now available as a double-vinyl in gatefold (black and clear), as a digipack CD, as well as an Earbook including a 60-page booklet with many pictures from Udo’s life.

Order the album @ 👉 this location.

“My Way” Tracklist
01. Faith Healer (Alex Harvey)
02. Fire (Crazy World Of Arthur Brown)
03. Sympathy (Uriah Heep)
04. They Call It Nutbush (Tina Turner)
05. Man On The Silver Mountain (Rainbow)
06. Hell Raiser (The Sweet)
07. No Class (Motörhead)
08. Rock And Roll (Led Zeppelin)
09. The Stroke (Billy Squier)
10. Paint It Black (Edit Version)
11. He’s A Woman, She’s A Man (The Scorpions)
12. T.N.T. (AC/DC)
13. Jealousy (Frankie Miller)
14. Hell Bent For Leather (Judas Priest)
15. We Will Rock You (Queen)
16. Kein Zurück (Wolfsheim)
17. My Way (Frank Sinatra)
Atomic Fire Records

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Cool Chitz Music Top Stories

Producer/Engineer Michael Wagener Wishes Vocalist Udo Dirkschneider a Happy 70th Birthday – ACCEPT – 2022

Michael Wagener: Happy 70th birthday Udo

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Music New Releases Top Stories

U.D.O. ‘Game Over’ 2-LP/VINYL – 2022 – Udo Dirkschneider – Accept

AFM Records: U.D.O. “Game Over”- finally available on vinyl! We know, it took a long time, but the vinyl editions of “Game Over”, the latest studio album by German metal legend U.D.O., are finally available. 💥

ORDER HERE

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UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER Covers Queen’s “We Will Rock You” NEW SONG/VIDEO/ALBUM ‘My Way’ – 2022 – Pre-Order – LP/VINYL/CD

UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER reveals the first single & video “We Will Rock You” from his forthcoming album, “My Way” – Pre-Orders are up! THE constant among the German metal scene – Udo Dirkschneider. Originally becoming world-famous as a founding member of ACCEPT, he continues to steadily expand upon his international successes with his U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER outfits. Remaining true to himself over the years in a way few musicians could, Dirkschneider consistently bucks music industry trends in favor of following his heart. Yet his most personal and extraordinary album to date will be released on April 22nd, 2022: “My Way”.

Today, Udo Dirkschneider reveals the first single from his upcoming new album ‘My Way’, the QUEEN classic “We Will Rock You”, which has personally been approved by Brian May who described it as one of the strongest QUEEN cover versions he has ever heard.

“Queen have shown how versatile a band can be”, states Udo Dirkschneider and explains: “They have always fascinated me and have been one of my very first favorite bands. Queen inspired me musically and I still enjoy listening to all of their records to this day. I liked the live version of „We Will Rock You“ most, which is why I used that one for my cover version“.

This new release contains 17 cover versions of the very songs that have influenced the musician and singer the most. All kinds of classics from music history are among them – including those that you might not expect from Udo. Not only does a very personal story lie behind each of the tracks, but also a sometimes surprising arrangement that, despite the very individual implementation, lives and breathes Udo’s manuscript throughout. “Now when I hear the songs, I remember the time when, as a very young Udo, I’d go out to light up the town and lived all the stories that can only be experienced late at night in the clubs.”

The cover album also makes one thing clear: Just how many in the music industry have come and gone over the years. Yet, Udo Dirkschneider is still here – and you can find the following 17 songs on the new album “My Way”:

01. Faith Healer (Alex Harvey)
02. Fire (Crazy World Of Arthur Brown)
03. Sympathy (Uriah Heep)
04. They Call It Nutbush (Tina Turner)
05. Man On The Silver Mountain (Rainbow)
06. Hell Raiser (The Sweet)
07. No Class (Motörhead)
08. Rock And Roll (Led Zeppelin)
09. The Stroke (Billy Squier)
10. Paint It Black (Edit Version)
11. He’s A Woman, She’s A Man (The Scorpions)
12. T.N.T. (AC/DC)
13. Jealousy (Frankie Miller)
14. Hell Bent For Leather (Judas Priest)
15. We Will Rock You (Queen)
16. Kein Zurück (Wolfsheim)
17. My Way (Frank Sinatra)

Today also marks the start of the pre-order for the album, which is available as a double-vinyl in gatefold (black and clear), as a digipack CD, as well as an Earbook including a 60-page booklet with many pictures from Udo’s life. – Order Here

The vinyl version will also come in a limited, colored (grey marbled) RECORD STORE DAY version, which also includes a signed photo card and an exclusive 18-track label compilation of Atomic Fire Records artists on CD, out on April 23rd and available in all participating record stores. – More Info

A limited (700 copies) 7“ vinyl single, including “We Will Rock You” and “Kein Zurück”, is also due for release on March 18th and can be pre-ordered now @ this location.

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U.D.O. “Metal Never Dies” NEW SONG/VIDEO/ALBUM – ‘Game Over’ 2021 – Udo Dirkschneider – Accept

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U.D.O.: 🤟”I’m gonna rock on forever!”🤟
Watch our new single-video “Metal Never Dies” from our upcoming album “Game Over!”

ORDER/STREAM

“Metal Never Dies” is a Teutonic Metal hymn from the reigning king of German heavy metal with those infectious and memorable melodic guitar riffs and with a brilliant chorus that metal fans will sing for years. The new album “Game Over” will hit the market on October 22, 2021.

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Wolf Hoffmann Talks Accept ‘Balls to the Wall’ Album – 1984 – London Leatherboys – Deaffy

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The excerpt below was taken from the full in bloom interview with Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann.

Wolf talks about Accept’s breakout album, Balls to the Wall, the band’s songwriting process, Deaffy, London Leatherboys, Udo and more.  Listen to the clip below.

Wikipedia

Balls to the Wall is the fifth studio album by German heavy metal band Accept. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its United States release was delayed until a month later in January 1984 as to not compete with the band’s then-current album Restless and Wild, which had arrived in the US in early 1983. It is Accept’s only record to attain Gold certification in the US. The album’s title track became Accept’s signature tune and remains a metal anthem and trademark in the genre.

Accept on Amazon – Spotify – Apple Music/iTunes

Interview Excerpt:

“Balls to the Wall” Official Video

“London Leatherboys”

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Accept “Ball to the Wall” @ Wacken 2017 10″ Vinyl Announced

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Accept will be releasing a Limited Edition 10” Vinyl version of ‘Balls To The Wall (Live)’ / ‘Symphony No. 40 in G Minor (Live)’, which was recorded at Wacken Open Air 2017, on October 5th.  Pre-order your copy now on gold or silver vinyl at this location.