Accept
Encyclopedia
Accept is a German
heavy metal
band from the town of Solingen
, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider
, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann
and bassist Peter Baltes
. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s. The band played an important role in the development of speed metal
, being part of the German heavy metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s.
Following disbandment in 1997 and resurrection in 2005, they reunited in 2009 with former T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo
and released their highest charting album to date, Blood of the Nations
.
They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide.
and Michael Wagener
formed a local band called Band X, which eventually changed its name to Accept. For many years Accept went through numerous line-up changes. This instability essentially kept the band on an amateur level, making sporadic appearances in festival concerts. Accept's professional career began in 1976 when they were invited to play at one of the first rock and roll
festivals in Germany — Rock am Rhein. Following the festival the band were offered a recording deal. Their first recording was the self-titled Accept album, which did not achieve much commercial success.
The first stable line-up of Accept was composed of vocalist Udo Dirkschneider
, guitarists Wolf Hoffmann
and Gerhard Wahl, bassist Peter Baltes
and drummer Frank Friedrich. Friedrich and Wahl quit the band after the release of Accept and were replaced by Stefan Kaufmann and Jörg Fischer
. This line-up the band recorded I'm a Rebel in 1980. The title track originally was written for AC/DC
but never released by them. The album brought some media attention, the band being invited to make a televised appearance.
In 1981 the next album Breaker was released, and the band employed manager Gaby Hauke. Accept also joined Judas Priest
's world tour and obtained attention outside of Europe
for the first time.
Restless and Wild was released in 1982, although Jörg Fischer quit the band a short time before the recording took place. Jan Koemmet
was hired as guitarist, but departed from the band before the recording of the album. Restless and Wild saw an evolution in the band's sound, which incorporated characteristics defining the genre later dubbed speed metal
. Gaby Hauke was credited as "Deaffy" on two of the tracks.
was in 1983, now with guitarist Herman Frank
(ex-Sinner
). The album was more conceptual, and included lyrical themes about themes politics
, sexuality
and human relationships. "Balls to the Wall" refers to slaves revolting against oppressing masters, "Fight It Back" is about social misfits fighting against conformity. All songs were credited to Accept and "Deaffy". Deaffy was manager Gaby Hauke's pseudonym as the band's lyricist, although she did not officially claim ownership until the band had broken up for the second time.
During a 1983 show in their hometown the band met Jörg Fischer by chance and on Hauke's insistence, Fischer rejoined the band. A world tour followed through 1984, including the Monsters of Rock
festival.
Metal Heart
was released in 1985. Produced by Scorpions
producer Dieter Dierks
, it presented the band's creative peak. Accept toured the world supporting the album, and documented the live shows with the live mini-album Kaizoku-Ban
.
The follow up Russian Roulette was released in 1986. In 1987 Udo Dirkschneider decided together to embark on a solo career. Supporting this decision, the songwriting team in Accept wrote his entire solo album, released in 1987 as "Animal House" under the band moniker U.D.O.
singer Rob Armitage, whom they even featured in promo photos and metal magazine interviews, and also recorded demos with. However, American David Reece
was chosen and this new line-up recorded and released Eat the Heat
.
Accept's career came to a sudden halt when Stefan Kaufmann sustained a serious injury to his back mid-tour. He was briefly replaced by drummer Ken Mary
for the remainder of the US tour. By the tour end by the end of 1989,the band decided that without Kaufmann, and differences surfacing with Reece, it was time cease its activities for the time being.
recorded in 1985, was released in 1990 as a souvenir from their career.
A few years later the ex members met with Dirkschneider and decided to relaunch the band with core members Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider and Baltes.
Comeback album Objection Overruled
was released in 1993 and was a qualified success in Europe and the USA. A world tour followed, with another album, entitled Death Row
, released in 1994. Kaufmann became unable to play once more due to his recurring back injury and Stefan Schwarzmann became temporary replacement.
