For more than thirty years now Udo Dirkschneider has been screaming his lungs out to sold-out audiences worldwide. Forming German hard rock act Accept way back in 1971 Udo and gang rose to fame with their unique blend of rip roaring rock n roll. Over the years Accept released many amazing albums, albums that still hold up against any of today’s up and comers. Albums such as ‘Balls to the Wall’ & ‘Metal Heart’ placed Accept in the elite of Europe’s heavy metal scene. When accept members Wolf & Peter fired Udo from his own band he went on to create U.D.O. who have released an array of amazing albums over the years. Recently Udo and gang released there long awaited album Mission No X which has been music to the ears of many metal fans in Europe & beyond. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with one of the world’s greatest vocalist about his time in Accept & U.D.O., The latest album and much more. It’s time to get your Balls to the Wall with Udo Dirkschneider. Metal Fanatix: Hi Udo, first of all I want to thank you for putting some time aside to speak with us today, it’s a true pleasure to have this opportunity to ask you a few questions. I want to start by talking to you about the recently released U.D.O. album Mission No X, were you guys pleased with the overall outcome? Udo Dirkschneider: Hi Cameron, yes we are more than happy with the whole thing! Metal Fanatix: Awesome! For the fans who haven’t heard it yet, how does the new album differ from previous releases? Udo Dirkschneider: This album is a more straight forward album & more rock’n’roll then the last one! Metal Fanatix: How long did the new album take to record? Was it a long drawn out process? Udo Dirkschneider: It takes us four months to write the songs & record everything, in a way it was very fast! Metal Fanatix: Did you approach this album in a different way to previous releases in terms of writing & vocal styles? Udo Dirkschneider: No! Not at all. Metal Fanatix: When you prepare to do a new album such as ‘Mission No X’, what comes first the lyrics or the music & what different factors surrounded writing the material for this album? Udo Dirkschneider: Since the ‘Man & Machine’ album we start first with the lyrics & then comes the music. Metal Fanatix: Udo, tell us briefly about the following tracks from Mission No X Udo Dirkschneider: Scream Killers: Something is coming from somewhere out of space. The Eye of the Eagle: We have to be more careful with our nature. Stone Hard: We are still stone hard in away with our music. Number for a Number: About bad business money wise, it’s about people that only count on money. Mean Streets: The lyrics about dirty streets, pervert sex things. Raping people.
Udo Dirkschneider: I think in a way we are lucky, sometimes I ask myself when it comes to record a new album, hopefully we still have enough ideas but we’re always coming out with new ideas. Metal Fanatix: Udo, more then twenty years on what motivates you to keep making music? Udo Dirkschneider: Well, I’m still having fun! For me that’s the most important thing! Metal Fanatix: I’d like to talk to you about life on the road, you guys are currently out on the road in support of the new album, how have the shows been going? Udo Dirkschneider: We’ve just started the first part of our world tour & everything is going well so far. Metal Fanatix: That’s great I hope the tour continues in that direction for you guys. Accept & U.D.O. has never played shows in Australia, are there any plans in the works to tour here soon? Udo Dirkschneider: I would love to tour in Australia. This time we are touring throughout a very big part of Asia so, maybe there is a chance this time. Metal Fanatix: Well we sure hope so mate, when the time comes to work out the set list, do you find it hard to choose the right songs, I mean there will always be fans who want to hear the old stuff & the occasional obscure song & of course you have to play some new tracks. Do you find it hard to make a set that is for fans of all eras? Udo Dirkschneider: This is a nightmare for us [laughs]. This time we made a voting on our website. Only U.D.O. songs so the people can vote for the songs they wanna hear live. So it was a little bit easier for us this time [laughs] Metal Fanatix: What is the most ridiculous thing you have ever asked for on a tour rider? Udo Dirkschneider: We never ask for crazy, we don’t play that game!
