НазадAccept- Rock SolidTeutonic Terrors Finish Work On Metal Heartby James Curtis (Hit Parader, May 1985, pp. 44-45) Standing barely five-and-a-half feet tall, Accept's cherubic vocalist
Udo Dirkschneider is not exactly the picture of the classic rock and roll
star. In a world inhabited by the likes of David Lee Roth, Paul Stanley
and Vince Neil, little Udo knows that he's going to have to make up in
hard work for what he may lack in raw animal magnetism. Dirkschneider,
however, wouldn't have it any other way.
"I like to work hard for what I achieve," he said. "I know when people react to what we're doing on stage or what we've done in the studio they're reacting to our talent, not some false image we've created. The bands that rely on their image to survive, and there are many of them- especially in America- will probably not have long careers. Once people grow tired of their looks they'll examine what they have to offer a little more closely. I don't know if they'll like what they see. "I know that when people examine what Accept presents they must like it," he added with an intense look. "There are bands like Judas Priest who play with incredible power and conviction, and I like to believe that we have the same sort of attitude. Accept has had to struggle a long time to achieve the international attention we have today. We intend to keep working hard until we become the most successful band in the world." If hard work is the key to success, then Accept seems to have their place in the heavy metal hall of fame already assured. Few bands in rock can match the dedication of this five-man band from Germany who slogged it out on the Continental rock scene for years before finally getting the chance to break through in America last year. Dirkschneider, drummer Stefan Kaufmann, bassist Peter Baltes and guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and Jorg Fischer realize now is their oppurtunity to seperate themselves from the horde of "new wave" metal practitioners and prove their hard rocking credentials once and for all. "I have mixed feelings about being grouped with all new metal bands," Kaufmann stated. "On one hand we owe our oppurtunity in America to the fact that a lot of successful new bands opened the doors at U.S. record companies for groups like ours. On the other hand though, I don't think of Accept as being part of this new metal movement. We've been around for six years, and we've enjoyed a great deal of success in Europe. We're very willing to take our time and tour America as an opening act, but I'd feel more comfortable if we could establish our own identity." Certainly the band has gone a long way in establishing that identity on their latest album, Metal Heart, a powerful collection of "balls-to-the-wall" rockers that loudly and proudly proclaim's Accept's arrival at the heavy metal pantheon. While some may still scoff at the band's sexually ambiguous lyrics and Teutonic intensity, there can be no doubt that few bands in rock and roll can match Accept in terms of sheer sonic energy. "Many bands say they want to grow and expand their music on each album," Dirkschneider said. "We are happy with all our albums. We're glad that this one can be compared favorably with Balls to the Wall and that Balls could be compared to its predecessor, Restless and Wild. I never can understand bands that change a great deal from album to album. It makes it seem like they don't believe in the music they're playing. Accept only knows one way to rock, and that's the way it's always going to be." In light of the "pop/metal" sound that has recently reached the top of the U.S. charts due to groups like Ratt and Quiet Riot, it would seem that Accept's volcanic metal anthems may have a difficult time in finding a receptive audience on this side of the Atlantic. Guitarist Hoffmann, for one, sees the band's unique approach as only having beneficial effects. "We're never going to sell out to America," he said. "there are bands that come to the U.S. for the first time and all they see are dollar signs in their eyes. They see this immense country with so many huge cities and wonderful arenas and they immediately begin to plan ways of getting a big piece of the American pie. Accept has enjoyed its time in the states. We toured the country last year with groups like KISS. and it was an unforgettable experience, but it convinced us to stick to our own sound. It would be too easy to try writing songs that could be played on American radio. That's not our way of doing things." Hoffmann's words were echoed by Dirkschneider. "Some people consider us a little pompous," he said. "But the truth is that we believe very strongly in Accept. The identity the band has achieved over the last few years is something we hold very dear. We would never cast aside our European fans just to make it big in America. We are very loyal to those who have stuck with us over the years. They deserve the best we can give them at all times." One concession the band has made to their American following has been making videos for MTV and Hit Parader's Heavy Metal Hero's TV show. While Udo is quick to admit that the "false" excitement of a video is far from where Accept's musical heart lies, he grudgingly conceeds the need to make the band visible to an ever-growing audience. "We do want to make Accept as successful as possible," he said. "That means touring as much as we can, and making videos to support the album. Last year we enjoyed making our first video for Balls To The Wall, even though we froze our asses off while we were filming it. But that was a small price to pay in order to get Accept into America's living rooms. Once people hear what we're capable of doing, they will be drawn to us like moths to a flame. Accept has something very special to offer, and I'm confident rock fans are smart enough to sense that." Перевод - Дмитрий Doomwatcher Бравый Журнал Hit Parader (США) май 1985 автор: James Curtis Ростом метр пятьдесят «с кепкой», розовощекий вокалист Accept Удо Диркшнайдер совершенно не вяжется с образом классической звезды рок-н-ролла. В мире населенном такими обитателями как Дэвид Ли Рот, Пол Стенли и Винс Нейл, малыш Удо понимает, что ему придется серьезно вкалывать для того, чтобы компенсировать недостаток грубого, животного магнетизма. Однако, у Диркшнайдера, по сути, нет иного выбора.
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