Dirkschneider dazzles Hell's Heroes VIII with 40 years of 'Balls to the Wall'

HOUSTON — Perhaps the most obvious indication of how timeless songs, or an entire album, prove to be is how quickly fans anywhere in the world react to hearing them years after they hit the public’s ears.

A lesser sign, though no less important, is when the artist of said timeless material announces he’s no longer going to play any tunes from his former band, let alone the ones fans always clamor for, only to not only revisit them eventually — but celebrate them.

Enter Udo Dirkschneider.

Perhaps the only musician on the planet who has one band for his first name and another for his surname, Dirkschneider brought his latter outfit to Hell’s Heroes VIII on March 20 and marked 40 years of the album from the band (Accept) he’s most known for that still resonates like no other: Balls to the Wall.

While the title track is by far and away Accept’s most popular song, the rest of the album is nothing to gloss over. Dirkschneider treated the Day 1 crowd of the three-day downtown festival at White Oak Music Hall to the record in its entirety (watch ATM footage below of “Balls to the Wall” plus its final three tunes: “Losers and Winners,” “Guardian of the Night” and “Winter Dreams”).

Due to the fact original Day 1 headliners Loudness canceled a mere 72 hours before their scheduled appearance because of “visa issues” from their native Japan, Dirkschneider, who was originally scheduled to go on before Loudness, agreed to play an even longer set (see setlist in 18-photo gallery).

Backed by his son Sven Dirkschneider on drums, original and longtime Accept bassist Peter Baltes and guitarists Fabian Dee Dammers and Alen Brentini — the latter joining Dirkschneider’s band this past Oct. 27 — Udo and Co. bookended the album with three songs before and after Balls to the Wall.

While other nations had already witnessed and heard a special performance all the way through from Dirkschneider of Accept’s 1983 record (and fifth overall), the German frontman with the unmistakable raspy voice had just listened to his inner metal heart — and had a change of that heart — and given the people what they wanted at Hell’s Heroes.

And that was music to everyone’s ears who was lucky enough to be there.

Danke schon, Dirkschneider.

DIRKSCHNEIDER

The original voice of Accept hits the stage headlining the first day of Hell’s Heroes VIII at White Oak Music Hall in downtown Houston (photos & videos by Jay Nanda / Alamo True Metal)

Dirkschneider acknowledges the cheers as he launches into opening song “Fast as a Shark.”

Original Accept bassist Peter Baltes reunited with Dirkschneider’s solo band three years ago.

Alen Brentini joined Dirkschneider’s band as one of its two guitarists this past Oct. 27.

Sven Dirkschneider, Udo’s son, does his thing on the kit.

Dirkschneider and lead guitarist Fabian Dee Dammers get the crowd into it.

Father and son prepare to begin their performance of Balls to the Wall.

Brentini and Dammers team up on “Midnight Mover.”

Dirkschneider had gone on record saying that because he had way more solo albums than those he had done with Accept, he would no longer play songs from his original band, but he had a change of heart several years ago.

Baltes (right) and Brentini do their thing on second song “Living for Tonite.”

Dammers charges into a solo.

Brentini is a native of Croatia who began playing guitar at age 9.

Dirkschneider agreed to play a longer set after originally scheduled Day 1 headliner Loudness canceled 72 hours before the festival.

The twin-guitar attack of Brentini (left) and Dammers is on display during “Midnight Mover.”

Brentini played his final gig with the Andreas Gabalier band last Halloween, four days after officially joining Dirkschneider.

Brentini and Dammers do their thing on “Living for Tonite.”

Watch ATM footage within of “Balls to the Wall,” “Losers and Winners,” “Guardian of the Night” and ballad “Winter Dreams.”

Two generations of Dirkschneider delighted the crowd at Hell’s Heroes VIII.