In a brand new interview with Andrew McKaysmith of the Scars And Guitars podcast, Udo Dirkschneider and his son Sven Dirkschneider spoke in regards to the upcoming reimagining of ACCEPT‘s iconic album “Balls To The Wall” to have fun the LP’s fortieth anniversary. The band’s founding member and former frontman has reinterpreted this traditional with a contemporary and star-studded twist. Removed from a easy remake, this undertaking was born out of numerous conversations with outstanding artists throughout the worldwide rock and metallic scene, who incessantly requested: “Are you planning something particular for the fortieth anniversary of ‘Balls To The Wall’?” These discussions sparked the thought to re-record the album’s legendary tracks alongside a stellar lineup of visitor musicians, reworking the undertaking right into a heartfelt tribute.
Requested if there have been any “problems” with ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and ACCEPT‘s administration about releasing a reimagined model of “Balls To The Wall”, Udo mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “No… All people can report [their own version of] the ‘Balls’ album, if they do not change preparations or stuff like that. You are able to do that, my brother can do it, my sister, no matter — you do not have to ask.”
He continued: “No, about this, there was no communication [with Wolf]. In a approach, with Peter [Baltes, former ACCEPT bassist and current member of U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER] and with me singing and enjoying on this album, and, in fact, a 3rd member of ACCEPT, [former ACCEPT drummer] Stefan Kaufmann, was behind the scenes. He was very a lot concerned in recording the drums and confirmed Sven how he needed to play ACCEPT songs proper. [Stefan] was [also] very a lot concerned in guitar stuff — he was sitting along with the guitar gamers and instructed them, okay, how they needed to play the rhythm guitars precisely, that it is getting almost excellent. Stefan, he was a member of U.D.O. — I do not know — for a very long time. And I do know he is a very good rhythm guitar participant. He is a machine. And likewise Stefan is certainly a man, he is actually crucial.”
Added Sven, who performs drums in each U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER: “Stefan will at all times let you know if he would not like one thing. He’ll let you know straight away. And he is very simple. So if he would not like one thing, once we report, he is very simple as effectively. So, that makes it extra productive as a result of you do not have to see what the man’s truly which means, and is he telling me the reality? Is he simply saying that is good, however he thinks it is dangerous or no matter? So it makes it simpler within the studio, but in addition you must face info. If he would not like one thing, then you must sustain with it and say, ‘Okay, I must do it higher.’ So it was very productive working with Stefan. I used to be nervous once I recorded the drums as a result of I had the unique [ACCEPT drummer] sitting there on the blending desk recording my tracks. However, yeah, it was actually cool to have him and to listen to his suggestions on what he thinks and put my touches on it. He let me do this, which I actually respect, and it is a massive honor.”
The reimagined “Balls To The Wall”, which is due on February 28, 2025 through Reigning Phoenix Music, options a powerful roster of expertise, respiratory new life into every monitor.
“Balls To The Wall – Reloaded” monitor itemizing:
01. Balls To The Wall (feat. Joakim Brodén of SABATON)
02. London Leatherboys (feat. Biff Byford of SAXON)
03. Struggle It Again (feat. Mille Petrozza of KREATOR)
04. Head Over Heels (feat. Nils Molin of DYNAZTY/AMARANTHE)
05. Shedding Extra Than You have Ever Had (feat. Michael Kiske of HELLOWEEN)
06. Love Little one (feat. Ylva Eriksson of BROTHERS OF METAL)
07. Flip Me On (feat. Danko Jones)
08. Losers And Winners (feat. Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER)
09. Guardian Of The Night time (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens of KK’s PRIEST, previously of JUDAS PRIEST)
10. Winter Desires (feat. Doro Pesch)
In a current interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal’s Metallic World, Udo and Peter spoke in regards to the new model of “Balls To The Wall”. Requested what led to the choice to launch a reimagined model of the LP, Udo mentioned: “Usually it was not deliberate to do an album; it was solely deliberate to do a tour in regards to the 40-years anniversary of ‘Balls’. And so forth some festivals, a number of singers [from other bands] got here up [and asked], ‘Oh, you do one thing particular for the fortieth anniversary.’ After which we mentioned, ‘Yeah, touring, undoubtedly.’ After which they mentioned, ‘Oh, I might like to sing a tune of the ‘Balls’ album.’ After which the thought got here up very slowly. We mentioned, ‘Yeah, it may be fascinating.'”
Udo continued: “To re-record the ‘Balls’ album, it is like, ‘Do not contact the holy cow.’ However with the guest-singer factor now, what we did, I feel it labored out very effectively. The reactions are excellent up to now. And so I feel I am proud of the results of all the pieces.”
