Photo report from the concert (photos by Gunslinger)
Who originated hard rock in Germany is a debatable question — many name SCORPIONS, though that's largely due to the phenomenal success of that band. But who originated heavy metal in Germany — there's no question: that was ACCEPT. The rest is well known: the band's third album was extraordinarily successful, and Udo Dirkschneider's trademark howl became the band's calling card. Successful albums kept coming — but in 1987 Udo was already working under a different banner, while ACCEPT would record just one album during that time, not particularly well-known. In his own project Udo made the sound heavier; the vocals became rougher and more extreme, and the songs changed too — ACCEPT had often drifted toward hard rock, while the UDO project always represented hard-edged heavy metal, and in the live sound there's simply no comparison. Udo returned to ACCEPT for a few years, then went back to his own child: new albums followed, many years passed, and then, barely a year ago, another ACCEPT reunion — one tour of sold-out shows, and that was it; the band broke up again, while UDO continues its creative path. Dirkschneider thus has ten albums with ACCEPT and now ten albums with UDO. He has passed fifty, he is very heavyset, yet none of this prevents him from blazing through concerts and igniting entire audiences.
Udo Dirkschneider is such a frequent visitor to russia that probably 90% of heavy metal fans in the country have seen him at least once. He first visited in 1993 with ACCEPT; from 1998 onward, essentially annual visits began, with the band playing not one but many concerts across different cities. So: 1998, then 1999, then a joint tour with ARIA in 2001; in 2002 he performed on the stage of the Luzhniki Sports Palace alongside DORO; in 2004 another russian-Ukrainian tour. Then 2005 — the ACCEPT reunion — and at the start of 2006 information appeared that the UDO band would again be in moscow. Thus Mr. Dirkschneider was to perform before Muscovites for the eighth time. The following day UDO also appeared at a festival in st. petersburg alongside URIAH HEEP, SUPERMAX, and NAZARETH. In moscow, the Gorbusha Palace of Culture was the venue.
With that, let the introduction end. There weren't an overwhelming number of people that day — clearly no sellout — probably around a thousand, maybe a little more; after all, he had been seen less than a year earlier, and had performed two dozen ACCEPT hits, yet the genuine devotees of this legendary heavy vocalist were there.
A proper press conference didn't happen, owing to time constraints and a number of other difficulties — but we did manage to take a few photographs before the concert with Mr. Dirkschneider himself and bassist Fitty, a member of the band since 1997.
The concert was opened by BEER MEN GAME — beer-flavoured heavy punk, who had previously served as support for Tom Angelripper's ONKEL TOM project on 12 November 2006 — a concert I still recall as the most fun, warmest, and most joyously unhinged I have ever seen. The band put on a decent set again this time, although the sound wasn't particularly good. From my perspective, they were a questionable fit as a support for UDO — UDO isn't beer-soaked trash — but in any case, having played their set, they made way for the evening's main act, who soon appeared on stage.
The intro to the latest album sounded, and the riffs of "Mission No. X" — the title track from the most recent album — kicked in. On stage: Fitty, guitarist Stefan to the right from the audience's perspective, Igor Gianola to the left, and behind the drum kit of course Lorenzo himself — the one who, if the song "Trainride In russia" is to be believed, was made happy by a certain Svetlana: "Swetlana was a darling / Her face will never fade / She made Lorenzo happy / Showed him the russian way." If you remember the 2004 album, this song mentions the rest of the band members too, for instance: "With Igor and with Fitty / Naked in the car / Shouting at each other / Who the fuck's the Tsar." A considerable portion of the audience had been waiting for this song practically from the opening, clearly preparing to sing along on the chorus. I've forgotten someone — yes indeed, on stage appeared a short, heavyset figure: an older man with completely grey, short hair in a leather jacket and khaki trousers — the legend of heavy music, Udo Dirkschneider himself, on stage in a country which, by his own admission in numerous interviews, he loves very much.
