U.D.O.

U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider in 1987.

History

1987–1992

After Udo Dirkschneider left Accept in 1987, a large fan community followed him to U.D.O.

Starting with the first two albums Animal House in 1987 and Mean Machine in 1988, U.D.O. proved to be pure heavy metal without any Trend-Sound influences. Both albums continued where Accept had left off in 1986 with Russian Roulette. Apart from U.D.O., Animal House was recorded by Peter Szigeti (guitars), Frank Rittel from Warlock on (bass), Mathias Dieth from Sinner and Gravestone (guitars) and Thomas Franke (drums).

From 1987 to 1989, they toured with the following line-up: Dirkschneider (lead vocals), Mathias Dieth (guitars), Andy Susemihl (guitars), Dieter Rubach (bass) and Thomas Franke (drums). They toured with Guns N' Roses, Lita Ford and Zodiac Mindwarp.

By Mean Machine, the band had a different line-up; only Dirkschneider, Dieth, and Susemihl remained. New additions were Thomas Smuszynski (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums).

U.D.O. achieved success with the 1990 album Faceless World, produced by ex-Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann. U.D.O.'s follow-up album was Timebomb in 1991 which was their last for seven years.

1996–present

U.D.O. performing live at Norway Rock Festival in 2009

From 1992 to 1996, Accept reformed their classic line up and Dirkschneider put U.D.O. on hiatus to record three albums with his old bandmates. After another break-up, Dirkschneider returned to U.D.O. with Stefan Kaufmann (guitar), Jürgen Graf (guitars), Fitty Wienhold (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums). Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann then recorded tracks for the Tribute to Judas Priest compilation of Judas Priest cover songs, performing the track "Metal Gods".

1997 saw the release of Solid, the first full-length U.D.O. album to feature the guitar work of Stefan Kaufmann. It was featured on the Rock Hard magazine reader charts for more than a year after its release.

The album was followed up with No Limits in 1998 and featured a similar songwriting approach as the previous year's effort. It also featured U.D.O.'s first returning lineup since the band's inception ten years prior. The album also featured a cover of the Austrian pop band Supermax's hit single "Love Machine".

In 1999, the band released the critically acclaimed Holy, which was a return to the guitar-driven sound similar to the Balls to the Wall-era Accept. A world tour followed with dates in the United States and several other major countries. Lineup changes occurred during the second part of the tour with Igor Gianola of Gotthard, replaced Jürgen Graf. When the No Limits tour concluded, Stefan Schwarzmann quit the band. On the 2000 leg of the Holy tour, Lorenzo Milani was the new drummer. The tour also spawned U.D.O.'s first live album, Live from Russia, a two-disc affair which featured many of the classic Accept tunes (with the exception of "Balls to the Wall") that have since become staples of U.D.O.'s set.

2002's Man and Machine received a somewhat lukewarm response. Despite standout songs like the title track and "Private Eye", the album was ultimately less successful than its predecessor. It is notable for spawning a promo video of "Dancing With An Angel", featuring a duet between Udo and Doro Pesch of Warlock.

The next two studio releases, 2004's Thunderball and 2005's Mission No. X, were slightly livelier affairs, with the band's touring of Germany, South America, and Eastern Europe. Sonically, the former shared much in common with Timebomb, while the latter followed No Limits.

It was with 2007's Mastercutor that saw U.D.O. return to form. The album was the most financially successful in years and received universally high marks from musical critics and metal fans alike. Udo's appearance on Finnish metal band Lordi's 2006 album, The Arockalypse, exposed U.D.O. to a wider audience.

