U.D.O.

U.D.O.

U.D.O. live in 2004
Background information
Origin Solingen, Germany
Genres Heavy metal
Years active
  • 1987–1992
  • 1996–present
Labels AFM, Breaker, GUN, RCA
Associated acts Accept, Gotthard, Bullet, Edge of Forever
Website www.udo-online.de
Members Udo Dirkschneider
Andrey Smirnov
Fitty Wienhold
Kasperi Heikkinen
Sven Dirkschneider
Past members Stefan Kaufmann
Peter Szigeti
Frank Rittel
Mathias Dieth
Thomas Franke
Wolla Böhm
Dieter Rubach
Andy Susemihl
Thomas Smuszynski
Stefan Schwarzmann
Frank Fricke
Jurgen Graf
Lorenzo Milani
Igor Gianola
Francesco Jovino

U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead singer Udo Dirkschneider in 1987.

History

1987–1992

After Udo Dirkschneider left Accept in 1987, a large fan community followed him to U.D.O.

Starting with the first two albums Animal House in 1987 and Mean Machine in 1988, U.D.O. proved to be pure heavy metal without any Trend-Sound influences. Both albums continued where Accept had left off in 1986 with Russian Roulette. Apart from U.D.O., Animal House was recorded by Peter Szigeti (guitars), Frank Rittel from Warlock on (bass), Mathias Dieth from Sinner and Gravestone (guitars) and Thomas Franke (drums).

From 1987 to 1989, they toured with the following line-up: Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Mathias Dieth (guitar), Andy Susemihl (guitar), Dieter Rubach (bass) and Thomas Franke (drums). They toured with Guns N' Roses, Lita Ford and Zodiac Mindwarp.

By Mean Machine, the band had a different line-up: only Udo Dirkschneider, Mathias Dieth and Andy Susemihl remained. New additions were Thomas Smuszynski (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums).

U.D.O. achieved success with the album Faceless World, produced by ex-Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann. U.D.O.'s follow-up album was Timebomb in 1991 and it was their last for five years.

1996–present

U.D.O. performing live at Norway Rock Festival in 2009

From 1992 to 1996, Accept reformed their classic line up and Dirkschneider put U.D.O. on hiatus to record three albums with his old bandmates. After another break-up, Dirkschneider returned to U.D.O. with Stefan Kaufmann (guitar), Jürgen Graf (guitars), Fitty Wienhold (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums). Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann then recorded tracks for the Tribute to Judas Priest compilation of Judas Priest cover songs, performing the track "Metal Gods".

1997 saw the release of Solid, the first full-length U.D.O. album to feature the guitar work of Stefan Kaufmann. It was featured on the Rock Hard magazine reader charts for more than a year after its release.

The album was followed up with No Limits in 1998 and featured a similar songwriting approach as the previous year's effort. It also featured U.D.O.'s first returning lineup since the band's inception ten years prior. The album also featured a cover of the Austrian pop band Supermax's hit single "Love Machine".

In 1999, the band released the critically acclaimed Holy, which was a return to the guitar-driven sound similar to the Balls to the Wall-era Accept. A world tour followed with dates in the United States and several other major countries. Lineup changes occurred during the second part of the tour with Igor Gianola of Gotthard, replaced Jürgen Graf. When the No Limits tour concluded, Stefan Schwarzmann quit the band. On the 2000 leg of the Holy tour, Lorenzo Milani was the new drummer. The tour also spawned U.D.O.'s first live album, Live from Russia, a two-disc affair which featured many of the classic Accept tunes (with the exception of "Balls to the Wall") that have since become staples of U.D.O.'s set.

2002's Man and Machine received a somewhat lukewarm response. Despite standout songs like the title track and "Private Eye", the album was ultimately less successful than its predecessor. It is notable for spawning a promo video of "Dancing With An Angel", featuring a duet between Udo and Doro Pesch of Warlock.

The next two studio releases, 2004's Thunderball and 2005's Mission No. X, were slightly livelier affairs, with the band's touring of Germany, South America, and Eastern Europe. Sonically, the former shared much in common with Timebomb, while the latter followed No Limits.

It was with 2007's Mastercutor that saw U.D.O. return to form. The album was the most financially successful in years and received universally high marks from musical critics and metal fans alike. Udo's appearance on Finnish metal band Lordi's 2006 album, The Arockalypse, exposed U.D.O. to a wider audience.

U.D.O.'s twelfth studio album, Dominator, was released on 21 August 2009. U.D.O.'s next studio album, Rev-Raptor was released on 20 May 2011.

In September 2012, Stefan Kaufmann, longtime guitar player in U.D.O., left the band for health reasons. He continues to work in the surroundings of the band and produces for other bands in his own ROXX studio. In early 2013, guitarist Igor Gianola left the band "due to conflicts between band appointments and his private life and business." They were both replaced by Andrey Smirnov and Kasperi Heikkinen.

The next album, Steelhammer, was released on 20 May of that year.

In late 2014, drummer Francesco Jovino left the band for personal reasons. He went on to join fellow German power metal band Primal Fear. His replacement was Udo Dirkschneider's son, Sven.

U.D.O. released the fifteenth studio album Decadent on 23 January 2015.

In October 2016, the band released an Accept only live album titled Live - Back to the Roots, under the name Dirkschneider, which was Udo Dirskchneider's final send-off of ever performing any Accept song again. They will continue to tour as Dirkschneider into 2017.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles/EPs

Music Videos

DVDs

Band members

Current members

Current live members

  • Harrison Young – keyboards (2015–present)
  • Winfred Clifton - keyboards (1999)
Former members
  • Peter Szigeti – guitar (1987)
  • Frank Rittel – bass (1987)
  • Dieter Rubach – bass (1987–1989)
  • Thomas Franke – drums (1987–1989)
  • Andy Susemihl – guitar (1987–1990, 1991)
  • Mathias Dieth – guitar (1987–1992, 1996)
  • Thomas Smuszynski – bass (1988–1992)
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums (1988–1992,1996–1999)
  • Wolla Böhm – guitar (1990)
  • Frank Fricke – guitar (1991–1992)
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitar (1996–2012), keyboards (1990)
  • Jorg Fisher – guitar (1996) (uncredited on A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal)
  • Jürgen Graf – guitar (1996–1999)
  • Igor Gianola – guitar, backing vocals (1999–2013)
  • Lorenzo Milani – drums (2000–2004)
  • Francesco Jovino - drums (2004–2014)

Live members

  • Marcus Bielenberg – bass (2004)
  • Ulli Köllner – keyboards (live 1990, 2013–2015)

Timeline

Trivia

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.D.O. Reveals New "Dominator" Album Details
  2. ↑ U.D.O. To Release Rare Tracks Album "Celebrator"
  3. ↑ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/u-d-o-to-release-navy-metal-night-dvd2cd-in-july/
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