UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER: 'I Think I'm More Known For U.D.O. Than For My Work With ACCEPT'

Mark Kadzielawa of 69 Faces Of Rock recently conducted an interview with former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

69 Faces Of Rock: Years ago, you told me you're continuing ACCEPT's musical legacy. Is that still the case?

Udo: I mean, not really. Of course, the voice is still there. [laughs] But music-wise.... of course, there is some ACCEPT stuff in there, but I think over the years U.D.O. has developed its own style. Let's say that songwriting-wise, there's a little bit of that left.

69 Faces Of Rock: Speaking of ACCEPT, they had a significant success with the new lineup. In your opinion, do you think the band was able to maintain the spirit of the band that you were once in?

Udo: I don't know. Let's say it this way, I'm not interested in ACCEPT anymore. I wish them all the best. They were asking me to do the reunion, and but I said "no" in the end. It made no sense to me to do it again. It didn't work out two times. I don't know why they did this after 15 years. I mean, what can I say? I think they did a good album, "Blood Of The Nations" was a good album. They have a good singer, and I wish them good luck.

69 Faces Of Rock: Well, anyone who was an ACCEPT fan, automatically became an U.D.O. fan and vice versa. right?

Udo: Well, let's say it this way: when ACCEPT was not in the business for 15 years, I carried on, and I carried on playing a lot of ACCEPT's songs. And now they take over from U.D.O. They came back, and people still now the songs, and U.D.O. helped by playing those songs all these years. But there's a lot of things that, you know.

69 Faces Of Rock: Is it safe to say that their recent success paved the way for U.D.O. to come back to the States? I mean, if people like them, they will automatically like the original voice of that band, and that is you.

Udo: Yeah, I actually made more albums with U.D.O. than I made with ACCEPT at this point. And I think I'm more known for U.D.O. than for my work with ACCEPT. I mean, we still play the ACCEPT's songs, but not that many. We play the classic stuff. It's maybe good for the people, they have U.D.O. and ACCEPT, so they can hear "Balls To The Wall" twice, one with original singer, and one with a different singer.

69 Faces Of Rock: That's the point, both bands supplement each other, and the fans get twice the amount of the music. So at the end of the day, it all works out.

Udo: Yeah, I don't have any problem with it anymore. It's a win-win situation, let's put it this way.

69 Faces Of Rock: And with their presence back in the picture, does it make you want to push the envelope harder?

Udo: No, not at all. For me, ACCEPT is just like MOTÖRHEAD or SAXON; it's just another band.

Read the entire interview from 69 Faces Of Rock.