Udo Dirkschneider: Ozzy Osbourne was the funniest tour I have been on. They are so many funny stories. Oh I remember one show during Tommy Aldridge’s drum solo, Ozzy went out of the hall straight to the next bar, everybody was looking for him so it was one of the longest drum solo’s I’ve ever heard [laughs] Metal Fanatix: [laughs] oh I bet Tommy was pissed at Ozzy that night [laughs]. Tell us about the first tour Accept did, what fond/horrific memories come to mind? Udo Dirkschneider: The first tour was in Holland & wow we had money left from this tour! [Laughs] Metal Fanatix: Touring the world for so many years must put a burden on family life? Do you travel with family on the road? Udo Dirkschneider: They just travel with me when we do festivals! On tour they visit me from time to time or I fly home on off days! Metal Fanatix: Do you do anything specific to warm up & prepare for a show? Udo Dirkschneider: No, nothing special. Metal Fanatix: You have an amazing & unique voice and you’ve been singing for quite some time. These days is heavy metal still giving you any challenges? Udo Dirkschneider: Oh of course! Every time when we record a new album I try something new with my voice! Metal Fanatix: Udo, I want to talk about the Accept reunion tour, overall were you pleased with the response you received from the fans? Udo Dirkschneider: It was a lot of fun for me & I think the people enjoyed the shows? Metal Fanatix: Will there be a DVD released showcasing the reunion? Udo Dirkschneider: I know that the Wacken show was recorded, so maybe there will be a DVD coming out. Metal Fanatix: Going back to when you first left Accept, what did you think of the vocalists that followed (Rob Armitage, David Reece & Jim Stacey)? Did you keep an eye on what the band was up to? Udo Dirkschneider: Sorry, but that is wrong. I never left the band they fired me in a way. Wolf & Peter were not happy with my vocals anymore & they were looking for a more commercial singer to hit the American market, what a stupid idea!? Of course I was keeping an eye on the band. But you know what happened...... They split up!
Udo Dirkschneider: No. I started the whole Accept thing in the beginning as a hobby. If somebody told me that I’d still after 30 years be in this business, I wouldn’t have believe him Metal Fanatix: Anthrax is just one band that has said many times that if it wasn’t for bands such as Accept, they probably would have never have been playing, when you hear those sort of comments, you must be proud to have helped start that generation of thrash metal bands! Udo Dirkschneider: Yeah I am. When I hear those things it makes me proud. It means I made a great contribution in this business! Metal Fanatix: Udo, you certainly have made a great lasting impression on the business. After all these years & tremendous success what goals have you set for yourself these days? Udo Dirkschneider: I hope I can go on for a long time & still write some good songs & make some people happy with our music. Metal Fanatix: There has been so many highlights in your career, what would you say have been your greatest achievements to date? Udo Dirkschneider: The Monsters of Rock 1984 & our first U.S. tour with Kiss in 1984 Metal Fanatix: Out of the amazing array of albums you have appeared on over the years which is your favorite to listen to & why? Udo Dirkschneider: Queen – Innuendo. There are so many emotions on this album!!! Metal Fanatix: Late last year you did some work with Lordi, how did you get involved with those guys? Udo Dirkschneider: I got an e-mail from Sony/BMG Finland & they asked me about this relationship with Lordi & told me that Lordi is a big fan of mine. So it was very easy. I told them to send me the song as I have to listen to the song first & what can I say? I liked the song very much so I traveled to Helsinki & did the recording together with Lordi! Yesterday Lordi came up on-stage in Helsinki & he was singing Balls to the Wall together with us, it was a lot of fun! Metal Fanatix: In your honest opinion what do you think about the direction hard rock & metal music has taken over the last few years? Udo Dirkschneider: Oh, what can I say! Still a lot of young bands still come up with this & some of them are very good! Metal Fanatix: What advice do you have for up and coming rock/metal bands? Udo Dirkschneider: I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself.
Udo Dirkschneider: I think it takes a while before the music industry can handle this in a good way for artists. But anyway, this is the future & we have to deal with that. Metal Fanatix: If you could put a band together consisting of musicians passed and/or present who would they be & what would you call the band? Udo Dirkschneider: Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Ken Hensley on keyboards, Cozy Powell on drums & Jimmy Bain on bass guitar. I’d call it Heroes of Rock! Metal Fanatix: Udo, thanks so much again for taking the time out to speak with us today, as a huge fan I was thrilled to have this opportunity. Do you have any last words you’d like to share with our readers? Udo Dirkschneider: Hopefully we can make it once again to the U.S.A. & I would love to make it to Australia. I know a lot of fans are waiting for this & we will do our best for a tour very soon! So stay tuned and keep it heavy! The latest U.D.O. Album ‘Mission No X’ is out now! Pick up your copy today. To keep up with all the latest on Udo make sure you check out the following websites: http://www.udo-online.de - Official U.D.O. website http://www.AcceptArchive.com - Official Accept website http://insideout666.mysite.freeserve.com - Dedicated to 40 years of hard rock & metal music © Cameron Edney March, April 2006 Not to be re-printed in any form without written permission. |