Predator
was recorded in 1996,in Nashville with Udo's long time (school)friend and producer Michael Wagener at the helm and with Michael Cartellone
(from Damn Yankees
) guesting on drums. Accept's tour supporting Predator
, took in North America, South America, Europe and Asia
, with their last concert in Tokyo
, Japan
.
, Bulgaria
at the Kaliakra rock fest
.
Asked in May 2007 if Accept were planning on writing and recording new material in the near future, Dirkschneider replied:
On 14 May 2009 Udo Dirkschneider
officially announced that he would not be participating in the rumoured Accept reunion.
revealed he spent a weekend at his house in Pennsylvania "shredding away" with guitarist Wolf Hoffmann
. "Something amazing is in the works," Baltes explained. "As soon as I can, I'll let everybody know. Let's make the 'Metal Heart' beat again."
A coincidental meeting between Accept and former TT Quick singer Mark Tornillo at this informal jam session meant shortly after Tornillo was announced as the new vocalist.
A new album was written and recorded with Andy Sneap
(of Megadeth
, BLAZE
, Exodus
, Testament
, Arch Enemy and Onslaught
fame) as producer. Titled Blood of the Nations
, it is the first original album in fourteen years.
The new line-up made their live debut on 8 May 2010 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City
, their first American concert in fifteen years.
On 21 May 2010 their video for "Teutonic Terror" was number 5 on the worldwide video charts in all genres on MySpace, topping such artists as Miley Cyrus
, Justin Bieber
and Christina Aguilera
. The video also topped the MySpace Global Metal Charts at Number 1.
On 13 June 2010 Accept opened for AC/DC
in Stuttgart, Germany, and on 25 June 2010 headlined the Sonisphere festival in Romania and Turkey. With a set of over 2 hours,classics like "Balls to the Wall", "Metal Heart" and "Princess of the Dawn" were played along with the new album material. Blood of the Nations
was released in Europe on 20 August 2010 and made a chart debut at Number 4 in the official German Media Control Charts, the band’s highest chart debut in their career.
Blood of the Nations
was released 4 September in Japan, and 18 September 2010 in the United States. Accept spent 80 days on a summer tour traveling over 65,000 km and playing for over 450,000 fans. In October, the band appeared at the prestigious Japanese Festival LOUDPARK outside of Tokyo to 40,000 fans along Ozzy Osbourne
, Motörhead and Stone Sour
.
Within a month of the release of Blood of the Nations, Wolf Hoffmann told "Metal Asylum" ; "We are already thinking about and writing for the next record. We've all missed doing Accept and we realized we missed doing this. Of course we are not 20 years old anymore and not ready to do just anything to be successful, we're not that desperate. [laughs] We are looking to do what makes sense and that's fun."
According to bassist Peter Baltes
, Accept will work with Andy Sneap
again to produce the new album, which he hopes will be completed by early 2012. On November 13, 2011, it was announced that the album will be called Stalingrad
and is due for release in April 2012.
Timeline
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from the town of Solingen
Solingen
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and with a 2009 population of 161,366 is the second largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann grew up in Wuppertal. He is primarily known as guitarist in the German heavy metal band Accept since 1976. In 1997, he released the album Classical with rock versions of classical pieces...
and bassist Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes, born April 4, 1958 in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a German hard rock and heavy metal musician. He is a member of the German heavy metal group Accept, which he played as bassist with on 15 albums, selling more than 17 million records around the world...
. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s. The band played an important role in the development of speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
, being part of the German heavy metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s.
Following disbandment in 1997 and resurrection in 2005, they reunited in 2009 with former T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo
Mark Tornillo
Mark Tornillo is the current front man of metal band Accept. He joined the band officially in May 2009 as Udo Dirkschneider's replacement, and has appeared on two albums with them to date: Blood of the Nations and their upcoming follow-up Stalingrad .Before he joined Accept he played with TT Quick....
and released their highest charting album to date, Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations is Accept's twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's Predator and the first album to feature vocalist Mark Tornillo and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. It is the first album without Udo Dirkschneider on vocals since Eat the Heat in 1989...
.
They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide.
Early years (1968–1982)
Accept's beginnings can be traced back to 1968 when Udo DirkschneiderUdo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
and Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
formed a local band called Band X, which eventually changed its name to Accept. For many years Accept went through numerous line-up changes. This instability essentially kept the band on an amateur level, making sporadic appearances in festival concerts. Accept's professional career began in 1976 when they were invited to play at one of the first rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
festivals in Germany — Rock am Rhein. Following the festival the band were offered a recording deal. Their first recording was the self-titled Accept album, which did not achieve much commercial success.
The first stable line-up of Accept was composed of vocalist Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
, guitarists Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann grew up in Wuppertal. He is primarily known as guitarist in the German heavy metal band Accept since 1976. In 1997, he released the album Classical with rock versions of classical pieces...
and Gerhard Wahl, bassist Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes, born April 4, 1958 in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a German hard rock and heavy metal musician. He is a member of the German heavy metal group Accept, which he played as bassist with on 15 albums, selling more than 17 million records around the world...
and drummer Frank Friedrich. Friedrich and Wahl quit the band after the release of Accept and were replaced by Stefan Kaufmann and Jörg Fischer
Jörg Fischer
Jörg Fischer is a German guitar player, primarily known for his work with Accept. He has also released an album with Billionaire Boys' Club, called Something Wicked Comes....
. This line-up the band recorded I'm a Rebel in 1980. The title track originally was written for AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
but never released by them. The album brought some media attention, the band being invited to make a televised appearance.
In 1981 the next album Breaker was released, and the band employed manager Gaby Hauke. Accept also joined Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
's world tour and obtained attention outside of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for the first time.
Restless and Wild was released in 1982, although Jörg Fischer quit the band a short time before the recording took place. Jan Koemmet
Jan Koemmet
Jan Koemmet is a German guitar player and an international designer. He joined the heavy metal group Accept between their albums Breaker and Restless and Wild. He was preceded by Jörg Fischer and succeeded by Herman Frank. After his departure from Accept, he formed Bad Steve with other past...
was hired as guitarist, but departed from the band before the recording of the album. Restless and Wild saw an evolution in the band's sound, which incorporated characteristics defining the genre later dubbed speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
. Gaby Hauke was credited as "Deaffy" on two of the tracks.
Mainstream success (1983–1987)
Accept's next release, Balls to the WallBalls to the Wall
Balls to the Wall is the fifth album by the German metal band Accept. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its US release was delayed until a month later as to not compete with the band's then-current album Restless and Wild, which had arrived in the US in early 1983...
was in 1983, now with guitarist Herman Frank
Herman Frank
Herman Frank is a German guitar player. He joined the heavy metal band Accept before the release of their 1982 album, Restless and Wild, and left after the following album, 1984's Balls to the Wall was released. He was preceded by Jan Koemmet in Accept and succeeded by Jörg Fischer...
(ex-Sinner
Sinner (band)
Sinner are a German heavy metal band formed by vocalist and bassist Mat Sinner in 1982 . They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene. Their latest album, One Bullet Left, was released in 2011.-History:...
). The album was more conceptual, and included lyrical themes about themes politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
and human relationships. "Balls to the Wall" refers to slaves revolting against oppressing masters, "Fight It Back" is about social misfits fighting against conformity. All songs were credited to Accept and "Deaffy". Deaffy was manager Gaby Hauke's pseudonym as the band's lyricist, although she did not officially claim ownership until the band had broken up for the second time.
During a 1983 show in their hometown the band met Jörg Fischer by chance and on Hauke's insistence, Fischer rejoined the band. A world tour followed through 1984, including the Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
festival.
