What can be said about Udo Dirkschneider that hasn’t already, an icon, idol, legend, founding member of the band Accept the list could go on!
Dirkschneider set out to tour the world behind the release Back to the Roots which started in 2016, bidding a farewell to sing Accept songs. He is now turning his focus to new U.D.O. material. Sold out venues, the lousy weather having to cancel shows, Dirkschneider vowed to come back to North America re-scheduling shows while adding new cities.
It’s been a little over a year since I covered the Dirkschneider Back To the Roots tour January 22 during NAMM 2017 weekend. One thing that ironically stayed the same, California, again, had torrential rains; nothing was keeping me from this show.
Back to the Roots Tour Part ll began February 23 in New York, working its way to the iconic Whisky a Go Go on March 22.
As the time gets near, the fans start their chant Udo….Udo…Udo! Drummer Sven Dirkschneider appears behind the kit raised arm encouraging the fans to get louder. Bassist Fitty Wienhold, guitarist Andrey Smirnov and Bill Hudson worked their way down the stairs taking the stage as the fans cheers rose, even I was feeling the goosebumps watching Udo take the stage. The set got underway with Beast Inside off the album Death Row followed by Aiming High off Russian Roulette and rounding out the first three songs with Bullet Proof off Objection Overruled.
From the first three songs, the fans knew they were in for something unique, of course, there are the fan favorites, Midnight Mover, London Leatherboys, Breaker, Screaming for a Love Bite and my favorite, I’m a broken record when it comes to this song, Living For Tonite off the album Metal Heart. Precisely what the fans were doing, “living for tonight, just looking for some fun”. Dirkschneider delivered it to the fans on a silver platter.
Before you know it two hours have gone by as the boys step off the stage, the cheers rise the chant starts Udo.. Udo.. Udo. Sven behind his kit with his arms raised, Wienhold, Hudson and Smirnov standing front and center encouraging the fans as Udo, comes to the stage ending with a four-song encore, Princess of the Dawn, off the album Restless and Wild, Metal Heart– song titled album, the song that was the forefront to the Thrash Metal scene, Fast as a Shark, off the album Restless and Wild, ending this phenomenal show with the all-time classic song Balls to the Wall.
This tour is coming to an end way to soon with only three shows left: Florida, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Check out the website for more details.
Connect with Dirkschneider online: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
All photos by Tammy Greene
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