Marking the 40th anniversary of Accept’s iconic album, “Balls to the Wall”, founding member and former frontman Udo Dirkschneider is reinterpreting this classic with a fresh and star-studded twist. Far from a simple remake, this project was born out of countless conversations with prominent artists across the global rock and metal scene, who frequently asked: “Are you planning anything special for the 40th anniversary of ‘Balls to the Wall’”?
These discussions sparked the idea to re-record the album’s legendary tracks alongside a stellar lineup of guest musicians, transforming the project into a heartfelt tribute. For both Dirkschneider and the participating artists, this endeavor is more than a celebration – it’s an homage to one of heavy metal’s most groundbreaking albums.
The reimagined “Balls to the Wall” features an impressive roster of talent, breathing new life into each track. The album will be out on February 28th, 2025, via Reigning Phoenix Music.
This reimagined “Balls to the Wall” is a fitting tribute to heavy metal history, proving that its power and influence remain as potent today as they were four decades ago. Don’t miss your chance to own this extraordinary celebration of a true classic. Pre-order here.
Tracklist:
01. Balls to the Wall [feat. Joakim Brodén of Sabaton]
02. London Leatherboys [feat. Biff Byford of Saxon]
03. Fight It Back [feat. Mille Petrozza of Kreator]
04. Head Over Heels [feat. Nils Molin of Dynazty/Amaranthe]
05. Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had [feat. Michael Kiske of Helloween]
06. Love Child [feat. Ylva Eriksson of Brothers of Metal]
07. Turn Me On [feat. Danko Jones]
08. Losers and Winners [feat. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister]
09. Guardian of the Night [feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens of KK’s Priest, formerly of Judas Priest]
10. Winter Dreams [feat. Doro Pesch]
This ambitious reinterpretation not only revitalises the original tracks but also underscores their timeless impact on the metal genre. More than a revival, this project serves as a celebration of the album’s enduring legacy, enriched by the enthusiasm and contributions of some of metal’s most influential voices.
“Re-recording ‘Balls to the Wall’ was a big challenge for me. The album is a milestone of my career, of course, that’s why it was even more important to me to make the original songs shine in a new light without losing their initial essence. All guests have put their individual stamps on these classic tracks, and collaborating with such outstanding vocalists has moved them into a fresh and exciting dimension. The result is a powerful homage to all fans but also an invitation to the next generation to experience the songs not minorly passionate than I was when I recorded them back in the day. It’s a never-ending personal journey for me – ‘Balls to the Wall’ will always be a part of me”, states Udo.
RPM managing director Jochen Richert expresses his excitement: “This masterpiece has accompanied me for almost my entire life. When Udo first told me about his idea, my initial thought was, ‘Can this really work?’. But as soon as he mentioned the first guest singers, I knew it would be great. When I finally got to hear the tracks, I was blown away. My nostalgic side cautioned me, ‘No, you can’t like this better than the original’. But there’s no use denying it, I have to admit it’s at least as good as the 1983 recordings – if not better! Accordingly, it’s an incredible honour to be able to contribute to this opus”.
European Tour Dates 2025:
25.02.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo (New)*
26.02.2025 AT Vienna – SiMM City
27.02.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Low Tickets)
28.02.2025 DE Leipzig – Haus Auensee (Low Tickets)
01.03.2025 CZ Prague – SaSaZu
02.03.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra
04.03.2025 RO Bucharest – Quantic Club
06.03.2025 PL Kraków – Klub Studio
07.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja
08.03.2025 LT Vilnius – Kablys
09.03.2025 EE Tallinn – Helitehas (New)
10.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo
11.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema
13.03.2025 NO Oslo – Rockefeller
14.03.2025 SE Gothenburg – Trädgår‘n
16.03.2025 DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
17.03.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp
18.03.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix
19.03.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo
21.03.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
22.03.2025 ES Madrid – Mon (Moved)
23.03.2025 ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
25.03.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7
26.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn (Sold Out)
27.03.2025 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
28.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
29.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle (Low Tickets)
30.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle (New)
08.04.2025 GR Athens – Fuzz Live Music Club (New)*
09.04.2025 GR Thessaloniki – Principal Club Theater (New)*
11.04.2025 TR Istanbul – IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş (New)*
12.04.2025 BG Sofia – Hristo Botev Hall (New)*
(w/ Crownshift & All For Metal)
* (Dirkschneider only)
Festival 2025:
30.07. – 02.08.2025 DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air (Sold Out)
UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2025:
04.11.2025 UK Belfast – Ulster Hall (New)
05.11.2025 IE Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre (New)
07.11.2025 UK Manchester – O2 Apollo (New)
08.11.2025 UK Sheffield – The Octagon Centre (New)
09.11.2025 UK Glasgow – O2 Academy (New)
11.11.2025 UK Newcastle – O2 City Hall (New)
13.11.2025 UK Bristol – Beacon (New)
14.11.2025 UK Wolverhampton – Civic Hall (New)
15.11.2025 UK London – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith (New)
16.11.2025 UK Cardiff – The Great Hall (New)
(w/ Saxon)
Get tickets here.
Line-up:
Udo Dirkschneider – Vocals
Andrey Smirnov – Guitar
Fabian “Dee” Dammers – Guitar
Peter Baltes – Bass
Sven Dirkschneider – Drums
Weblinks:
www.udo-online.com
www.facebook.com/DIRKSCHNEIDEROfficial
