UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER: Why I Didn't Rejoin ACCEPT

FearShop Mike of the FearShop.com Metal Podcast recently conducted an interview with former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. lead singer Udo Dirkschneider. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

When asked if he would ever consider another reunion with ACCEPT, or maybe just getting back together with his former bandmates for a few shows again, Udo replied, "No. I mean, this is over. They did a reunion now with a different singer. They were asking me to do a reunion [a few years ago] and I didn't say directly 'No.' Let's say there was one main point [of contention]. I said, 'OK, guys, we did already one reunion, so if I join now this reunion and it doesn't work out maybe after one album and a tour or whatever. So I have to cut down U.D.O., and I think U.D.O. was quite successful then. So then I said, 'OK, if I do this reunion with ACCEPT again and the reunion doesn't work out, then I have to [be able to] continue under the name ACCEPT.' And that was the main point where [ACCEPT guitarist] Wolf Hoffmann said 'No,' [and] that he [didn't] wanna do this. He has the rights to the [ACCEPT] name. And then I said, 'OK, guys, sorry I cannot do this. I wish you luck. Then do your thing and I do my own thing with U.D.O.' That was the thing. So they did a very good album, I think, and they had a very good tour in Europe, as far as I know. The singer is good, so I mean, we will see what the future will bring to ACCEPT. I mean, I know what U.D.O. is doing and I don't know how long they will do it with ACCEPT. We will see. I wish them luck."

"FearShop.com Metal Podcast" featuring Udo Dirkschneider interview (audio):

"Rev-Raptor", the new album from U.D.O., registered the following first-week chart positions:

Switzerland: #57
Germany: #20
Sweden: #26

"Rev-Raptor" was released on May 20 via AFM Records. The effort was made available in the following formats:

* CD (Jewel Case)
* CD (Digipak)
* CD (Japan)
* Vinyl black
* Vinyl green
* Limited Box

The digipak contains the two bonus tracks "Time Dilator" and "Heavy Metal W:O:A" plus the videos for "Leatherhead" and the second single, "I Give As Good As I Get".

The Japanese version of "Rev-Raptor" includes the bonus tracks "Stormbreaker" and "Bodyworld".

The green-vinyl edition of "Rev-Raptor" is limited to 200 copies and available exclusively via Nuclear Blast mailorder.

The recordings for "Rev-Raptor" took place between June 2010 and February 2011 at Roxx studios (owned by U.D.O. guitarist and ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann) in Pulheim, Germany. The CD was mastered by Manfred Melchior at MM Sound Digital studios in Steinhagen, Germany. The album's cover artwork is once again a comic-like motif: but the "Dominator" character is this time "a lot more effectual and colorful," according to a press release.

"Rev-Raptor" was originally scheduled for release in January but was delayed by the back problems experienced by Kaufmann, the same issue that forced him to quit playing drums for ACCEPT back in the day. Stefan recently received medical treatment for this condition and had recovered enough to have played with the band on November 6, 2010 at the Rock Antenne festival at Schwabenhalle in Augsburg.

U.D.O. released a new single, "Leatherhead", on April 8 via AFM Records.