Former Accept lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider recently clarified where he currently stands with his former bandmate, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann. Speaking with Maurizio Lyon Leone on Italy’s “LyonRock,” the legendary heavy metal singer was straightforward about their lack of communication.
While Dirkschneider praised Hoffmann‘s musical abilities, he noted that the current iteration of the band feels very different from their classic era.
“I don’t have a relationship with Wolf Hoffmann anymore. No. He’s a great guitar player. He’s doing quite well now with Accept, but he’s the only member [left] of [the classic lineup of] Accept [laughs], and the rest is, like, yeah. What can I say? It’s different, you know? And, yeah, I don’t wanna make any bad comments. He’s doing his stuff, I do my stuff, but as a relationship — no, there is no relationship anymore,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
The conversation also touched on Dirkschneider‘s long and complicated history with performing Accept material live. Back in 2015, the frontman announced a special tour under the Dirkschneider name, which was intended to be his final time performing those classic tracks before focusing entirely on his main band, U.D.O.
He explained that he wanted to stop fielding constant questions about his former group and establish a firm boundary.
“to make a clear break for myself — close the book and this is it. And I have the problem that people come to me and ask me to play more Accept songs,” he said at the time. “Other people ask me why I play Accept songs at all, because there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. records. I want to avoid such things and avoid the repeating questions concerning Accept. I just can’t stand that anymore. There is nothing more to be said. U.D.O. exists longer than Accept. We have more records than Accept.”
A major factor in his decision was the inevitable comparisons drawn between his solo performances and the current version of Accept, which features vocalist Mark Tornillo.
“…you always have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by Accept and U.D.O.]. I don’t want this anymore either. [The current lineup of Accept] also play ‘Metal Heart,’ they play ‘Balls To The Wall‘ and ‘Princess Of The Dawn‘. And then some people tell me, ‘Oh, [current Accept singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it better than you.’ And I go, ‘That’s fine. Enjoy yourself.’ But I don’t want this anymore. And to avoid all of this in the future, I said, ‘We are doing this one more time.'”
Although the original Dirkschneider tour was only supposed to consist of “a few shows,” the singer admitted that “then [the tour] got bigger and bigger [due to demand].” He quickly added: “I don’t want to complain about that.” He has occasionally played select Accept tracks since then, including a 2020 U.D.O. show in Bulgaria that was recorded for a live release.
Ultimately, Dirkschneider stated there is only one scenario where he would fully reintegrate those classic songs into his regular setlists.
“If the band Accept dissolves one day in the near future and I am still around with U.D.O., then there is a chance that I put Accept songs back in the setlist. But currently there is Accept, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They are playing these songs.”
The current touring lineup for Dirkschneider features Udo alongside fellow former Accept member Peter Baltes on bass, drummer Sven Dirkschneider (his son), and guitarists Alen Brentini and Fabian “Dee” Dammers.
Accept are gearing up to celebrate a monumental milestone. The German-American pioneers have announced a massive European tour for the fall of 2026 to mark their 50th anniversary as a band.
Accept will be joined on the road by special guests Dynazty from Sweden and rising UK metal act Tailgunner.
Accept 2026 “Half A Century Of Metal” Tour Dates:
- Nov. 19 – Leipzig, DE @ Haus Auensee
- Nov. 20 – Lingen, DE @ Emsland Arena
- Nov. 21 – Oberhausen, DE @ Turbinenhalle
- Nov. 22 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia
- Nov. 24 – Balingen, DE @ Volksbankmesse
- Nov. 25 – Lyon, FR @ Transbordeur
- Nov. 27 – Valencia, ES @ Auditorio
- Nov. 28 – Madrid, ES @ La Cubierta
- Nov. 29 – Toulouse, FR @ Bikini
- Dec. 01 – Zurich, CH @ Komplex 457
- Dec. 02 – Milano, IT @ Alcatraz
- Dec. 04 – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer
- Dec. 05 – Zlin, CZ @ Sports Hall Datart
- Dec. 06 – Budapest, HU @ Barba Negra
- Dec. 08 – Berlin, DE @ Uber Eats Music Hall
- Dec. 09 – Gliwice, PL @ Arena Gliwice
- Dec. 11 – Hamburg, DE @ Inselpark Arena
- Dec. 12 – Offenbach, DE @ Stadthalle
- Dec. 13 – Brussels, BE @ AB
- Dec. 15 – Herford, DE @ Kulturwerk
- Dec. 16 – Tilburg, NL @ O13
- Dec. 18 – Ulm, DE @ Ratiopharm Arena
- Dec. 19 – Geiselwind, DE @ Eventhall
- Dec. 20 – Munich, DE @ Zenith
(Support from Dynazty and Tailgunner)