What can be said about the concert overall: bands often tour in support of a new album while actually playing a best-of programme — this concert was not one of those. Given the circumstances, Udo made this choice: he reduced ACCEPT songs to a minimum (after all, everyone who wanted to had heard him with that band in spring 2005 with a genuinely enormous programme) while simultaneously singing the best-known UDO songs — with the vast majority drawn from the latest album: in addition to the intro, "Mission No. X," "24/7," "Mad For Crazy," and the strikingly beautiful ballad "Cry Soldier Cry," in which Udo magnificently demonstrates the clean vocal style that is extremely rare for him. The performances of songs from the latest album were heavier in sound than on the record — remembering, of course, that this is the lightest studio recording UDO has made.
Few expected "Trip To Nowhere" and "Heart Of Gold" from Faceless World (1990), yet there they were. From Solid only one song sounded — naturally, the one about Independence Day. Songs from the band's debut album Animal House (1987) — "They Want War" and the title track "Animal House" — appeared only toward the end of the main set. The enormously popular "Man And Machine" from the album of the same name (2002) was, of course, present. A couple from the penultimate album: "Thunderball" (which gave that album its name) and the Blind Eyes song. A brief drum solo, then a guitar solo — and then, forming the backbone of the concert, the finest songs from various albums. Something must be said about that guitar solo: in the middle of it Igor Gianola unexpectedly fled from the stage and disappeared — yet the solo continued. Then eyes in the audience turned toward the rear of the venue, and everyone saw the lead guitarist of the band on the lower balcony, continuing to play his part. Of the ACCEPT material, only "Princess Of The Dawn" featured before the encore — naturally, it was recognised instantly and sung along to by the entire hall.
As for the two encore appearances: first, "Holy" from the release of the same name (1999), and then naturally the two main ACCEPT hits — no concert featuring Udo Dirkschneider can end without them. I'll be honest, during the main set I was slightly worried, but my fears were unfounded — he performed them both: "Metal Heart" in the first encore, and in the second encore — "Balls To The Wall." He could quite safely have turned the microphone toward the hall, because those present sang both songs from start to finish, nearly drowning out Udo himself.
And then Udo, holding a russian flag, sang "Trainride In russia" — at which point the hall descended into complete madness, singing along with Dirkschneider:
Poyezd po Rossii — idyot i idyot Poyezd po Rossii — sto gramm i vperyod Perestuk kolyos — neobyatnaya dal Poyezd nas unyos — k nachalu vsekh nachal
These four lines were sung by everyone, and many knew the entire text. Stefan had an accordion in his hands and was playing the verses of "Katyusha." The concert ended to ecstatic cries.
To summarise: the concert was vivid, memorable, and expertly constructed in every respect — the only drawback was sound problems during the first thirty minutes. The band members gave 100% and made excellent contact with the audience; Udo himself once again confirmed his status as a formidable, charismatic heavy metal vocalist in his eternal military garb (which he changed just once — to dress as a flagellant monk), with expressive facial acting and simultaneously often playful and spontaneous behaviour. What else to add — this visit was unquestionably not the last; there's a 99% chance that in a year or two, old Udo will again ride the train through this country. The closing line of that song, which appeared in 2004, speaks for itself:
And when the tour is over We're never quite the same Already miss our comrades Until we meet again.
**
Report by Alan
Photo report from the concert (photos by Gunslinger)
Special thanks to Delta Mekong Concert and personally to Vladimir Doronin for the accreditation provided.
**
Setlist: Intro Mission No. X 24/7 Independence Day Trip To Nowhere The Bullet And The Bomb Mean Streets Heart Of Gold Blind Eyes Cry Soldier Cry Guitar Solo Princess Of The Dawn Thunderball Drum Solo They Want War Animal House Man And Machine Mad For Crazy —Encore 1— Holy Metal Heart —Encore 2— Balls To The Wall Trainride In russia (Poezd Po Rossii)