Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon recently spoke to Udo Dirkschneider about his upcoming U.D.O. album “Game Over”, which will be released October 22 via AFM Records.
When asked if the new album title ‘Game Over’ means and he will be retiring soon? ‘A lot of people were thinking, GAME OVER, is this my last album or my last tour? No it isn’t. The title of the album came during the recording session. The pandemic caused a lot of things. We could not work like we wanted to and we had to record in a different way. Then I don’t know who mentioned the words ‘Game Over’ but we said a great title for the album, so let’s do it.”
How did you work on this album during the pandemic? “We usually work face to face in a room with the producer but during the pandemic it was not possible. So that means we did everything over Zoom, Skype, Facetime and it took a little bit more time but of course in the end we had more time. This whole album for me was a band album effort. Everyone was really open minded. I had all these young people around me and they pushed me and they added some fresh ideas with a little bit more modern stuff.”
When asked about the musical direction “The whole thing is a really good mix up. A lot of different stuff going on, fast songs, mid tempo songs, up tempo songs, ballads, a lot of melodies, really good guitar work, what can I say I am happy.”
When asked if there will be DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG with Ex Accept Peter Baltes (bass) and Stefan Kaufmann album in the future? “We did the E.P. and people were saying is an album coming too? Definitely not at the moment. I would say if we have time, if we have enough ideas and we can do something in between. I would say maybe someday we can do an album together. But it would be more of a project and it would be more of a fun thing to do musically. So there won’t be that expectation that a new band is coming out. Also it would not be possible to go with this lineup on tour.”
Udo Dirkschneider, will release its new album “Game Over”, on October 22 via AFM Records.
“Game Over!” – it says in U.D.O.’s new album, releasing October 22nd.
The title of the bands new studio album, around rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (original voice of the cult band Accept,) has become a statement that has a lot to talk about. A topic of conversation that will probably also be provided by the new single “Prophecy”, including the video that has now been released.
U.D.O. looking deep into the abyss of humanity. How far can a wish go? And can you really wish for anything? We live in a world in which you can do almost anything for money. But where is the limit to what can be bought with money? The video for the song speaks a clear language. It was filmed in an SM club near Karlsruhe and is visually devoted to the question of whether important limits are sometimes overlooked in our (affluent) world – out of greed, out of selfishness, out of the belief that nothing is impossible.
Dirkschneider stands for clear, straightforward statement. “If humans don’t rethink some things, it could have drastic consequences,” he says. The whole album “Game Over” is the realistic, sober observation of an artist who has seen the world more intensely than hardly anyone else. Born in Solingen, he has been on tour around the world for over four decades. He traveled to Russia at the time of the Iron Curtain, gave concerts at an altitude of over 4000 meters in Peru and experienced the planet and its inhabitants many times more privately than anyone would do as a normal traveler.
Humanity with its often (self-) destructive nature preoccupies him. However, “Prophecy” is not only a promising harbinger of the new album in terms of text and content: the song also makes it clear musically where the journey is going this time. Crashing riffs, precise grooving basses and a driving heaviness dominate the songs. Anyone who likes unpolished, straightforward heavy rock will immediately feel at home here.
„Game Over!“ – that’s what rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (original voice of iconic band Accept) proclaims on his upcoming new U.D.O. record to be released in autumn, specifically on October 22nd 2021. The statement behind has got many different meanings. But one thing becomes clear immediately: U.D.O. is not doing things by halves and so they give everything they have. During hundreds of shows worldwide, some of them in the most remote places of Russia and South-America, the band has become one unit and a conglomerate of passionate musicians and friends. Each of them knows exactly, when and how to play his instrument to match to the sound of the band perfectly.
Songs like „Metal Never Dies“, „Kids And Guns“ or „Prophecy“ are precise, powerful, catchy and bursting of energy. And most notably they are: timeless. All the songs on this record feature a distinctive character, that convinces today as well as it will convince tomorrow.
Today he convinces with the brand-new single „Metal Never Dies“ which comes with a energetic performance clip of the legendary singer & band. “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.
And why „Game Over!“? Udo Dirkschneider strikes a sour note on this opus. He is not so much into embellishment. If mankind does not rethink several aspects, it may have fatal consequences. For example „Kids And Guns“ is about the increasing number of gun possession in the USA and the associated shootings, that do not stop at nothing and do harm to schools and especially kids.
Without question – Udo Dirkschneider is a cosmopolitan and he sees the world in it’s entity. Therefore „Game Over“ has become an international production with and huge amount of greatness.
