UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER On Possible Retirement: 'As Long As I Have Fun, I Don't Stop'

Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER singer Udo Dirkschneider was interviewed on a recent edition of "The Classic Metal Show", which is heard live on Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. EST at TheClassicMetalShow.com. You can now listen to the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether he is sad about the prospect of not performing ACCEPT songs anymore after the current DIRKSCHNEIDER tour, dubbed "Back To The Roots - Farewell To Accept":

Udo: "In the last, on the last U.D.O. tour, we just played three ACCEPT songs. But no, I'm not really sad about it. I mean, what I'm doing at the moment, I enjoy everything, see that the people are happy. Yeah, we had so many shows here in Europe sold out; [it's been] unbelievable. For me, it's also a big surprise; there's a huge interest in this. But sometimes you have to close a book, you know, and say, 'Okay, that's it.' And the only thing what I can say at the moment is if the people wanna hear ACCEPT songs, then go to [see] ACCEPT; they're still in the business, they're still touring. And I think it's now up to ACCEPT [to keep playing those classic songs]. Of course, it's not the original voice, but Mark [Tornillo, current ACCEPT singer] is doing a good job. And I only say there's maybe a little door open to maybe one I can play ACCEPT songs again. If then, when ACCEPT maybe stops in the business — breaks up or whatever — and I'm still in the business, then it's possible to play ACCEPT songs again. But at the moment, if still ACCEPT now is in the business and touring, with U.D.O., I don't play any ACCEPT songs anymore."

On U.D.O.'s plans for the follow-up to 2015's "Decadent" album:

Udo: "Yeah, we already have a lot of ideas. At the moment, we are collecting ideas as much as we can. And after the American tour, in the beginning of February, we do a break for everybody, and then on the first of March, we start working on a new U.D.O. album."

On how much longer he thinks he can keep touring and recording:

Udo: "I don't know. I mean, a lot of people are asking me already, 'What do you think about retiring or something like that?' and I said 'No.' I mean, I don't know… For me, it's always easy to say, you know — as long as I have fun, I don't stop. If I don't have any health problems, my voice is working or something else is going on, I keep going, you know. I love to be on tour, I love to play in front of people, make new albums, especially now with the new members in the band. Still it's fun for me, everything, to do this. I don't know… Maybe another ten years. I don't know. We'll see. This is a good thing — to make this kind of music, it doesn't matter how old you are. If you are in the pop business, it's a little bit different; you can maybe do it for a couple of years and then you're gone. The next [pop star] is coming [to replace you]."

DIRKSCHNEIDER released a live album called "Live - Back To The Roots" on October 28 via AFM Records. The effort, which was recorded on April 2 at Kaminwerk in Memmingen, Germany, was made available as two-CD digipak and gatefold three-vinyl in four different colors (black, gold, silver and clear).

DIRKSCHNEIDER touring lineup:

Udo Dirkschneider - Vocals
Sven Dirkschneider - Drums
Fitty Wienhold - Bass
Andrey Smirnov - Guitar
Kasperi Heikkinen - Guitar