Peter Baltes, the former Accept bassist who now plays with U.D.O. and Dirkschneider, is in hospital with three rib fractures after falling from the stage during a concert in Germany.
The fall happened on July 25 during Dirkschneider‘s set at the Pyraser Classic Rock Night, held at the Pyraser Landbrauerei, a brewery in the village of Pyras near Thalmässing in Central Franconia, between Nuremberg and Ingolstadt. He is being treated in Nuremberg.
On Sunday, July 26, U.D.O. and Dirkschneider, both fronted by former Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider, issued the following statement, which also revealed that a second member was hurt:
“Notice about the Pyraser Classic Rock Night“
“During our performance at the Pyraser Classic Rock Night, Peter Baltes and [U.D.O. and Dirkschneider guitarist] Alen Brentini suffered serious falls due to insufficient safety conditions on stage. Alen suffered several severe contusions and other injuries. Fortunately, despite this, he is in a condition to continue performing. Peter suffered three rib fractures and is being treated at a hospital in Nuremberg. He is likely not to be able to perform for a longer period. Our thoughts are with him, and we wish a speedy and complete recovery.”
“Despite these difficult circumstances, Dirkschneider will continue to perform the scheduled shows as planned.”
“We will release more information as soon as it is available.”
“Thank you very much for the support and for all the messages of well-being sent to Peter and Alen.”
The band attributes both falls to what it calls insufficient safety conditions on the stage. Fan-filmed video of the moment Baltes went down has been circulating online and can be seen down below.
By the band’s own account, guitarist Alen Brentini is banged up but able to keep playing, and Dirkschneider intends to press on with its scheduled dates. Baltes, however, faces a longer spell on the sidelines.
The 2026 edition of the Pyraser Classic Rock Night, a sold-out annual open-air event at the Franconian brewery, was topped by Rose Tattoo and Dirkschneider, with Axxis, Dynazty and Nanowar Of Steel also on the bill.
Baltes, 68, is one of German metal’s most seasoned players. Born in Solingen in 1958, he joined Accept in 1976 and stayed for 42 years, playing bass on the band’s first 15 albums and occasionally handling lead vocals on their more melodic material, before announcing his exit in November 2018. He was replaced in Accept by Martin Motnik.
In 2023 he linked back up with Udo Dirkschneider, his old Accept bandmate, joining both U.D.O. and Dirkschneider.
Reflecting on his departure from Accept in a June 2023 interview with “Rock And A Hard Place“, Baltes framed the decision as a matter of doing only what he wants at this stage of his life:
“I wasn’t the happiest person in Accept before. In my life, every day counts. When you reach my age, I wanna enjoy my life and I don’t wanna do anything I don’t like. I have that right now.”
For now, the focus is on his recovery, with his bandmates among those wishing him a swift and full return to health.
