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The Balls to the Wall 40th anniversary tour hit Budapest’s Barba Negra on March 2nd, celebrating one of metal’s most iconic records. Ahead of the show, we sat down with Udo Dirkschneider, original lead vocalist of Accept, to talk about the album’s legacy, the incredible re-recording with legendary artists, and his relentless passion for making music.
Text: Daniella Kiss · Photo: Martin Hausler
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Balls to the Wall was released over 40 years ago, and now you’re celebrating it with a special anniversary tour. Looking back, did you ever imagine the album would have such a lasting impact on metal?
„It’s really fun and special what we’re doing right now. We never expected to re-record the album, honestly that wasn’t originally part of the plan. The idea was just to do the anniversary tour. But then, at festivals, a lot of singers came up and mentioned the 40-year anniversary, asking if we had anything special planned. At first, I just said we were going on tour and nothing more, but that got us thinking. Touching this album again was a big decision because Balls to the Wall is definitely the highlight of my and Peter’s career—it’s what made us famous worldwide. In the end, bringing in all the guest singers wasn’t easy, but I think they each brought their own character to the songs, which was the most important thing. I’m really happy we did it because it gives the album a new atmosphere. Take Michael Kiske, for example—he sings just like he does in Helloween, which was exactly what we wanted. We wanted to let the guest singers bring their own style. So far, people have reacted really well, and the tour is going great. It looks like we did something right.”
Was there anything you wanted to approach differently this time compared to the original recordings?
„No, the songs are exactly the same as they were 40 years ago. The only change we made was adding a solo to Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had. On the original album, there was just noise in that section, and we always wondered why we didn’t put a solo there. Now, we finally had the chance to do it, so we went for it. Other than that, everything remains unchanged.”
You had some incredible guest appearances on the record. How did you choose who to collaborate with?
„We sat down and made a list of the people we wanted on the album. Some choices were obvious from the start—Biff Byford, Doro, Michael Kiske, Mille Petrozza from Kreator. From there, the list grew, and we ended up adding others like Tim „Ripper” Owens and Joakim Brodén from Sabaton – a lot of friends, really. My son handled a lot of the coordination since he has great industry connections and is involved with the record company. It wasn’t easy—Dee Snider, for example, had just moved to a new house in the U.S. and didn’t know any studios in the area. He eventually found a small one and recorded his part in just two hours. What we really appreciated was that every guest singer was genuinely excited to be part of this. They really wanted to do these songs, and they felt honored to be involved. That meant a lot.”
Fans will get to experience Balls to the Wall played in its entirety on this tour. What’s it like performing the album from start to finish after all these years?
„It’s definitely an interesting experience, especially playing songs like Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had and Guardian of the Night, which were never performed live with Accept. We only started playing them last year in South America, and the reaction from the audience was incredible. It’s also interesting to play the album in its original order. Of course, we’ve built a full setlist around it, including other songs from our career, and so far, it’s been fantastic. We’ve already done a few shows, and they have gone really well.”
Given that some of these songs haven’t been performed live in decades or just a few times, were there any tracks that felt particularly exciting to revisit for this tour?
„I’m really excited to do this tour, especially because Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had is one of my favorite songs on the album. Finally having the chance to play it live is something special. With Accept, only Peter handled the vocals on that track, but now my son and the rest of the band are also singing, making it possible to perform the song live in a way that really works.”
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Speaking of revisiting the past, your former Accept bandmate Peter Baltes is back in your band. What was it like reconnecting musically after all these years?
„Peter has been a permanent member of the band for two years now, and honestly, it feels like he was never gone. When we played our first show together again, I looked over and thought “Is this really happening? Is he really back on stage with me?” – It was a great feeling. He’s one of the most brilliant heavy metal bass players, and I’m really happy he’s back. I’m especially looking forward to the next U.D.O. album, as it will be the first time Peter will be involved in the songwriting with us. It’s going to be very interesting.”
You’ve also had your son, Sven, on drums for a while now. How does it feel to share the stage with him?
„Sven has been in the band for 10 years now. In the beginning, we were careful because of the father-son dynamic, but it’s not an issue anymore. He’s a full member of the band, and if there’s ever a family issue, we handle it outside of the band. But now, he’s just another member of the band. Our relationship is more than just father and son—we’re great friends. At first, it was a bit strange turning around and seeing my son on drums, but now it feels completely natural. He’s doing an amazing job, not just as a drummer but also in production and many other things. He even helps with vocal melodies now. It’s great having a younger generation in the band because they listen to different music and can bring fresh ideas that I find really interesting. I think being open-minded about that is important.”
