This Tuesday was unlike any other. We had the honor and immense pleasure of welcoming the one and only Udo Dirkschneider, the iconic original singer of Accept. As part of the 40th anniversary tour of the legendary “Balls to the Wall” album, Athens, Greece was chosen as one of the stops, giving all classic metal lovers a very important rendezvous for the night!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Yes, it was a working day — but when it comes to a night of pure, traditional heavy metal with Dirkschneider himself as host, no real metalhead would say no! A few minutes after eight o’clock, we were already inside Fuzz Club, eagerly waiting for the show to begin. There was no support act preceding Udo, but frankly, when you have such a colossal figure of heavy metal on stage, there is absolutely no need for a warm-up band.
We didn’t have to wait long. Soon enough, the German frontman appeared before us, surrounded by an exceptional band featuring the legendary Peter Baltes on bass, Udo’s own son Sven Dirkschneider behind the drum kit and the brilliant axemen Andrey Smirnov and Fabian Dee Dammers on guitars. It was immediately clear that something extraordinary was about to unfold.
When Udo stepped on the stage, all hell broke loose! Fuzz Club was packed with passionate Greek fans, who sang, screamed and headbanged right from the very first note of the timeless “Fast as a Shark”.
Dirkschneider delivered a set exclusively comprising Accept songs — all the classic tracks that have cemented the band’s legendary status — and of course, the entire “Balls to the Wall” album performed in full! Before delving into the anniversary album, Udo performed six classic tracks, with Peter Baltes taking the lead vocals for a nice rendition of “Breaking Up Again”.
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the complete “Balls to the Wall” performance. The feeling of experiencing the entire album live was magical. During the title track, balloons fell down onto the ecstatic crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere, while “London Leatherboys” sounded powerful and infectious.
The set concluded with a glorious encore featuring “Princess of the Dawn”, “Up to the Limit” and “Burning”, sending the audience into a final frenzy of emotion and headbanging. The song selection was masterfully curated, fueling a real Accept-hysteria inside Fuzz Club.
Udo’s performance was incredible and the band behind him was equally superb: the rhythm section thundered like a juggernaut, the guitar work was razor-sharp and the sound production was excellent, capturing the raw energy and spirit of the songs perfectly. More than just delivering the goods, Dirkschneider made a loud statement: heavy metal is still alive!
When the show ended, everyone was out of breath, overwhelmed with joy and fully aware that we had witnessed something truly special. This Tuesday will remain etched in our memories as one of the most beautiful Tuesdays of this year.
