Udo Dirkschneider didn’t have any problems with Wolf Hoffmann over the re-release of ‘Balls to the Wall.’
“No… Everybody can record [their own version of] the ‘Balls’ album, if they don’t change arrangements or stuff like that,” the singer replied when asked by Andrew McKaysmith of the Scars And Guitars podcast if there were any issues with Hoffmann or the band’s management in a recent interview.
He continued, “You can do that, my brother can do it, my sister, whatever — you don’t have to ask.”
Dirkschneider will release a reimagined version of Accept’s classic album ‘Balls to the Wall’ to mark its 40th anniversary. Udo has given the album a new take with help from big names in rock and metal.
The reimagined ‘Balls to the Wall’ will arrive on February 28, 2025, through Reigning Phoenix Music. Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, Dee Snider, and Biff Byford are among the guests on the record.
In a recent interview with Jorge Botas from Portugal’s Metal Global, Udo talked about the new version of the album, per Blabbermouth. When asked why he decided to remake it, Dirkschneider explained, “Normally it was not planned to do an album; it was only planned to do a tour about the 40-years anniversary of ‘Balls.'”
“And so on some festivals, a lot of singers [from other bands] came up [and asked], ‘Oh, you do something special for the 40th anniversary.’ And then we said, ‘Yeah, touring, definitely.’ And then they said, ‘Oh, I would love to sing a song of the ‘Balls’ album.’ And then the idea came up very slowly. We said, ‘Yeah, it can be interesting,'” he further shared.
Udo added, “To re-record the ‘Balls’ album, it’s like, ‘Don’t touch the holy cow.’ But with the guest-singer thing now, what we did, I think it worked out very well. The reactions are very good so far. And so I think I’m happy with the result of everything.”
Dirkschneider will perform Accept songs he’s never played live before on the Balls To The Wall 40th anniversary tour. His band, Dirkschneider, which includes his son Sven on drums, will tour Europe in spring 2025 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Balls to the Wall.’