Metal Heart
Metal Heart
Metal Heart is a 1985 release by German heavy metal band Accept.Although the group had recorded before at Dierks-Studios, this was the first album produced by Dieter Dierks himself. This album was a cautious attempt to crack the lucrative American market with more accessible songcraft and emphasis...
was released in 1985. Produced by Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
producer Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
, it presented the band's creative peak. Accept toured the world supporting the album, and documented the live shows with the live mini-album Kaizoku-Ban
Kaizoku-Ban
Kaizoku-Ban is a live mini album or EP by Accept. It was recorded in Nagoya, Japan September 19, 1985, and released on vinyl the same year. It was later re-released as Live in Japan in 1992. Though this is an official release, the title translates as "Pirate Edition"...
.
The follow up Russian Roulette was released in 1986. In 1987 Udo Dirkschneider decided together to embark on a solo career. Supporting this decision, the songwriting team in Accept wrote his entire solo album, released in 1987 as "Animal House" under the band moniker U.D.O.
David Reece period and first hiatus (1988–1991)
Parallel to work on "Animal House", Accept started to audition vocalists. The band tried out a few singers, including Baby TuckooBaby Tuckoo
Baby Tuckoo was an English hard rock band, formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England in 1982. Their name is taken from the James Joyce novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man...
singer Rob Armitage, whom they even featured in promo photos and metal magazine interviews, and also recorded demos with. However, American David Reece
David Reece
David L. Reece is an American vocalist best known for his time with Accept and contribution to their 1989 album Eat the Heat.-Before Accept:...
was chosen and this new line-up recorded and released Eat the Heat
Eat the Heat
Eat the Heat is a 1989 release by German Heavy metal band Accept.It was recorded at Dierks-Studios, in Cologne, from September 1988 to January 1989...
.
Accept's career came to a sudden halt when Stefan Kaufmann sustained a serious injury to his back mid-tour. He was briefly replaced by drummer Ken Mary
Ken Mary
Ken Mary is a heavy metal drummer known for having played in many groups such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper...
for the remainder of the US tour. By the tour end by the end of 1989,the band decided that without Kaufmann, and differences surfacing with Reece, it was time cease its activities for the time being.
Reunion with Dirkschneider (1992–1996)
The live album Staying a LifeStaying a Life
Staying a Life is a double live album by Accept. It was recorded in Osaka, Japan in 1985. It was released in 1990, shortly after the band's first breakup...
recorded in 1985, was released in 1990 as a souvenir from their career.
A few years later the ex members met with Dirkschneider and decided to relaunch the band with core members Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider and Baltes.
Comeback album Objection Overruled
Objection Overruled (album)
Objection Overruled is the 1993 reunion album by German heavy metal band Accept, the first to feature Udo Dirkschneider on lead vocals since 1986's Russian Roulette...
was released in 1993 and was a qualified success in Europe and the USA. A world tour followed, with another album, entitled Death Row
Death Row (album)
Death Row is a 1994 album release by German heavy metal band Accept.It was recorded at Roxx Studios.Stefan Kaufmann was still the official drummer for Accept, but drums on "Bad Habits Die Hard" and "Prejudice" are by Stefan Schwarzmann according to the liner notes...
, released in 1994. Kaufmann became unable to play once more due to his recurring back injury and Stefan Schwarzmann became temporary replacement.
Predator
Predator (album)
Predator is the eleventh studio album release by German heavy metal band Accept. It was released in 1996, produced by Michael Wagener and recorded at 16th Ave. Sound Studios, Nashville, TN...
was recorded in 1996,in Nashville with Udo's long time (school)friend and producer Michael Wagener at the helm and with Michael Cartellone
Michael Cartellone
Michael Cartellone born in 1962 is the current drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd , and the former drummer of Damn Yankees and Accept . He is also an accomplished painter, having done so for many years. Before joining Damn Yankees, Tommy Shaw, both of Styx and Damn Yankees, recalled Michael painting...
(from Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees (band)
Damn Yankees was an American hard rock supergroup.-History:The band was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of The Amboy Dukes and a successful solo career, and Michael Cartellone...
) guesting on drums. Accept's tour supporting Predator
Predator (album)
Predator is the eleventh studio album release by German heavy metal band Accept. It was released in 1996, produced by Michael Wagener and recorded at 16th Ave. Sound Studios, Nashville, TN...