How did the idea of playing together come about?
„I was looking for a new drummer while we were on tour with Saxon. My son was filling in for their drummer, and I mentioned to Biff that I needed someone, asking him if he knew anyone. Biff just pointed to Sven, saying “Yes, he’s doing soundcheck right now”. It was an unusual situation, but I asked Sven if he was interested, and the rest is history. He rehearsed a lot before joining and was really nervous for our first show together because he didn’t want to make any mistakes. I think he’s been a great choice, and I’m really happy he’s in the band.”
You always write new music and keep things fresh. What can you tell us about your next U.D.O. album?
„There’s definitely a new U.D.O. album in the works, and we will get to work this summer to record it. We originally planned to play four or five festivals this summer, but now we have 11 coming up. Then in November, we kick off our tour in the UK with Saxon, followed by even more shows. Since the whole tour runs until next summer, we have to finish the album by the end of October. If all goes as planned, it should be out in 2026, and then of course we’ll hit the road again to tour with that album as well.”
Your touring schedule is absolutely relentless—you’re always on the road. How do you keep up such an intense pace year after year? Is there a secret to keeping your voice so strong?
„Fortunately, I don’t have any problems with my voice. I just try to relax as much as possible and take vacations when I can, but that’s about it—there’s no secret. I love touring and working, I think it keeps me young. I just want to keep going. A lot of people ask me if I ever think about retiring, and I always say no. As long as I’m having fun, my voice is strong, and we can tour worldwide, I’d rather be doing this than retiring.”
You came up in the German metal scene during a time when British and American bands were dominating. Did you face any challenges breaking into the international market as a German metal band?
„Our first album with Accept was quite successful in Germany, and we had a lot of shows in Belgium and the Netherlands. Over there, we had crowds of 1,000 to 1,500 people, while in Germany, we were still playing in tiny clubs for 30 people. Our second album was more of a transition, where we were still figuring out our direction. Then came Breaker, which was our breakthrough in Europe. Of course, Balls to the Wall was the real game-changer—nobody expected it to be that successful. In Europe, we were already quite big, but that album made us an overnight success in America. When it was released, 120 radio stations started playing our music immediately. MTV was just getting started, but they put the Balls to the Wall video in heavy rotation. Then we went on tour with Kiss—what more could you ask for? It was surreal. Nobody saw that kind of success coming.”
You mentioned touring with Kiss, but you also hit the road with some of the biggest names in rock and metal— Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Mötley Crüe, and many others. Do you have any standout memories from those tours?
„Kiss was really helpful to us. They taught us how to entertain people in America, which was different from Europe. I also remember Ozzy Osbourne being really funny. We toured a lot with Iron Maiden and Mötley Crüe—pretty much with everyone. With U.D.O., we even toured with Guns N’ Roses, which was interesting, to say the least (laughs). I don’t know what was going on with Axl at the time, but sometimes people had to wait an hour for him, or he’d just leave the stage mid-show. He was a bit crazy. The only big band I never toured with is AC/DC.
I have so many memories from those tours. One that stands out is from an American tour with Ozzy. The drummer was doing a solo, and he suddenly looked over and asked, “Where’s Ozzy?” Nobody knew. Then Ozzy’s tour manager went outside, and at the far end of the parking lot, there was a bar—Ozzy was literally walking over to get a drink. The poor tour manager had to run and bring him back on stage (laughs). Yeah, Ozzy is special for sure.”
Many consider Fast as a Shark to be the first true speed metal song, helping pave the way for thrash metal. Did you realize at the time that you were creating something groundbreaking?
„When we recorded Fast as a Shark, we had no idea it would be considered the first speed metal song. But I do know that it inspired so many musicians, and that means a lot to me. It makes us proud to have created something that made people go, “Yes, I want to do the same.” Looking back, I never expected to still be doing this nearly 50 years later, but here I am, still having fun.”
Finally, what keeps you motivated after all these years?
„What keeps me motivated after all these years is creating music. I’ve talked to a lot of bands who say, “We don’t need to make a new album; we have so many already.” Of course, I could do the same—I have 19 albums with U.D.O., plus I can perform Accept songs. But for me, writing a new album is like having a new baby. It’s exciting to see how it turns out and how people react to it. I’m always working on new songs, and I’m really fast in the studio. Usually, I finish recording vocals in four or five days, and then the album is done. So, get ready—the new album is coming!”
