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)
The Healer
U.D.O. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanna make the sunrise mine
Been wandering from dusk to dawn
So many sleepless nights
Can't seem to get it right
So many memories in my mind
Where was I coming from
I need someone to take me home
Has love just passed me by
No tears no reasons why
For harmony I'd sell my soul
For - my aim is right and strong
The sign I've waited for
There's no more knives into my heart
Now - I know right from wrong
My rescue's just begun
I've turned and faced the midnight sun
In the book of the healer
In the time of the healer
Why is the world so blind
I asked it many times
The answer's here for all to see
Now the past is laid to rest
Resurrection - born again
I thank the healer for it all
For - my aim is right and strong
The sign I've waited for
There's no more knives into my heart
Now - I know right from wrong
My rescue's just begun
I've turned and faced the midnight sun
In the book of the healer
In the time of the healer
It's on you - take your chance
Try it once and you'll break free
Power's out - just reach beyond
The healer's there for you and me
The U.D.O. song "The Healer" is a tale of personal redemption and hope. The lyrics speak of a person who has been wandering aimlessly, unable to find their way home, plagued by sleepless nights and memories. They question why the world is so blind, trying to make sense of their struggles. However, the song takes a positive turn when the singer discovers that the healer is there to help them. They realize that their aim is right and strong, and they no longer have to feel the knives in their heart. Instead, they turn towards the midnight sun, embracing new beginnings and a hopeful future.
The lyrics are both haunting and uplifting, as they speak to the struggle of self-discovery and the power of finding one's way through difficult times. The idea of the healer is a powerful metaphor for whatever provides comfort and support during times of crisis. While the lyrics may seem somber at the outset, the song ultimately leaves a message of hope and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you feel the morning light
Do you have hope for the new dawn and new beginnings?
Wanna make the sunrise mine
I want to own my new opportunities and take advantage of them
Been wandering from dusk to dawn
I have been lost without direction for a long time
So many sleepless nights
I have been struggling for a long time and can't find peace
Can't seem to get it right
I can't seem to figure out how to solve my problems
So many memories in my mind
My past has a grip on me and hinders my present
How many years have gone
I have lost track of time and have no reference point for my life's direction
Where was I coming from
I struggle to determine my origin and history
I need someone to take me home
I need guidance and direction to lead me to where I need to be
Has love just passed me by
I have been unlucky in love and feel isolated
No tears no reasons why
I have come to a point of emotional numbness where I can't explain my pain
For harmony I'd sell my soul
I am willing to make any sacrifice for peace and contentment
For - my aim is right and strong
I have a clear goal in mind and feel determined to achieve it
The sign I've waited for
I have been searching for a sign to validate my journey
There's no more knives into my heart
My pain and struggles are behind me and can't hurt me anymore
Now - I know right from wrong
I have gained wisdom and insight into my life's journey
My rescue's just begun
I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and my journey towards healing has just started
I've turned and faced the midnight sun
I am no longer blinded by darkness and despair but rather I see hope and light at the end of the tunnel
In the book of the healer
The source of my newfound hope and strength is derived from the teachings of the healer
In the time of the healer
This period represents my healing process as experienced through the teachings of the healer
Why is the world so blind
Why do people choose to ignore life's struggles and existence of pain?
I asked it many times
I have been seeking answers to this question repeatedly throughout my life
The answer's here for all to see
The answer has been in front of us the entire time
Now the past is laid to rest
I have accepted my past and let it go of it, so it no longer consumes me
Resurrection - born again
I have been renewed and reborn from my struggles
I thank the healer for it all
I am grateful to the healer for bringing me to the place I am today
It's on you - take your chance
You have the power to take control of your life and make a change
Try it once and you'll break free
Take the chance to change, and it will be the one thing that can set you free from your struggles
Power's out - just reach beyond
You are stronger than you realize, and all you have to do is let yourself be free of your struggles
The healer's there for you and me
The healer is always there for those who are struggling, and we can all reach out to them for guidance and support
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.