U.D.O. — the German metal band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider — will embark on a short North American tour in April.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

April 09 - Amityville, NY - Ollie's Point
April 10 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
April 11 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
April 12 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
April 13 - St-Ferdinand, QC - Style Metal
April 14 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
April 18 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
April 19 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's
April 20 - Joliet, IL - Mojoe's
April 21 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
April 23 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go

U.D.O. has recruited a new guitarist to replace Stefan Kaufmann, who left the group late last year for health reasons.

Stefan will continue to work with U.D.O. behind the scenes and produce other bands at his Roxx studio.

Kaufmann was the drummer for ACCEPT on nine albums but was forced to give up drumming towards the end of the band's initial run due to health problems.

Stefan joined U.D.O. as a guitar player in 1996, following ACCEPT's second breakup, and has recorded nine albums with them.

"Live In Sofia", the new DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD from U.D.O., entered the Music DVD chart in Finland at position No. 1 and in Germany at No. 4.

"Live In Sofia" contains footage of U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.

U.D.O. 's latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records.