Heavy Metal Magazine NO. 44 (4/1998) As translated by Sorin.
METAL HEART STOPPED BEATING !
Till the middle of the past century, the German metal scene took pride of only two names: Scorpions and ACCEPT. These two bands started the hard and heavy metal in Germany, their example being followed then by Helloween, Grave Digger, Rage, Thunderhead, Running Wild etc. If Scorpions became famous especially because of ballads and blues, ACCEPT created sensations with their pure and harsh heavy metal, direct and without compromises. The emblem of the band and the only one who is right in talking about the twenty - five years of activity is the singer Udo Dirckschneider, who will guide me in whole journey through ACCEPT history.
"ACCEPT was formed by me and Michael Wagner, in 1971. In the first years we changed tens of musicians, a little stable formula coming out in 1975. The first years we spent in cultural houses for youth and, that moment when we started to introduce heavy stuff in our songs the term "heavy metal" wasn't pronounced too much. Everybody talked about hard rock genre. On the occasion of a contest in Philips hall - Dusseldorf we classified on the third place and a music production label was interested in us. That wanted to release some demo cassettes. Normally, we recorded some demos and shortly the rights about the band werec sold to Metronome. That time, for many Germans our music was a crazy thing but, step by step we came into their souls. Thus the first album "Accept" was successful one and allowed us to play in another countries than Germany. We toured in different countries - Holland, Belgium, France and unbelievable thing, in those countries we were more famous than in Germany. The second album "I'm rebel" wasn't too inspired. I think because of some unsuccessful experiments, the band wasn't too solid and the identity wasn't discovered yet. (I don't agree with the fact "I'm rebel" is lower than "Accept"). Only with "Breaker" we could penetrate the whole Europe, this album being our first important step. This album allowed us to go in our first tour in Germany and most important, to open European tour for Judas Priest. Followed "R & W" which consolidated our position in Europe and Japan and also made first waves in America. On American territory we really "broke" only with BTTW. The next two albums "MH" and "RR" were also successful but the success didn't stopped the separation of the band. The next period showed an ACCEPT more commercial with a important singer, David Reece. The fact that the other members of the band wished ACCEPT sounded in an American way determined me to leave the band and make my own band U.D.O. "
Udo, in majority of musical dictionaries, ACCEPT history is written beginning with "75-76. You told me you started in 1971. Is it possible to find out something more from your first years of activity?
"So, between '71-76, the most of the time we spent looking for suitable musicians. On the other hand, the younger bands plays cover versions at start. We wanted to have our own compositions and find an original style. We didn't got the idea that X or Y band is our model, but I admit that we eavesdropped to Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC or Judas Priest. I repeat, these bands didn't influenced us but gave us an impulse."
Michael Wagner was with you all this time. Why did he leave the band ?
"He considered that he wasn't good enough. Ha! Ha! Ha! Yes, he said he couldn't play guitar very well so he oriented to the technical part. He got a job in Hamburg at a firm which dealt with amps, mixers etc., and then left Germany for America where became a famous producer."
In the first period of your period must have been a maxim. Which do you think it was?
"I think that was between "Breaker" and "RR". In that period all was great, both albums and concerts being super. It's difficult to me to remember, for example, a concert of reference because every concert was "heavy" in his way. Though, I can affirm that two concerts were outstanding for ACCEPT : "Monsters of rock" 84 and a festival in America where assisted about 140000 of people."
It was said that for a while you've been in "conflict" with Scorpions.
"With Scorpions we never got problems. I consider that we never been rivals. I t may said we've been in a permanent competition, but it's normally to be that way. Our style was more aggressive so there is no use making a comparison. Unfortunately, with Scorpions never played on the same scene, but we are good friends with them and respect is mutual."
After your leaving ACCEPT continued with another singer. In what circumstances the band was reformed at the first of this decade ?
"In the period when I played with U.D.O was released an live album "Staying a life". The sales of that album exceeded any expectations and fans demanded insistently the reunion. We got thousands of letters from our fans all over the world and we asked to gather again. After some debates we said "O.K. Let's make it one more". In '93 we released "OO" and the mechanism worked."
Though, neither of the albums released in this decade wasn't as good as the albums released in the first period ?
"We never wanted to make two of a kind albums. That means to copy yourself and there's no use. "OO" kept the ACCEPT identity but the next two "DR" and "Predator" distanced of our style. I think the idea of Wolf to renounced the second guitar was a mistake. If "OO" was conceived for two guitars and the result was good, the next two albums based only one guitar and the effect was disastrous. In addition, Stefan Kaufmann got some health problems and was forbidden to play drums again. I knew he was a good guitar player too, so proposed the others he play guitar, but I was refused. Starting with "Predator" the ACCEPT feeling ended, American influences becoming visible."
Did you feel ACCEPT will separate for second time ?
I knew that won't be the same as the beginning and any album will appear will be lower. So we planned an farewell tour and a live album. I knew we had to record a live album but didn't know release date. So "ACCEPT - All areas worldwide" is double CD recorded live in 1993-1996. In my opinion it is a document from the second period and we made all the best to have many songs never recorded live on any disk."
Do you think it's possible to see in the future the third ACCEPT stage ?
"No, definitely not. The ACCEPT mechanism can't work anymore, because any of us has different tastes in music and other visions about music."
What your fans say about the ACCEPT end ?
"Normally, they are sad but with albums like "Predator" we can't go on no more (I agree).The fact that U.D.O exists and plays ACCEPT music, is a relief and a treatment which heals some wounds. Be prepared ! At the end of this month U.D.O releases a new album and ACCEPT fans will be pleased again."
Let's thank one more time to Udo Dirckschneider, Wolf Hoffmann, Peter Baltes, Stefan Kaufmann, Stefan Schwartzmann and the other musicians who completed ACCEPT formula over the years for the wonderful albums given to the real metal fans and for the unforgettable moments in which were closely to the young generations