Udo Dirkschneider (born 6 April 1952 in Wuppertal) is a German heavy metal singer whose raspy, instantly recognisable voice helped shape the genre across more than five decades. He rose to international fame as the frontman of Accept, co-writing and recording landmark albums such as Balls to the Wall (1983). After leaving Accept in 1987 he founded U.D.O. in Solingen, a band that has since released over a dozen studio albums and continues to tour worldwide under both the U.D.O. and Dirkschneider names.
Dirkschneider confirmed that a new U.D.O. studio album is not expected before late 2026 or early 2027, with recording planned for autumn 2025.
Udo Dirkschneider announced headline shows in Germany, Denmark and Sweden as a 40th-anniversary celebration of Balls to the Wall.
Dirkschneider released 'Balls to the Wall Reloaded' on 28 February 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music, a star-studded re-recording of the classic Accept album marking its 40th anniversary.
In a March 2025 interview, Dirkschneider confirmed the Dirkschneider tour is scheduled to run through summer 2026, including festival appearances and a co-headline run with Saxon in England and Ireland.
Guitarist Andrey Smirnov parted ways with U.D.O./Dirkschneider in October 2025 and was replaced by Alen Brentini.
German metal legend Udo Dirkschneider and his band U.D.O. perform in Wrocław. A concert for hard rock and heavy metal fans.
German heavy metal legend U.D.O. with Udo Dirkschneider brings the "Triple Anniversary Tour 2027" to Warsaw, celebrating the vocalist's 75th birthday, 40 years of the band, and the premiere of a new album.