Requested if he loved the method of listening to totally different company singing with Udo, Peter mentioned: “I loved it tremendously. I additionally was nervous touching the album once more. However after we began recording, I felt actually into it. And I performed it the best way I play stay at this time, the songs. I made a decision to not copy the unique, on my bass enjoying particularly, as a result of these songs advanced over so a few years to what I am enjoying at this time. And that was one of many causes. The opposite as a lot because the holy cow and iconic it’s, it additionally sits on the shelf someplace and all people’s behind you and it hasn’t been moved in 20 years. So it’s an honor for us to have the ability to reintroduce the album to a youthful era, to a complete new world at this time. And I feel it offers the album an amazing honor that it deserves, the place it stands.”
Udo added: “I used to be fairly nervous once I began recording the album, with vocals. I imply, I used to be not fairly certain that I might hit all of the notes [laughs], the excessive notes and all that. However ultimately, I feel it really works. So I am fortunate. And I feel particularly the entire environment between the visitor singers and my vocals, I feel it offers the entire thing a brand new dimension, a brand new environment. And yeah, I prefer it very a lot.”
In a separate interview with The Brutally Scrumptious Podcast, Udo said about “Balls To The Wall – Reloaded”: “To illustrate to start with it was simply deliberate to do a tour [celebrating] the 40 years of ‘Balls To The Wall’. However then on festivals, some musicians got here up and mentioned, ‘Oh, you do one thing particular for this 40-years anniversary of ‘Balls’. And I mentioned, ‘Yeah, touring.’ ‘Yeah. You understand I really like this tune. I might like to sing on this,’ and blah, blah, blah, blah. After which I feel it developed.”
Sven added: “The thought got here collectively. We had so many nice vocalists that needed to take part on this album. So we sat down and had a thought if we will — as a result of it’s totally powerful in managing all this. I imply, everyone seems to be busy, everyone seems to be doing their very own data and whatnot. So it was fairly difficult, however ultimately it labored out. I feel we received the final vocals in final minute to get this carried out. However yeah, we’ve got actually good folks on this album and we respect that they needed to do it. And I feel they’re nice new variations of the legendary album.”
Requested if that they had sure vocalists in thoughts for sure songs, Sven mentioned: “We had a really lengthy record. And stuff like [SAXON‘s] Biff Byford on ‘London Leatherboys’ was sort of apparent, that we needed to have him for this. And, yeah, we’re occurring tour with SAXON as effectively in November this 12 months. So, all of it makes excellent sense. And, yeah, [there are some] very, excellent collaborations.”
Udo continued: “All of the singers, they did an amazing job on it. For instance, Joakim [Brodén] from SABATON, ‘Balls To The Wall’, he did an amazing job. And likewise [TWISTED SISTER‘s] Dee Snider on ‘Losers And Winners’. And likewise Biff on ‘London Leatherboys’.
“The factor was we didn’t inform them, ‘Okay, you must sing this line and this line and this line and this line.’ [We told them to] sing the entire tune after which we will see which elements match along with my vocals,” Udo defined. “After which, while you pay attention, for instance, to the vocals of Biff for ‘London Leatherboys’, it may be a SAXON tune… I imply, Doro [Pesch] did an amazing job on ‘Winter Desires’. And likewise Mille [Petrozza] of KREATOR, ‘Struggle It Again’. And likewise Michael Kiske, from HELLOWEEN, he was singing ‘Shedding Extra Than You have Ever Had’. He did an amazing job. Additionally for me, particularly, it was fascinating to listen to this. ‘Wow, okay. Good.’ Yeah, I feel we’re blissful and I feel additionally the visitor singers, I feel they actually loved to do that. And that was a very powerful factor. And likewise that they put their very own character on every tune, not attempting to be Udo. That is senseless.”
Referencing the brand new model of “Balls To The Wall” that includes Brodén, Sven mentioned: “We known as [Joakim] up as a result of we’ve got an extended relationship with SABATON. We performed their pageant a number of instances and we have at all times had fun with them. In order that was sort of pure, and he was completely up for it. But it surely was additionally very fascinating. He, for instance, did the talking half. After which he got here again to us and mentioned, ‘No, use Udo‘s, as a result of he does it higher.’ But it surely was tremendous cool that, yeah, everybody put his character and his model of singing on to the songs. In order that was nice.”
Sven additionally talked in regards to the total strategy when it got here to the manufacturing of “Balls To The Wall – Reloaded”, saying: “‘Particularly with the drum sound, we tried to get as shut as doable from this old-school vibe, however nonetheless, I imply, now we’ve got fashionable know-how recording stuff, so it undoubtedly sounds updated, but it surely’s nonetheless with the old-school vibes. It is pure. I imply, when Peter [Baltes, former ACCEPT and current DIRKSCHNEIDER and U.D.O. bassist] performs bass, it is Peter enjoying bass. So it’s that sound. And as quickly as Udo‘s kicking in… And our guitar gamers, they’re doing it for such a very long time that additionally they are completely into the vibe of this type of music. So it got here alongside naturally, I might say, the sound of this album. However nonetheless, it is fashionable high quality, which I feel is superior.”