U.D.O.'s twelfth studio album, Dominator, was released on 21 August 2009.^[1] U.D.O.'s next studio album, Rev-Raptor was released on 20 May 2011.^[2]

In September 2012, Stefan Kaufmann, longtime guitar player in U.D.O., left the band for health reasons.^[3] He continues to work in the surroundings of the band and produces for other bands in his own ROXX studio. In early January 2013, Russian guitarist Andrey Smirnov was recruited as the new member.^[4] A week later, guitarist Igor Gianola left the band "due to conflicts between band appointments and his private life and business." Following his departure, former Amberian Dawn guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen joined the band.^[5] The next album, Steelhammer, was released on 20 May.^[6]

In late 2014, drummer Francesco Jovino left the band for personal reasons, joining Primal Fear in 2015.^[7][8] He was replaced by Udo Dirkschneider's son, Sven.^[9] U.D.O. released the fifteenth studio album Decadent on 23 January 2015.^[10]

On 17 February 2017, guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen announced his departure citing personal reasons. According to the band, no bad blood or drama were involved between the two.^[11] In a March update, Udo Dirkschneider announced that the band has begun work on a new studio album for a tentative release later in the year.^[12] On 31 March, the band announced the new guitarist Bill Hudson.^[13]

Dirkschneider (2015-present)

In 2015, Udo Dirkschneider announced his plans to embark on a special tour in 2016 which he said was his "farewell to Accept", playing Accept songs one last time before he closes the chapter for good.^[14][15] In June 2016, a North American tour was announced for early 2017.^[16] A 2-CD live album titled Live - Back to the Roots was released on 28 October 2016.^[17]

In a message post on Facebook, Udo Dirkschneider explained that he would continue to perform Accept songs for at least another year.^[18] After a positive reception during their North American tour in early 2017, Dirkschneider announced a second run of shows in early 2018.^[19] The previously released Live - Back to the Roots live album was re-released on 4 August as Live - Back to the Roots - Accepted!.^[20]

Discography

Studio albums

• Animal House (1987)
• Mean Machine (1989)
• Faceless World (1990)
• Timebomb (1991)
• Solid (1997)
• No Limits (1998)
• Holy (1999)
• Man and Machine (2002)
• Thunderball (2004)
• Mission No. X (2005)
• Mastercutor (2007)
• Dominator (2009)
• Rev-Raptor (2011)
• Steelhammer (2013)
• Decadent (2015)

Live albums

• Live from Russia (2001)
• Nailed to Metal – The Missing Tracks (2003)
• Mastercutor Alive (2008)
• Live in Sofia (2011)
• Steelhammer - Live from Moscow (2014)
• Live - Back to the Roots (2016) (as Dirkschneider)
• Live - Back to the Roots - Accepted! (2017) (as Dirkschneider)

Compilation albums

• Best Of (1999)
• Metallized - 20 Years of Metal (2007)
• Celebrator - Rare Tracks (2012)^[21]

Singles/EPs

• They Want War (1988)
• Heart of Gold (1990)
• Faceless World (1990)
• Two Faced Woman (1997)
• Independence Day (1997)
• Lovemachine (1998)
• Dancing with an Angel (2002)
• 24/7 EP (2005)
• The Wrong Side of Midnight EP (2007)
• Infected EP (2009)
• Leatherhead EP (2011)
• Steelhammer (2013)
• Decadent (2014)

Music Videos

• They Want War (1988)
• Break the Rules (1989)
• Heart of Gold (1990)
• Independence Day (1997)
• Dancing with an Angel (with Doro Pesch) (2002)
• Thunderball (2004)
• Blind Eyes (2004)
• The Arbiter (2004)
• Trainride to Russia (2004)
• Mean Streets (2005)
• The Wrong Side of Midnight (2007)
• Black and White (2009)
• Leatherhead (2011)
• I Give As Good As I Get (2011)
• Metal Machine (2013)
• Heavy Rain (2013)
• Decadent (2014)

DVDs

• Nailed to Metal - The Complete History (2003)
• Thundervision (2004)
• Mastercutor Alive (2008)
• Live in Sofia (2012)
• Live from Moscow (2014)
• Navy metal night (2015)

Band members

Current members

Timeline

See also

• Darxon
• Kreator
• Sinner
• Gravestone
• Saxon
• Teutonic thrash metal

References

External links

• Official website
• Interview with Udo Dirkschneider @ Metalpaths.com (2011)