U.D.O. return with the upcoming 5th live album of the heavy metal legend. The year 2020 faced many with tough challenges, but U.D.O. managed to play a great show under pandemic conditions in front of the breathtaking backdrop of the amphitheater in Plovdiv/Bulgaria, making it not only one of the world’s grandest shows under Corona, but also certainly beyond compare. This is exactly the feeling that the live recording captures.
There are certain events that put bands into the spotlight, even experienced musicians who have been in the business for over 40 years. This is one of those events, and happened on September 18, 2020 with U.D.O.
U.D.O., the band featuring German rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (the original voice of Accept who had rock hits like ‘Balls To Wall’, ‘Metal Heart’ and many more) played a concert in the stunning Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in front of 2500 fans – in the middle of a year that is one of the quietest ever for musicians and bands, both at home and internationally.
“Live in Bulgaria 2020 – Pandemic Survival Show will be released 19th March 2021 and available as CD/DVD, Blueray/CD and very strong limited vinyl (only audio)
Tracklist CD1 01 Tongue Reaper 04:35 CD1 02 Make The Move 04:33 CD1 03 Midnight Mover 04:32 CD1 04 Wrong Side Of Midnight 04:28 CD1 05 Metal Machine 04:53 CD1 06 Independence Day 07:22 CD1 07 Rose In The Desert 06:16 CD1 08 Vendetta 04:46 CD1 09 Rising High 04:04 CD1 10 Prologue: The Great Unknown 02:23 CD1 11 In The Darkness 04:57 CD1 12 I Give As Good As I Get 04:59 CD1 13 Princess Of The Dawn 11:28
CD2 01 Timebomb 05:13 CD2 02 Drum Solo 04:10 CD2 03 Bass Solo 03:41 CD2 04 Hungry And Angry 04:21 CD2 05 One Heart One Soul 06:22 CD2 06 Man And Machine 06:48 CD2 07 Animal House 04:46 CD2 08 They Want War05:22 CD2 09 Metal Heart 11:01 CD2 10 Fast As Shark 05:26 CD2 11 Balls To The Wall 10:41 CD2 12 Outro (Stillness Of Time) 01:09
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voicerecently interviewed Udo and Sven Dirkschneider of U.D.O. The two spoke about their upcoming orchestral new album ‘We are One’ and their songwriting collaboration with the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr (Concert Band of the German Armed Forces) and the two former Accept Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes. Other topics in the interview, drive-in concerts, songwriting with Peter Baltes and touring with Ex Accept singer David Reece.
Watch here
When asked about why they decided to collaborate with German Armed Forces Orchestra
“We did two shows in the past with the orchestra, the first in 2015 at Wacken and the sound on stage was amazing, there was a lot of energy. Then we did another show on 2018 and the audience was 40% metal fans and the rest of was there for the orchestra. The audience was really enjoying the show and they were standing up and clapping. So after this concert we were having drinks with everyone and we were talking about continuing together by doing an album together. We said if we do a new album we have to write new songs. So we had a meeting with the two guys who do the arrangements for the orchestra and we started working on everything. We were sending files back and forth and it took nearly a year before everything was done, it was a lot of work.” Udo
When asked about former Accept bassist Peter Baltes contribution to the new album
“Peter’s participation was not planned unlike Stefan Kaufmann who’s participation was planned from the beginning on the new album. One day I was in Germany and Stefan told me to do some demos in the studio so I went there but he didn’t tell me Peter Baltes would be there. Peter was there doing some stuff with Stefan at the time. Then we started talking and Peter said he had some ideas to contribute to the new album and if I didn’t mind and I said I don’t mind. I never had a problem with Peter and his ideas. For this project it was important to have really good stuff and for me it doesn’t matter who is writing the songs. Of course Stefan and Peter ideas are not so far away from my ideas. Peter and Stefan were both very happy to work on this project. When I met him it was like I just saw him yesterday after 15 years. ” Udo
When asked if Peter is joining U.D.O.
