Category Archives: U.D.O.

U.D.O. Part Ways With Bassist Tilen Hudrap

Posted by caemanamelio on

Tilen Hudrap has announced his departure from U.D.O. The bassist says “it’s time for [him] to pursue other interests in the metal world.”

Hudrap issued the following statement:

“Dear fans, I want to inform you that I decided to leave the U.D.O. band on my own accord. This is completely my decision, I came to it after weeks of careful consideration.

After 4 albums (2 studio albums and 1 live album/DVD and studio compilation) and worldwide live tours and performances with both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER I decided that it’s time for me to pursue other interests in the metal world.

Thanks to all the fans all over the world for the massive support and good luck to the band on all future endeavors.

There is SO much more to come!

Thanks to everyone again, Tilen.”

The band added:

“We wish you all the best for the future Tilen! We see you somewhere on the road!”

U.D.O. Recruit Former Accept Bassist Peter Baltes For European Tour

Posted by caemanamelio on

U.D.O., the project featuring former Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider, have recruited ex-Accept bassist Peter Baltes for their headlining European tour. He will be filling in for Tilen Hudrap, who was recently hospitalized.

U.D.O. issued the following statement:

“Dear Fans,

As you may already have heard, last night Tilen Hudrap, our Bass Player & invaluable member of the U.D.O. Family, had to be rushed to Hospital after nearly collapsing on stage. Tilen is a guy who would walk barefoot over burning coals to play a show, but his body, after Months of stress of every kind, just could not take it any longer.

He is in excellent hands at a great hospital in Munich, where doctors are continuing to run tests on him to ascertain the quickest way to bring him back to full health. But for right now, the best medicine is rest.

U.D.O. will continue the Tour without Tilen until he has fully recovered. The next two shows in Pratteln and Stuttgart will be performed without a Bass Player, then Peter Baltes will join us as temporary replacement from Berlin onwards.

Of course we will all be devastated to not have Tilen on stage with us, but his health comes first, and as soon as he is able, you can be sure he will be up there, Rocking the World, stronger than before.

We love you Tilen! Get well soon!
U.D.O. Band, Crew and Management!”

Hudrap added:

“This is the hardest thing I ever wrote publicly.

As a public person I feel compelled to write what I will write, especially because I owe it to the fans: the fans of the band, my own fans’n’supporters from all the years of touring and to everyone involved in this touring commitment going on at the moment.

Yesterday my body gave in on stage.

In twenty years I never cancelled one single show and in all my professional years I never cancelled a tour or a concert. Not with a broken finger, not with 40C body temperature, not while barely standing, after I haven’t slept for 52 hours, not ever.

At the beginning of the world tour this was the last thing I wanted to do (to cancel ANYTHING, let alone a 3 month tour) so despite my burnout condition that I never talked publicly about and against the advice of my doctors and my family I went on tour to not let down my brothers in the band and the hardworking crew and management/booking agency. I always prided myself in being a road warrior and went through way crazier situations in my career so I thought this would not be a big deal (to do a nice 3 month tour). It turned out it was.
(Un)Fortunately!!! my body gave in during the last two songs yesterday.

Respiratory alkalosis, total hyperventilation, uncontrollable tremors, momentary collapse of body functions and complete burnout. The doctors in the emergency room in München said I should never went on stage for the last week, let alone during the whole summer. My body was running on fumes. They basically saved me.

I’m in the hospital now, writing this and thinking about everyone involved.
Sorry to everyone and all the fans, but I need to take some time to get back to 100%.

Please know I would never not go play if it wasn’t serious as it is. Most of this was caused by unreal amounts of no sleep, stress, e. rollercoasters and on top corona period. All this, plus decades of work that took me to where I am, put a price on my body.

Yes, I remain in the band, the new album is in the works and someone nice will come to replace me indefinitely until I get back in shape for which you always known me for. You know I always gave 200% and always will!

I will make a few updates in the following days to keep everyone in the loop. Got many worried msgs, I wanna assure everyone that I will be fine and come back stronger than ever. A metal heart is hard to tear apart!

Last, but not least and most important: indescribable gratitude to my band brothers and crew for their support in the most dire situation yesterday and in general. I love you guys!

METAL Lives!
T.”

U.D.O. Sign With Atomic Fire Records

Posted by caemanamelio on

U.D.O., the band featuring ex-Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider, have signed a new deal with Atomic Fire Records. The group are planning to release a new album through the label to coincide with Dirkschneider’s 70th birthday (April 6).

Dirkschneider commented:

“As a globally active artist, it is very important for me to work with our respective partners in a trusting and highly professional way since large parts of our careers depend directly on their work. But a friendly relationship and fun in day-to-day cooperation are just as important. With my U.D.O. and Dirkschneider bands, I have always paid attention to long-term partnerships, which really did not make the decision to change labels again after nearly 20 years of cooperation with AFM Records easy for me. I would like to specifically thank Jochen Richert and his team once again for the very trusting and personal cooperation over the last two decades! But when the opportunity arose to follow a fresh path with the newly founded Atomic Fire Records label and experience new inspirations, I seized it immediately and won’t let go. The opportunity to work with a nationally and internationally experienced and successful team consisting of friends and years-long companions was too tempting. The team and the concept as well as Atomic Fire Records’ professional setup worldwide has convinced me completely and I look very optimistically and happily toward the future and a cooperation with Markus Wosgien, Markus Staiger and Florian Milz and their team.”

Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien added:

“I was nine years old when I listened to a real metal song for the very first time, a live version of ‘Metal Heart’ and it hooked me immediately. On that day, heavy metal became the center of my life. I started spending my whole pocket money for Accept’s records before I also discovered other groups. Accept were the ultimate band and the definition of heavy metal — it just had to sound like this. I was working with U.D.O. in support of their ‘Mastercutor’ album during my time at AFM Records, but I even had the chance of cooperating with Accept for four full-lengths after their reunion in 2009. To welcome Udo Dirkschneider to Atomic Fire Records is a kind of a knightly accolade for us. He’s an icon and an old hand of metal who still has a lot to say. We’re pleased to release an outstanding album around his 70th birthday and can’t wait for all those U.D.O. hits that are yet to come.”