Two lineups of U.D.O. performing in 2004 (top) and 2015 (bottom).

U.D.O. are a German heavy metal band from Solingen. Formed in 1987 by eponymous vocalist Udo Dirkschneider following his departure from Accept, the group originally included guitarists Mathias Dieth and Peter Szigeti, bassist Frank Rittel and drummer Thomas Franke.[1] The band released their debut album Animal House before the end of the year, after which Szigeti, Rittel and Franke were replaced by Andy Susemihl, Thomas Smuszynski (after a brief tenure for former Accept bassist Dieter Rubach)[2] and future Accept drummer Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.[1] Wolla Böhm replaced Susemihl for 1990's Faceless World,[1] although by the time of the next album Timebomb, U.D.O. were a four-piece.[3] In 1992, after touring in promotion of Timebomb, U.D.O. disbanded as Dirkschneider returned to the reformed Accept.[1]

Dirkschneider reformed U.D.O. in 1996 with Dieth and Schwarzmann, plus former Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann on guitar and Michael Voss on bass, to record "Metal Gods" for A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal.[1] Dieth and Voss were soon replaced by Bullet members Jürgen Graf and Fitty Wienhold, respectively, for the band's next album Solid.[1] Schwarzmann left after the release of No Limits.[4] Graf also left around the same time, with Igor Gianola taking his place in time for the recording of Holy.[5] Drums on the album were credited to "Guess Who", but were likely programmed by Kaufmann who did the same on earlier albums.[4]

Schwarzmann's replacement was Lorenzo Milani, who joined U.D.O. in November 1999.[6] Milani remained until January 2005, when he left the band for "personal reasons" and was replaced by Francesco Jovino, who had earlier filled in for the regular drummer during a tour the previous autumn.[7] This lineup remained stable for over seven years, before Kaufmann left in September 2012 for "health reasons".[8] He was replaced the following January by Andrey Smirnov,[9] just days before Gianola was also replaced by Kasperi Heikkinen.[10] Jovino left for "personal reasons" in December 2014,[11] with Dirkschneider's son Sven taking his place the following February.[12] Heikkinen remained until February 2017 before leaving, also citing "personal reasons" for his departure from both U.D.O. and related band Dirkschneider.[13]

Bill Hudson took over from Heikkinen in March 2017,[14] but by the following April had left due to musical differences.[15] The band were temporarily rejoined by Kaufmann for a string of summer festival appearances.[16] Shortly after the release of Steelfactory, long-time bassist Fitty Wienhold announced his departure from U.D.O., but assured fans that he would continue to offer his support in the form of songwriting if requested.[17] The following month, the band announced the additions of guitarist Dee Dammers in place of Hudson, and bassist Tilen Hudrap in place of Wienhold.[18] In September 2022 Hudrap was replaced by former Accept bassist Peter Baltes, first on a temporary bassist until April 2023 when Baltes officially replaced him.[19]

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
U.D.O. with Bundeswehr Musikkorps - Wacken Open Air 2015-0596.jpg
 Udo Dirkschneider
  • 1987–1992
  • 1996–present
 vocals all U.D.O. releases
U.D.O. with Musikkorps der Bundeswehr – Wacken Open Air 2015 24.jpg
 Andrey Smirnov 2013–present guitars all U.D.O. releases from Steelhammer (2013) onwards
VSpectrum-Sven Dirkschneider-0973.jpg
 Sven Dirkschneider 2015–present drums all U.D.O. releases from Steelfactory (2018) onwards
Dee Dammers 2018–present guitars Game Over (2021)
Accept - Wacken Open Air 2017 27.jpg
 Peter Baltes 2023–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 Touchdown (2023)

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mathias Dieth
  • 1987–1992
  • 1996
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
Thomas Franke 1987–1988 drums Animal House (1987)
Peter Szigeti guitars
Frank Rittel bass
Stefan Schwarzmann – Wacken Open Air 2014 02.jpg
 Stefan Schwarzmann
  • 1988–1992
  • 1996–1998
 drums all U.D.O. releases from Mean Machine (1989) to No Limits (1998)
Andy Susemihl
  • 1988–1990
  • 1991
 guitars Mean Machine (1989)
Dieter Rubach 1988 bass none
Sound of Silence 04.jpg
 Thomas Smuszynski 1988–1992
Wolla Böhm 1989–1990 guitars Faceless World (1990)
Frank Fricke 1991–1992 none
UDO Band live.jpg
 Stefan Kaufmann 1996–2012
(touring 2018)
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
 all U.D.O. releases from "Metal Gods" (1996) to Live in Sofia (2012)
Michael Voss 1996 bass "Metal Gods" (1996)
U.D.O. with Musikkorps der Bundeswehr – Wacken Open Air 2015 20.jpg
 Fitty Wienhold 1996–2018
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all U.D.O. releases from Solid (1997) to Steelfactory (2018)
Jürgen Graf 1996–1998
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
  • Solid (1997)
  • No Limits (1998)
Igor Gianola 1998–2013 all U.D.O. releases from Holy (1999) to Live in Sofia (2012)
Lorenzo Milani 1999–2005 drums all U.D.O. releases from Live from Russia (2001) to Thunderball (2004)
Francesco Jovino 2005–2014
(touring 2004)		 all U.D.O. releases from Mission No. X (2005) to Navy Metal Night (2015)
U.D.O. with Musikkorps der Bundeswehr – Wacken Open Air 2015 18.jpg
 Kasperi Heikkinen 2013–2017 guitars all U.D.O. releases from Steelhammer (2013) to Navy Metal Night (2015)
Bill Hudson 2017–2018 none
Tilen Hudrap 2018–2022 bass Game Over (2021)