“Peter to be the bass player of U.D.O. no. We were not really talking about this. I heard he is doing a solo album and if he wanted me to sing a song ok but he is not joining the band. ” Udo
“I mean it would be cool to play with him once but we already have a very strong 5 piece band.” Sven
When asked about Udo rapping on the song ‘Here we go again’ off the new album
“When I did the demo vocals my son Sven was saying are you sure you want to do this? Don’t ask me why I did this, it was just coming out like that. ” Udo
“Then I was asked to do some demo vocals on that song and it ended up being a duet between me and my father.” Sven
When asked about their thoughts about doing Drive-in shows
“That’s a bit weird, the stage would need to be very big so we could fit 85 people (orchestra and band). Can’t happen right now cause there are too many orchestra players and they have to maintain social distance. We have lots of offers at the moment to do these drive in shows but our band members are spread all across Europe, we come from three different countries and have a hard time to travel. We can’t even come together to practice. Of course we would like to do these shows, I think it would be cool once in a lifetime event. ” Sven
When asked about bringing former Accept singer David Reece as an opener for U.D.O. shows on future North American tours
“I’m up for it. he was very nice and he is a good guy to talk to and spend time with and it would be fun, why not? ” Sven
“I’m really good friends with David, we had a lot of fun on the last tour together.” Udo
The album contains 15 new songs that will be released through AFM Records /Soulfood Music. All songs have been developed and arranged by U.D.O. together with Christoph Scheibling. The two former Accept musicians Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes have been part of the songwriting too – as well as the German Armed Forces´ composers Guido Rennert and Alexander Reuber.
The album is entitled `We Are One‘ and will be released on July 17th.
Track listing
01 – Pandemonium
02 – We Are One
03 – Love And Sin
04 – Future Is The Reason Why
05 – Children Of The World
06 – Blindfold (The Last Defender)
07 – Blackout
08 – Mother Earth
09 – Rebel Town
10 – Natural Forces
11 – Neon Diamond
12 – Beyond Gravity
13 – Here We Go Again
14 – We Strike Back
15 – Beyond Good And Evil
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Accept singer David Reece about his new album Resilient Heart, his thoughts on the recent departure of bassist Peter Baltes from Accept, as well as his upcoming new tour Dates opening for U.D.O. in Switzerland and Germany in February 2019.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about the fan reaction to his new album Resilient heart
“The reception of the new album is unbelievable. The feedback that I am getting from my fans who have been buying my albums over the years are saying this is probably the best album I have done. I mean these are fans who have followed me for 35 years and they are saying they love it. People are buying it all over the world. I’m even getting glam metal websites sites saying it’s in their top five album of 2018. It’s been unbelievable I’m so grateful. “
When asked about the new video that will be coming out on December 5 2018
“The new video will be for the song ‘Two coins and a dead man’ on the new album which is basically about when you die they would place a coin on each eye and if you’re allowed into heaven or hell or not (old tradition) that’s the quick lyric summary. But I kind of wrote it about the devil and a woman meeting and the woman falling for him, And basically she realizes he’s the devil and then she murders him. So I’m the devil in the video with this crazy kind of Ozzy like makeup, you know with slicked back hair. The model that we had hired as the woman flaked out on me at the last moment, so I hired my wife to play that part. Yeah Nadia Reece it’s her first debut on film and she pulled it off beautifully. I’m so excited about it because it just it came together perfectly I mean the stars aligned on it. I’m planning to release it noon December 5 2018, Central European Time. “
When asked about his thoughts on the sudden departure of Peter Baltes from Accept
“I have said many times that I would not be sitting in this chair talking to Jimmy Kay at The Metal Voice or doing another interview somewhere else had it not been for the opportunity of being in Accept. Some people hated me and some people loved me in my time with the band. Some people, still hate me for that record ‘Eat the Heat’ but people in the last five years or so fans are bringing that album to me saying wow I never realize how really great the album is. I mean, if it wasn’t for the song ‘Fast as a shark’ there wouldn’t be Metallica, there wouldn’t be many of these speed metal bands that are out today. Accept opened that door and knocked it down and created metal. I have nothing but respect for Wolf Hoffman I have nothing but respect for Mark Tornillo. I saw them live in Milan Italy recently and they were fantastic and their new album is fantastic too.”I had a falling with Peter Baltes back in the day but I had never ever had nothing but the utmost respect for him, his input and his legacy in rock and roll. Peter is probably one of the greatest bass players . I wish him and Accept continued success . ”
When asked about his upcoming tour opening for U.D.O on Swiss and German Dates
“On February David Reese band will be opening as a special guest in Germany and Switzerland for U.D.O. I cannot tell you how amazing and blessed I am. I’ve known Udo Dirkschneider for a long time, I met him when he was no longer the singer of Accept. Over the years we’ve maintained a high level of respect for one another, his sons Sven had a group called Damage who opened for me in Germany back in the mid-2000s. And Udo occasionally would pop in the shows and it was kind of a big deal for the audience to see Reece standing there with Udo Dirkschneider. So I’m really excited to see how the public reacts to this upcoming tour. Right now officially there are 10 dates that we will be touring together. I cannot tell you how great I feel for this opportunity, I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart to U.D.O. and his organization.”
