English translation from the Swedish Pop Magazine OKEJ. OKEJ was more or less the only music magazine in Sweden during the 1980’s and almost 90% of Swedish youth read it and then talked about in school.
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The German Heavy Metal Group
ACCEPT
... has returned home after the American success
We haven't heard much from ACCEPT since they went away on his first America tour at the beginning of the year. But now it's not long before we get to hear more from them - on vinyl at least.
ACCEPT has been back home in West Germany for a few months now after a long, grueling tour of the States and Europe. But if you think they are resting, you are wrong. The guys are working hard in the studio to finish their next album, which will probably be released in early February.
We've had a stressful year, says drummer STEFAN KAUFMANN to OKEJ. We were in the States longer than we originally planned and when we got home we did a few festival concerts, including "Monsters of Rock". But not in Stockholm, as you probably noticed.
The five guys in ACCEPT have come a long way since they broke through in earnest at the end of 1983 after seven grueling years.
- We have been rewarded for our hard work, Stefan states. But today it feels good that we didn't get a rocket launch. We got the chance to mature and develop as musicians and I think that's why we've been able to handle the pressure we've been under over the last two years.
ACCEPT was formed in 1976 by singer Udo Dirkschneider, a year later some of the guys were replaced and at the beginning of the year it was announced that guitarist HERMANN FRANK had been fired. The person who succeeded him was Jörg Fischer, who was Accept's guitarist until August 1982 when Frank replaced him. The reason Jörg quit was because he was tired of the hard touring schedule and had given up hope that Accept would ever break through.
ACCEPT
... has returned home after the American success
We haven't heard much from ACCEPT since they went away on his first America tour at the beginning of the year. But now it's not long before we get to hear more from them - on vinyl at least.
ACCEPT has been back home in West Germany for a few months now after a long, grueling tour of the States and Europe. But if you think they are resting, you are wrong. The guys are working hard in the studio to finish their next album, which will probably be released in early February.
We've had a stressful year, says drummer STEFAN KAUFMANN to OKEJ. We were in the States longer than we originally planned and when we got home we did a few festival concerts, including "Monsters of Rock". But not in Stockholm, as you probably noticed.
The five guys in ACCEPT have come a long way since they broke through in earnest at the end of 1983 after seven grueling years.
- We have been rewarded for our hard work, Stefan states. But today it feels good that we didn't get a rocket launch. We got the chance to mature and develop as musicians and I think that's why we've been able to handle the pressure we've been under over the last two years.
ACCEPT was formed in 1976 by singer Udo Dirkschneider, a year later some of the guys were replaced and at the beginning of the year it was announced that guitarist HERMANN FRANK had been fired. The person who succeeded him was Jörg Fischer, who was Accept's guitarist until August 1982 when Frank replaced him. The reason Jörg quit was because he was tired of the hard touring schedule and had given up hope that Accept would ever break through.
But he was wrong. Shortly after his drop-out, things started to move and no one was happier than Jörg. But he didn't regret jumping off the merry-go-round. The other four in the group missed him, though, and when they decided to fire Hermann, for some inexplicable reason, they asked Jörg to come back and he did. Tired of just being at home, he longed for the sweaty touring life again.
TWO SOLO GUITARISTS
TWO SOLO GUITARISTS
And now we will soon have the chance to hear Jörg on record and there is no doubt that the other guys are very pleased to have him back.
- Now we have two lead guitarists again," says Stefan. "It means a lot to our music."
He doesn't want to say much about the new album. Not even the name.
- If I were to say that, maybe someone would steal it before we could release our album," Stefan says, laughing. "And I don't want to tell you too much about the lyrics either, because the whole album follows a theme."
- What I can say, Stefan continues after a short pause, is that it seems very promising. And if I were to describe the music, it's still heavy metal, but we've also mixed in some new stuff. It's not razor-sharp rock straight through, we have some calmer songs too. Yes, not so calm of course, just calm enough.
TOUR 1985
In conjunction with the release of the album, Accept is embarking on a new tour, but it will be a while before the Swedish public gets to see the wild guys from Germany again. Because first and foremost, they will probably be returning to the States again, Udo, Jörg, Stefan, Peter Baltes and Wolf Hoffman.
- We plan to start the European tour in late summer, says Stefan. We haven't played in Germany for two years, so the kids here are starting to get impatient, but it feels pretty good too. Knowing that they're waiting for us, I mean.
There have been rumors circulating that Accept will be coming to Sweden earlier than this fall. They are planning a follow-up to this year's successful rock event "Monsters of Rock", and among the names mentioned are Accept, Pretty Maids (listen to their upcoming album, I promise it will be a pleasant surprise) and as headliner, well, who do you think? DEEP PURPLE, of course!
Just keep your fingers crossed that the plans go through. Then you'll get Accept and Deep Purple at the same time. And that's not so bad, right?
- I don't know if we've received any suggestions about playing at "Monsters of Rock" next year," says Stefan. "But it's not impossible. I haven't had time to familiarize myself with the tour program more than in broad outline."
So far, a lot can happen, but we just have to keep our fingers crossed - because you can never get enough of ACCEPT!
/ CHRISTINE LINDSJÖÖ
- Now we have two lead guitarists again," says Stefan. "It means a lot to our music."
He doesn't want to say much about the new album. Not even the name.
- If I were to say that, maybe someone would steal it before we could release our album," Stefan says, laughing. "And I don't want to tell you too much about the lyrics either, because the whole album follows a theme."
- What I can say, Stefan continues after a short pause, is that it seems very promising. And if I were to describe the music, it's still heavy metal, but we've also mixed in some new stuff. It's not razor-sharp rock straight through, we have some calmer songs too. Yes, not so calm of course, just calm enough.
TOUR 1985
In conjunction with the release of the album, Accept is embarking on a new tour, but it will be a while before the Swedish public gets to see the wild guys from Germany again. Because first and foremost, they will probably be returning to the States again, Udo, Jörg, Stefan, Peter Baltes and Wolf Hoffman.
- We plan to start the European tour in late summer, says Stefan. We haven't played in Germany for two years, so the kids here are starting to get impatient, but it feels pretty good too. Knowing that they're waiting for us, I mean.
There have been rumors circulating that Accept will be coming to Sweden earlier than this fall. They are planning a follow-up to this year's successful rock event "Monsters of Rock", and among the names mentioned are Accept, Pretty Maids (listen to their upcoming album, I promise it will be a pleasant surprise) and as headliner, well, who do you think? DEEP PURPLE, of course!
Just keep your fingers crossed that the plans go through. Then you'll get Accept and Deep Purple at the same time. And that's not so bad, right?
- I don't know if we've received any suggestions about playing at "Monsters of Rock" next year," says Stefan. "But it's not impossible. I haven't had time to familiarize myself with the tour program more than in broad outline."
So far, a lot can happen, but we just have to keep our fingers crossed - because you can never get enough of ACCEPT!
/ CHRISTINE LINDSJÖÖ