Touring

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Winfred Clifton 1999 keyboards none
Marcus Bielenberg 2007 (substitute) bass none – Bielenberg substituted for Fitty Wienhold, who was unable to perform due to "private reasons"[20]
Ulli Köllner 2013–2015 keyboards Steelhammer: Live from Moscow (2014)
Harrison Young 2015–2018 none

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
1987–1988
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars, backing vocals
  • Peter Szigeti – guitars
  • Frank Rittel – bass
  • Thomas Franke – drums
1988 none
1988–1989
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Andy Susemihl – guitars
  • Thomas Smuszynski – bass
1989–1990
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Thomas Smuszynski – bass
  • Wolla Böhm – guitars
1990–1991
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Thomas Smuszynski – bass
1991–1992
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Thomas Smuszynski – bass
  • Frank Fricke – guitars
 none
Band inactive 1992–1996
1996
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Mathias Dieth – guitars
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitars
  • Michael Voss – bass
1996–1998
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitars, backing vocals
  • Jürgen Graf – guitars, backing vocals
1998–1999
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitars, backing vocals
  • Igor Gianola – guitars, backing vocals
November 1999 – January 2005
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitars, backing vocals
  • Igor Gianola – guitars, backing vocals
  • Lorenzo Milani – drums
January 2005 – September 2012
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Kaufmann – guitars, backing vocals
  • Igor Gianola – guitars, backing vocals
  • Francesco Jovino – drums
January 2013
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Igor Gianola – guitars, backing vocals
  • Francesco Jovino – drums
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
 none
January 2013 – December 2014
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Francesco Jovino – drums
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Kasperi Heikkinen – guitars
  • Steelhammer (2013)
  • Steelhammer: Live from Moscow (2014)
  • Decadent (2015)
  • Navy Metal Night (2015)
February 2015 – February 2017
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Kasperi Heikkinen – guitars
  • Sven Dirkschneider – drums
 none
March 2017 – April 2018
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Sven Dirkschneider – drums
  • Bill Hudson – guitars
April – September 2018
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Fitty Wienhold – bass, backing vocals
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Sven Dirkschneider – drums
October 2018 – December 2022
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Sven Dirkschneider – drums
  • Dee Dammers – guitars
  • Tilen Hudrap – bass
  • Game Over (2021)
April 2023 – present
  • Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
  • Andrey Smirnov – guitars
  • Sven Dirkschneider – drums
  • Dee Dammers – guitars
  • Peter Baltes – bass
 none to date

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ankeny, Jason. "U.D.O.: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. ↑ Rubach, Dieter. "Biography". Dieter Rubach's Concertpower. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "Timebomb - U.D.O.: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Stefan Schwarzmann of Helloween Interview". Metal-Rules.com. 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Holy - U.D.O.: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "November 14–20: This Week In..." Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "U.D.O. Announce New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Guitarist Stefan Kaufmann Quits U.D.O." Blabbermouth.net. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "U.D.O. Announces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "U.D.O. Parts Ways With Guitarist, Announces Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "U.D.O. Parts Ways With Drummer Francesco Jovino". Blabbermouth.net. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "U.D.O. Dirkschneider's Son Sven Joins U.D.O. As Band's Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  13. ↑ "Guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen Quits U.D.O. And Dirkschneider". Blabbermouth.net. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "U.D.O. And Dirkschneider Joined By Guitarist Bill Hudson". Blabbermouth.net. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  15. ↑ "Guitarist Bill Hudson Exits U.D.O. And Dirkschneider After Only A Year". Blabbermouth.net. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  16. ↑ "U.D.O. Rejoined By Guitarist Stefan Kaufmann For Summer Festival Appearances". Blabbermouth.net. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  17. ↑ "Bassist Fitty Wienhold Exits U.D.O. After 22 Years". Blabbermouth.net. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  18. ↑ "U.D.O. Announces New Guitarist And Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  19. ↑ "Ex-ACCEPT Bassist PETER BALTES Officially Joins UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER's U.D.O. And DIRKSCHNEIDER". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  20. ↑ "U.D.O. Recruits Temporary Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
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