2027 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Udo Dirkschneider. The legendary German vocalist has plenty to celebrate, including his 75th birthday, the 40th anniversary of U.D.O., and the release of the band’s 20th studio album, ‘Voodoo Ranger’, arriving January 8, 2027, through Reigning Phoenix Music. Adding to the celebrations, Udo’s autobiography is scheduled for release on January 12.
Speaking with Jimmy Kay at The Metal Voice, alongside longtime musical collaborator and former Accept bandmate Peter Baltes, the two musicians discussed the new album, their songwriting chemistry, the creative process behind the record, the emotional inspiration behind Baltes’ ballad “Moving On,” and some fascinating memories from their Accept years. They also answered the question were they invited to participate in an Accept 50 year Reunion album.
When asked (Peter Baltes) about returning to a creative partnership with Dirkschneider
“It feels really amazing because it kind of is, you know, it’s the real deal. We haven’t seen each other for such a long time and we had so much to catch up with, which we don’t on the road when we were on tour. Writing and having that experience again brings it a little bit back to when you were like 18-19, when we started out. Not much changed. The voice is the same, you know. That’s about it. It’s an incredible feeling.”
When asked (Udo) about comparing the new album to the previous ones
“Touchdown, I think, was more aggressive, more modern. And this time, working with Peter together, that was also already something different. We have also in the band two young guys, my son Sven and Dee Dammers. And so that was like two generations, you know, working together, young generation and the older generation. And that was like a very interesting process. The collaboration required everyone to remain open to new ideas, even when those ideas initially seemed unusual. They came up with some stuff where we was in the beginning like, okay, let’s try that. And then also the other way around, you know, we said also from the older guys, maybe we can do it like this. The most important thing is if you have something like this, young and older generation, to be open-minded. First try everything and see how it goes. And if it works, okay. If it doesn’t work, then it’s also okay.”
When asked (Peter) about his experience writing the album
“For me, it was a big change to come in a band where there’s literally no ego. Once you have no ego and everybody is thinking, all right, let’s do this for the best of the band. I don’t care what happens to my song. You can dissect it, whatever. If you have a good idea, we take it. It doesn’t make any difference. That was the recipe to me that made this album so special. It was literally everybody just threw everything to the wolves, and there it is. Let’s make a great album.”
When asked (Udo) the new song ‘Sky’s the Limit’ off the new album
“Let’s say one of my really favourite songs is also ‘Sky’s the Limit.’ It’s groovy, it’s catchy. I hate this word, but it’s in a way the most commercial song on this album.”
When asked Peter the new song ‘Moving on’ off the new album written and sung by Baltes and if it was about his Accept departures
“The best way to express yourself is through music. You know, I’m not really a writer. When my biography comes out, it’ll be like a cartoon. But yeah, it was even a little bit more like that, I have to say. It wasn’t just about maybe my exit from the band (Accept). It was just looking at yourself. We’re getting older. We’re leaving things behind. Things are changing. It was a very personal song and I wasn’t really sure if we should do it, but Udo really liked it.”
When asked about the innovative controversial video for “Midnight Mover,” which featured rapid camera movements and editing techniques that were quite unusual for the period. The video was so visually intense that it reportedly raised concerns about its rapid editing and whether it could cause problems for viewers.
“It was done with so many cameras, you know, and it was an unusual setup. And back then it was a lot of money spent on these videos. Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) had once told me that he was nearly throwing up after watching it for the first time.”
When asked if Udo was invited to participate as a guest on Accept’s 50 year reunion album “Teutonic Titans 1976-2026”
“No. Not me. That’s completely wrong. Oh, I have to say something about this. I think Peter (Baltes) and Stefan (Kaufmann, Ex ACCEPT drummer) were asked by Wolf (to participate). But they said, in a way, no. And Wolf is talking about (in interviews that) he was also asking me (to appear on the album). He never asked me personally or by management. I don’t like stuff like that. (He) put something in medias, social medias and blah, blah, blah and this is not true. It doesn’t matter if I say yes or no, but don’t tell something like this. This is not… I don’t know. I don’t like stuff like that.”