, took in North America, South America, Europe and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, with their last concert in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Second hiatus and brief resurrection (1997–2005)
Between 1997 and 2005 all members continued working on their own projects. In 2005 Accept received an invitation from various European promoters for a short summer European Festival tour with Accept's classic line-up (Hoffmann, Baltes, Dirkschneider, Frank und Schwarzmann). These festivals turned out to be a stunning success, with the last show on 27 August 2005, in KavarnaKavarna
Kavarna is a Black Sea coastal town and seaside resort in the Dobruja region of northeastern Bulgaria. It lies 64 km northeast of Varna and 49 km from Dobrich on the international road E87. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 11,397 inhabitants. A little yacht port, a...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
at the Kaliakra rock fest
Kaliakra rock fest
Kaliakra Rock Fest is a Bulgarian rock/metal festival. Kaliakra Rock Fest takes place every year at the Kavarna Stadium in Kavarna. In 2010 the festival's name was changed to Kavarna Rock Fest.-2006:...
.
Asked in May 2007 if Accept were planning on writing and recording new material in the near future, Dirkschneider replied:
On 14 May 2009 Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
officially announced that he would not be participating in the rumoured Accept reunion.
Return with Mark Tornillo (2009–present)
At the end of May 2009 rumours again surfaced on a possible Accept reformation when bassist Peter BaltesPeter Baltes
Peter Baltes, born April 4, 1958 in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a German hard rock and heavy metal musician. He is a member of the German heavy metal group Accept, which he played as bassist with on 15 albums, selling more than 17 million records around the world...
revealed he spent a weekend at his house in Pennsylvania "shredding away" with guitarist Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann grew up in Wuppertal. He is primarily known as guitarist in the German heavy metal band Accept since 1976. In 1997, he released the album Classical with rock versions of classical pieces...
. "Something amazing is in the works," Baltes explained. "As soon as I can, I'll let everybody know. Let's make the 'Metal Heart' beat again."
A coincidental meeting between Accept and former TT Quick singer Mark Tornillo at this informal jam session meant shortly after Tornillo was announced as the new vocalist.
A new album was written and recorded with Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
(of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, BLAZE
Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley is an English singer and songwriter. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999...
, Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
, Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, Arch Enemy and Onslaught
Onslaught (band)
Onslaught are an English thrash metal band from Bristol, England. Initially active from 1983 to 1991, they reformed in 2004. The band initially drew influence from the second wave punk rock bands such as Discharge and The Exploited, and then adopted a straight forward thrash metal...
fame) as producer. Titled Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations is Accept's twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's Predator and the first album to feature vocalist Mark Tornillo and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. It is the first album without Udo Dirkschneider on vocals since Eat the Heat in 1989...
, it is the first original album in fourteen years.
The new line-up made their live debut on 8 May 2010 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, their first American concert in fifteen years.
On 21 May 2010 their video for "Teutonic Terror" was number 5 on the worldwide video charts in all genres on MySpace, topping such artists as Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
, Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
and Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
. The video also topped the MySpace Global Metal Charts at Number 1.
On 13 June 2010 Accept opened for AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
in Stuttgart, Germany, and on 25 June 2010 headlined the Sonisphere festival in Romania and Turkey. With a set of over 2 hours,classics like "Balls to the Wall", "Metal Heart" and "Princess of the Dawn" were played along with the new album material. Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations is Accept's twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's Predator and the first album to feature vocalist Mark Tornillo and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. It is the first album without Udo Dirkschneider on vocals since Eat the Heat in 1989...
was released in Europe on 20 August 2010 and made a chart debut at Number 4 in the official German Media Control Charts, the band’s highest chart debut in their career.
Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations
Blood of the Nations is Accept's twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's Predator and the first album to feature vocalist Mark Tornillo and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. It is the first album without Udo Dirkschneider on vocals since Eat the Heat in 1989...
was released 4 September in Japan, and 18 September 2010 in the United States. Accept spent 80 days on a summer tour traveling over 65,000 km and playing for over 450,000 fans. In October, the band appeared at the prestigious Japanese Festival LOUDPARK outside of Tokyo to 40,000 fans along Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Motörhead and Stone Sour
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
.
Within a month of the release of Blood of the Nations, Wolf Hoffmann told "Metal Asylum" ; "We are already thinking about and writing for the next record. We've all missed doing Accept and we realized we missed doing this. Of course we are not 20 years old anymore and not ready to do just anything to be successful, we're not that desperate. [laughs] We are looking to do what makes sense and that's fun."
According to bassist Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes, born April 4, 1958 in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a German hard rock and heavy metal musician. He is a member of the German heavy metal group Accept, which he played as bassist with on 15 albums, selling more than 17 million records around the world...
, Accept will work with Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
again to produce the new album, which he hopes will be completed by early 2012. On November 13, 2011, it was announced that the album will be called Stalingrad
Stalingrad (Accept album)
Stalingrad is the upcoming thirteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Accept, which is currently scheduled to be released in April 2012 by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records. It will be their second album since their 2009 reunion...
and is due for release in April 2012.
Popular culture
- The German 1982 movie "Nacht der Wölfe" included an excerpt of "Starlight" as well as a glimpse of the album cover for Breaker as the female lead puts the record on. "Run if You can" is also featured in the film, and both songs appeared on the soundtrack album.
- "Balls to the WallBalls to the Wall (song)"Balls to the Wall" was the lead single from Accept's fifth studio album with the same name. The album's best known song, which became Accept's signature tune, is the anthemic title track, for which a music video was shot that received American airplay on MTV....
" was chosen number 38 in VH1's 40 'Greatest Metal Songs.' - "Fast as a SharkFast as a Shark"Fast as a Shark" is a well-known song by the German heavy metal band Accept from their 1982 album Restless and Wild.Its blazingly fast double bass drumming is recognized today as reaching a new level in the development of the subgenre of speed and thrash metal...
" is featured in the Italian 1985 film DèmoniDemoniDèmoni is a 1985 Italian horror film directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento. The screenplay was written by Bava, Argento, Franco Ferrini, and Dardano Sacchetti, from a story by Sacchetti...
. - "Balls to the Wall" is featured in the PS2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80sGuitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80sGuitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s is a music video game and the third installment in the popular Guitar Hero series...
and PSP/PS2 game Grand Theft Auto:Vice City Stories. - "Balls to the Wall" is featured in 2008's film The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke as Randy "The Ram" Robinson.
- "Fast as a Shark" is featured in the action/adventure video game Brütal LegendBrütal LegendBrütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
. - "Balls to the Wall" is featured in the yet unreleased film of the same name directed by Penelope SpheerisPenelope SpheerisPenelope Spheeris is an American director, producer and screenwriter. She is best known as a documentary film director whose works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization...
- "Balls to the WallBalls to the Wall (song)"Balls to the Wall" was the lead single from Accept's fifth studio album with the same name. The album's best known song, which became Accept's signature tune, is the anthemic title track, for which a music video was shot that received American airplay on MTV....
" was featured on Beavis and Butthead. - In the second season of JustifiedJustified (TV series)Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
, the character Coover is frequently seen with an Accept shirt on.
Discography
- 1979: Accept
- 1980: I'm a RebelI'm a RebelI'm a Rebel is the second album by the heavy metal band Accept, recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 . It was the first of three consecutive Accept records to utilize Dirk Steffens as producer. The album finds Accept continuing to search for their musical direction, experimenting with a more...
- 1981: Breaker
- 1982: Restless and Wild
- 1983: Balls to the WallBalls to the WallBalls to the Wall is the fifth album by the German metal band Accept. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its US release was delayed until a month later as to not compete with the band's then-current album Restless and Wild, which had arrived in the US in early 1983...
