Good news - Udo stays in U.D.O.

Written by David, February 2006

ccording to Sweden Rock Magazine #33, Udo Dirkschneider has refused an extended reunion with Accept. He will not make another record with the band, but the others have his blessings to work with another singer if they like. Accept is perhaps the band closest to my heart, still I think this is good news. U.D.O. of today have much more potential to do well than Accept would have. In U.D.O. the still vital legends Udo and Stefan Kaufmann work with young and hungry guys. In their best moments they create just as great metal together as in the old Accept days. It may be hard for any new compositions to achieve the same status as the old classics, but that is another matter. That would not happen for any new Accept songs either. They kick ass live and simply seem to have really fun together.

t was a great experience when I, for the first time, saw my old heroes in Accept live this summer, no doubt. But it didn't make me want more, at all. It was supposed to be a once in a lifetime thing, and that was totally okay with me. It was almost a comfort to know that U.D.O. should continue as usual after this 'reunion tour'. Sure the old Accept fellows seemed to have fun on stage as well. And they did a great show. But there was something missing. Something that is hard to put your finger on: Chemistry? Hungriness? Metal heart? Wolf Hoffmann especially has been away from metal for a long time. He is still a wonderful guitarist, but according to Udo he didn't come up with any new song ideas. Of course Wolf got a taste for the stage light this summer, but how long will it last this time? How would the band handle the old musical differences? What turn would a 'new' Accept-record take: softer, more modern or extremely retro? With U.D.O. you knot exactly what to expect. Their sound is solid since many years, just because the members have the same visions about metal.

e have seen other bands reunite permanent. Most of them quite successful actually. But if you try to look at it objectively, Halford was more exciting as a band than today's Judas Priest. If you look through the legend status and the hype about it all, and just look at what is actually happening on stage (and record), that is. I prefer Bruce Dickinson solo, before Iron Maiden. Dee Snider's SMF got a lot more positive criticism headlining Sweden Rock Festival than Twisted Sister got a couple of years later. Michael Sweet did the close to full point solo album Truth, while Stryper's comeback Reborn was quite average. My point is that, although I like to see the old favorites play together now and then, in the longer run I think I prefer if they continue in lineups where they are fully comfortable. That way they have the freedom to create something new rather than to live on their old nostalgic merits.

he worst catastrophe that could happen in the metal world would be if Helloween reunited with Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske. We would lose two great bands (Gamma Ray and today's Helloween) and their whole respective catalogues. We would also lose one of the best and most distinct singers of the metal world today, Andi Deris. Instead we would get an even grumpier Michael Weikath and his - 'we're only doing this for the money and publicity' - friends doing a half hearted show based on two quite overrated records. Fun once, but then?

David - February 2006