U.D.O. To Launch North American Tour In November 2023

In a new interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, former ACCEPT and current U.D.O./ DIRKSCHNEIDER frontman Udo Dirkschneider was asked if there is any chance that his fans in America will get to see him perform this year. Udo, who turned 71 in April, responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This year you will see U.D.O. We are working on the tour. And after three times canceling everything [because of] this pandemic stuff, now it looks like — I think that we are coming in… I think that it starts on the 3rd of November until the middle of December. But at the moment we are waiting for the right routing and all that stuff. I mean, we are already into visa stuff and nightliners and blah, blah, blah — all that stuff. So this time it really looks that we coming back to America. And I'm really looking forward to this. The last time we've been in America, we [went there] under [the] DIRKSCHNEIDER [banner], but this time we are coming under U.D.O."

Udo also touched upon the setlist for the upcoming U.D.O. North American tour and whether it will include any of ACCEPT's classic songs. He said: "The promoter said, 'Yeah, we heard Udo said he never, ever will play any ACCEPT songs.' Yeah, of course. I mean, when I did the DIRKSCHNEIDER tour [focusing on ACCEPT material] also here in Europe, the whole DIRKSCHNEIDER thing [lasted] for nearly three years; I mean, it was a never-ending tour. It was nearly 300 shows, and I was really tired. I said, 'Come on. U.D.O. has also enough songs. I don't wanna play any ACCEPT songs anymore.' Okay. [I] was a little bit too quick [to say that]. So the promoter in America, he said, 'Yeah, but when you come on tour, you have to play 'Balls To The Wall'. You cannot be in America without 'Balls To The Wall'.' And then he said, 'Can we put this in the contract?' And I said, 'Don't worry. We don't have to put this in the contract. I know that we have to play 'Balls To The Wall' in America. Of course.' And, yeah. So maybe we play one or two ACCEPT songs; I mean, I know which ones are in America famous enough. But we don't make a mix, like 50 percent of ACCEPT and [50 percent of] U.D.O. Maybe [we'll play] two [ACCEPT] songs, and then give the people what they want."

U.D.O. will release a new album, "Touchdown", on August 25 through Atomic Fire Records. The 13-track LP was recorded at various locations with producer Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and was mixed at Redhead Studio (Wilhelmshaven, Germany) while the mastering was handled by Stefan Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany),The record also includes a guest appearance by violinist Stefan Pintev on the title track, and bass tracks were recorded by former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes. Artwork was provided by Martin Häusler who was also responsible for shooting band photos in support of the new album campaign.

In April, Baltes officially joined U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER, the two bands fronted by Udo Dirkschneider. The former ACCEPT bassist had been playing bass for U.D.O. since last September, initially as a temporary replacement for U.D.O.'s then-bassist Tilen Hudrap who was hospitalized after the band's show in Munich, Germany.

DIRKSCHNEIDER is the name of Udo's band which performs ACCEPT material exclusively.

Although Udo announced eight years ago that his initial DIRKSCHNEIDER tour would mark his final time performing ACCEPT songs, he has continued to play select shows under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner.

Three years ago, Baltes and former ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann were part of the songwriting team for U.D.O.'s album called "We Are One", a collaboration with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, the military band of the German federal armed forces.

Photo credit: Martin Häusler