- 1985: Metal HeartMetal HeartMetal Heart is a 1985 release by German heavy metal band Accept.Although the group had recorded before at Dierks-Studios, this was the first album produced by Dieter Dierks himself. This album was a cautious attempt to crack the lucrative American market with more accessible songcraft and emphasis...
- 1986: Russian Roulette
- 1989: Eat the HeatEat the HeatEat the Heat is a 1989 release by German Heavy metal band Accept.It was recorded at Dierks-Studios, in Cologne, from September 1988 to January 1989...
- 1993: Objection OverruledObjection Overruled (album)Objection Overruled is the 1993 reunion album by German heavy metal band Accept, the first to feature Udo Dirkschneider on lead vocals since 1986's Russian Roulette...
- 1994: Death RowDeath Row (album)Death Row is a 1994 album release by German heavy metal band Accept.It was recorded at Roxx Studios.Stefan Kaufmann was still the official drummer for Accept, but drums on "Bad Habits Die Hard" and "Prejudice" are by Stefan Schwarzmann according to the liner notes...
- 1996: PredatorPredator (album)Predator is the eleventh studio album release by German heavy metal band Accept. It was released in 1996, produced by Michael Wagener and recorded at 16th Ave. Sound Studios, Nashville, TN...
- 2010: Blood of the NationsBlood of the NationsBlood of the Nations is Accept's twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's Predator and the first album to feature vocalist Mark Tornillo and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. It is the first album without Udo Dirkschneider on vocals since Eat the Heat in 1989...
- 2012: StalingradStalingrad (Accept album)Stalingrad is the upcoming thirteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Accept, which is currently scheduled to be released in April 2012 by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records. It will be their second album since their 2009 reunion...
Lineups
| (1976–1979) |
|
|---|---|
| (1979–1982) |
Jörg Fischer Jörg Fischer is a German guitar player, primarily known for his work with Accept. He has also released an album with Billionaire Boys' Club, called Something Wicked Comes.... - guitar Stefan Kaufmann Stefan Kaufmann was born August 4, 1960, Solingen, Germany. He joined Accept as drummer early enough to appear on the cover photos for their debut, but too late to record the drums for the album... - drums |
| (1982) |
Jan Koemmet Jan Koemmet is a German guitar player and an international designer. He joined the heavy metal group Accept between their albums Breaker and Restless and Wild. He was preceded by Jörg Fischer and succeeded by Herman Frank. After his departure from Accept, he formed Bad Steve with other past... - guitar |
| (1982–1983) |
Herman Frank Herman Frank is a German guitar player. He joined the heavy metal band Accept before the release of their 1982 album, Restless and Wild, and left after the following album, 1984's Balls to the Wall was released. He was preceded by Jan Koemmet in Accept and succeeded by Jörg Fischer... - guitar |
| (1983–1987) |
|
| (1987) |
Michael White - Academics :*Michael JD White , British zoologist*Michael White , inventor of narrative therapy*L. Michael White, American theologian*Michael White , English Communications Theorist- Journalism and literature :... - vocals |
| (1987–1988) |
|
| (1988–1989) |
David Reece David L. Reece is an American vocalist best known for his time with Accept and contribution to their 1989 album Eat the Heat.-Before Accept:... - vocals |
| (1989) |
|
| (1989) |
Ken Mary Ken Mary is a heavy metal drummer known for having played in many groups such as Accept, Fifth Angel, Chastain, TKO, Impellitteri, House of Lords, Bonfire and Alice Cooper... - drums |
| (1989–1992) |
SPLIT |
| (1992–1994) |
|
| (1995–1997) |
|
| (1997–2005) |
SPLIT |
| (2004) |
|
| (2005) |
|
| (2005–2009) |
SPLIT |
| (2009–present) |
|
Timeline
External links
- Accept's official website acceptworldwide.com
- Official website for Ken Mary - SonicPhish Arizona Recording Studio
- David Reece Interview @ Sleaze Roxx
- Complete discography @ MusicMight