Susemihl left the band, with U.D.O. now as a four-piece. The band shifted to a lighter approach with the third album Faceless World, which was released on 25 February 1990, achieving great success; this being their best selling album so far. It was produced by former Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann. The fourth album Timebomb was released on 3 April 1991. It was a more heavier album than their previous releases. In 1992, Dirkschneider put U.D.O. on hiatus to reunite with Accept.
In 1996, Dirkschneider reactivated U.D.O. with a brand new line-up; Stefan Kaufmann, now undertaking guitar duties, with guitarist Jürgen Graf and bassist Fitty Wienhold from Bullet, and Stefan Schwarzmann returning to the band. They took part in the 1997 compilation album A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal, in which they recorded the song "Metal Gods".
On 24 March 1997, U.D.O. released the fifth album Solid. It was featured on the Rock Hard magazine reader charts for more than a year after its release. The album was followed up with No Limits on 20 April 1998, featuring a similar songwriting approach from Solid. The album features a cover of the Austrian pop band Supermax's hit single "Love Machine". After the conclusion of the band's tour, Stefan Schwarzmann quit the band. New drummer Lorenzo Milani replaced him.
The seventh album Holy was released on 18 October 1999, which received critical acclaim. It was a return to the guitar-driven sound similar to the Balls to the Wall-era Accept. A world tour followed with dates in the United States and several other major countries. The band known as Vanize, fronted by Udo Dirkschneider's brother Peter, supported U.D.O. during the tour. Line-up changes occurred during the second part of the tour with Gotthard guitarist Igor Gianola replacing Jürgen Graf. The tour spawned the first live album Live from Russia, which was released on 15 October 2001, a 2-CD release featuring many of the classic Accept songs that have since become staples of U.D.O.'s set.
On 24 July 2002, the eighth album Man and Machine was released, receiving a somewhat lukewarm reception. Despite standout songs such as the title track and "Private Eye", the album was ultimately less successful than Holy. It is notable for the song "Dancing with an Angel", featuring a duet performance of Dirkschneider and vocalist Doro Pesch.
U.D.O. released their ninth studio album Thunderball on 29 March 2004. The follow-up album Mission No. X was originally due for release on 4 October 2005, but was pushed forward by one week and was released on 30 September 2005 instead. It was the first album to feature Edge of Forever drummer Francesco Jovino.
On 18 May 2007, the eleventh album Mastercutor was released. In August 2007, bassist Fitty Weinhold was unable to perform with the band due to "private reasons". He would be temporarily replaced with former Majesty bassist Marcus Bielenberg for touring purposes.
U.D.O.'s twelfth studio album Dominator was released on 21 August 2009. The next studio album Rev-Raptor was originally due for release on 14 January 2011, but was delayed until 18 March 2011 due to the recurrence of Stefan Kaufmann's back problems. It was delayed again, but was officially released on 20 May 2011.
In November 2011, Dirkschneider's son Sven supported U.D.O. on a date in Germany and became a permanent member of his father's band in February 2015. On the same year, the band was temporary renamed as "Dirkschneider" and embarked in a long tour called "Back To The Roots" where the band only performed Accept songs.
In September 2012, Kaufmann announced his departure for health reasons. He would continue to work in the surroundings of the band and produce for other bands in his own personal studio. On 15 January 2013, Russian guitarist Andrey Smirnov was recruited as the new member. A week later, Igor Gianola left the band "due to conflicts between band appointments and his private life and business." Following his departure, former Amberian Dawn guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen joined the band. The fourteenth album Steelhammer was released on 20 May 2013.
In December 2014, drummer Francesco Jovino left the band for personal reasons, joining Primal Fear in 2015. He was replaced by Udo Dirkschneider's son Sven in February 2015. U.D.O. released the fifteenth studio album Decadent on 23 January 2015.
In February 2017, Heikkinen announced his departure citing personal reasons. According to the band, no bad blood or drama were involved between the two. In March 2017, guitarist Bill Hudson was announced as the new member. On 24 April 2018, Hudson parted ways with the band "due to a difference in their individual visions for the future", according to Dirkschneider, adding that there was no "negative feelings on either side." In June 2018, Stefan Kaufmann temporarily rejoined the band only for the summer festival appearances until a new guitarist was found. The sixteenth album Steelfactory was released on 31 August 2018, with the first single "Rising High" being made available for streaming. On 19 September 2018, bassist Fitty Wienhold announced his departure from U.D.O., but stated that he would remain with the band if needed, " as a friend, as an advisor...whatever." The band soon recruited German guitarist Dee Dammers and Slovenian bassist Tilen Hudrap as their new members.
During U.D.O.'s touring in Europe in early 2019, Dirkschneider performed as a handicap after experiencing left knee pain. He vowed to continue without doctors' advice and without causing disappointment to the fans. The band was originally scheduled to perform at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2020 by performing Accept's 1985 album Metal Heart in its entirety to celebrate its 35th anniversary, with the addition of Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, but the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, U.D.O. collaborated with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr to record an album titled We Are One, which was released on 17 July 2020. It reached number 8 in the official German album charts, the second highest position for any U.D.O album in 34 years, right after Steelfactory, which peaked at number 7.
A live album titled Live In Bulgaria 2020 - Pandemic Survival Show was released on 19 March 2021. It was recorded live on 18 September 2020 in front of 2500 fans in Plovdiv. The seventeenth studio album Game Over was released on 22 October 2021.