The second single from the album, a re-recording of “Winter Desires”, reveals a softer facet of the LP whereas preserving a significant lyrical depth, making it an emotional anthem of freedom. The only stands out not just for its significance but in addition for that includes the legendary German metallic queen Doro Pesch, alongside Udo Dirkschneider. This collaboration highlights the album’s distinctive strategy, underlining the long-running inspiration for the entire scene and famend metallic figureheads and companions alike.
Udo commented: “It was a really particular expertise for me to re-record ‘Winter Desires’ with Doro Pesch. Doro and I’ve spent so a few years collectively within the scene and there’s a deep, virtually familial connection between us. Her voice offers this tune an unbelievable magic and emotionality that takes it to a complete new stage. It was like a reunion with an outdated buddy for me and collectively we made ‘Winter Desires’ much more intense and private. It simply feels proper to share this second collectively!”
Doro added: “‘Balls To The Wall’ has at all times been one in all my absolute favourite albums. I used to be actually blissful to sing the great ‘Winter Desires’ as a duet with Udo Dirkschneider and to shoot an amazing video for it. We’ve an extended friendship and it’s at all times particular to work with him.”
Taking followers to the vaults of Citadel Reifenstein (Freienfeld, Italy),positioned in a superbly wintry mountain panorama, the “Winter Desires” music video, starring each vocalists Udo Dirkschneider and Doro Pesch, will be watched beneath.
Concerning the duty of reimagining your entire “Balls To The Wall” album, Udo beforehand said: “Re-recording ‘Balls To The Wall’ was a giant problem for me. The album is a milestone of my profession, in fact. That is why it was much more essential to me to make the unique songs shine in a brand new mild with out shedding their preliminary essence. All company have put their particular person stamps on these traditional tracks, and collaborating with such excellent vocalists has moved them right into a contemporary and thrilling dimension. The result’s a robust homage to all followers but in addition an invite to the following era to expertise the songs not minorly passionate than I used to be once I recorded them again within the day. It is a unending private journey for me — ‘Balls To The Wall’ will at all times be part of me.”
DIRKSCHNEIDER, the band that includes former ACCEPT members Udo (vocals) and Peter (bass),together with drummer Sven Dirkschneider and the proficient guitar duo of Andrey Smirnov and Fabian “Dee” Dammers, celebrated the fortieth anniversary of “Balls To The Wall”, which was initially launched in late 1983 and is probably the most commercially profitable and best-known album by ACCEPT, by performing the LP in its entirety on a current tour of South America.
Ten years in the past — in 2015 — Udo introduced that he would embark on a particular tour throughout which he would carry out ACCEPT songs one final time below the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner earlier than closing that chapter for good. Since then, the previous ACCEPT frontman has continued to play ACCEPT materials at choose exhibits, together with on the September 18, 2020 U.D.O. live performance in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was launched on DVD and Blu-ray.
When he first introduced the unique DIRKSCHNEIDER tour in 2015, Udo mentioned that had “to make a transparent break for myself — shut the e book and that is it. And I’ve the issue that individuals come to me and ask me to play extra ACCEPT songs,” he defined. “Different folks ask me why I play ACCEPT songs in any respect, as a result of there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. data. I need to keep away from such issues and keep away from the repeating questions regarding ACCEPT. I simply can’t stand that anymore. There may be nothing extra to be mentioned. U.D.O. exists longer than ACCEPT. We’ve extra data than ACCEPT.”
Whereas acknowledging that some ACCEPT followers need to hear the band’s traditional songs carried out by the group’s authentic singer, Dirkschneider defined that “you at all times have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by ACCEPT and U.D.O.]. I do not need this anymore both. [The current lineup of ACCEPT] additionally play ‘Metallic Coronary heart’, they play ‘Balls To The Wall’ and ‘Princess Of The Daybreak’. After which some folks inform me, ‘Oh, [current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it higher than you.’ And I’m going, ‘That is nice. Get pleasure from your self.’ However I do not need this anymore. And to keep away from all of this sooner or later, I mentioned, ‘We’re doing this another time.'”
Dirkschneider mentioned that his vow to by no means play ACCEPT materials once more got here with one caveat. “If the band ACCEPT dissolves someday within the close to future and I’m nonetheless round with U.D.O., then there’s a likelihood that I put ACCEPT songs again within the setlist,” he mentioned. “However at the moment there’s ACCEPT, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They’re enjoying these songs.”
Udo beforehand mentioned the unique plan was for DIRKSCHNEIDER to solely “a number of exhibits,” and “then [the tour] received larger and greater [due to demand].” However, he added, “I do not need to complain about that.”