Dirkschneider
U.D.O. performed under the name Dirkschneider for an occasion in which Udo Dirkschneider described as his "farewell to Accept", stating that he would no longer perform Accept songs again in the band's live shows. In early 2017, they performed in North America. A 2-CD live album titled Live: Back to the Roots was released on 28 October 2016. An updated version titled Live: Back to the Roots - Accepted! was released on 4 August 2017, featuring a DVD of their performance from Brno, Czech Republic.
The band continued to perform Accept songs for at least another year, due to the request from fans. They returned to North America in early 2018 after a positive reception from their first visit the previous year. In 2018, Udo Dirkschneider put his side project to a close as he did not want to cause confusion between his main band and his side project.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.D.O.
Studio albums
Animal House (1987)
Mean Machine (1989)
Faceless World (1990)
Timebomb (1991)
Solid (1997)
No Limits (1998)
Holy (1999)
Man and Machine (2002)
Thunderball (2004)
Mission No. X (2005)
Mastercutor (2007)
Dominator (2009)
Rev-Raptor (2011)
Steelhammer (2013)
Decadent (2015)
Steelfactory (2018)
Game Over (2021)
Stranger
U.D.O. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought you are not for hire
Stand for your rights - don't look at the past
I don't know - I don't care - my brain's
spinning 'round like a wheel
Don't feel like a stranger
Don't feel like a stranger
So turn around leave your feelings behind
Just calm down keep the devil inside
It's like a stone lying in your head
You never know - this time it could be real
And then you'll realize
Maybe you're wrong this time
Do something in your life
And then it'll work out
Don't feel like a stranger
Everything can be real
Don't feel like a stranger
Move on like a wheel
So you don't know - what is the reason
It's up to you to sell your life so easy
I thought you were learning from the past
Can't you feel deep inside when you're breaking the chains
And then you'll realize
Maybe you're wrong this time
Do something in your life
And then it'll work out
Don't feel like a stranger
Everything can be real
Don't you know you're in danger
Move on like a wheel
And when it works out
Don't turn around
Something is in your heart
So let it free - oh yeah
Oh yeah
Don't feel like a stranger
Listen to me - everything can be real
Don't feel like a stranger
Move on like a wheel
Don't feel like a stranger
Everything can be so real
Don't you know you're in danger
Move on like a wheel
Don't feel like a stranger...
The lyrics of U.D.O.'s song "Stranger" encourage the listener not to live their life like a disposable coin, but to stand up for their rights and leave behind the past. The singer does not care about the past and does not know what the future holds, yet his mind is spinning like a wheel. He tells the listener not to feel like a stranger, to "move on like a wheel" and keep calm, leaving their feelings behind and keeping the devil inside. He urges them to feel deep inside and break the chains holding them back.
The lyrics are a message of empowerment, urging the listener to take control of their life and make something of it. They suggest that success comes from breaking free of the past, taking risks, and being confident in oneself. The repeated refrain of "Don't feel like a stranger" reinforces the idea that the listener should not feel isolated or powerless, but instead should embrace their individuality and move forward with determination.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stranger" are a call to action for the listener to live life to the fullest, to take risks, and to believe in oneself. Through the use of metaphors like the spinning wheel, the stone in the head, and the breaking chains, the song creates powerful images to reinforce these messages.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't spend your life like a dime
Don't waste your life or treat it as if it has little value.
I thought you are not for hire
I believed that you wouldn't compromise your core principles for money or material possessions.
Stand for your rights - don't look at the past
Assert your rights and values, and don't dwell on past mistakes or failures.
I don't know - I don't care - my brain's spinning 'round like a wheel
I'm in a state of confusion or apathy, and my thoughts are chaotic and aimless.
Don't feel like a stranger
Don't feel isolated or disconnected from others or from yourself.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
So turn around leave your feelings behind
Change direction and leave your emotional baggage or inhibitions behind.
Just calm down keep the devil inside
Stay composed and don't let your negative impulses or self-doubt take over.
It's like a stone lying in your head
You have a heavy burden or unresolved issue that's weighing on your mind.
You never know - this time it could be real
You can't predict the outcome or validity of a situation until you try or experience it.
And then you'll realize
You'll come to understand or appreciate something in a new way.
Maybe you're wrong this time
Perhaps you're mistaken or misguided in your current thinking or actions.
Do something in your life
Take an active role in shaping your present circumstances and future prospects.
And then it'll work out
With effort and determination, things will improve or fall into place.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Everything can be real
Anything can be genuine or authentic if you approach it with sincerity and openness.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Move on like a wheel
Keep moving forward and adapting to change, like a wheel turning or rotating.
So you don't know - what is the reason
You're uncertain or unclear on the cause or explanation for something.
It's up to you to sell your life so easy
It's your responsibility to make your life simpler, more fulfilling, or more financially stable.
I thought you were learning from the past
I believed that you were gaining wisdom or insight from your past experiences or mistakes.
Can't you feel deep inside when you're breaking the chains
Don't you sense a liberating feeling when you free yourself from constraints or limitations?
And when it works out
When things go well or according to plan.
Don't turn around
Don't hesitate or revert back to old habits or behaviors.
Something is in your heart
You have a deep inner desire or motivation that drives you.
So let it free - oh yeah
Allow your passion or creativity to flow unrestricted and with enthusiasm.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Listen to me - everything can be real
Pay attention to my advice, as anything can be genuine or legitimate if you believe it to be.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Don't you know you're in danger
A warning that you're at risk or in jeopardy of losing something important.
Move on like a wheel
Repeat of previous line.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Everything can be so real
Repeat of previous line.
Don't you know you're in danger
Repeat of previous line.
Move on like a wheel
Repeat of previous line.
Don't feel like a stranger
Repeat of previous line.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Udo Dirkschneider, Stefan Kaufmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind