We Are One: A Conversation with UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER

By capitalchaostv on August 7, 2020 • ( 0 )

Legendary metal vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, best known for his work with Accept and U.D.O., joined us for a wide-ranging conversation about his new album We Are One, the importance of environmental awareness, and how Germany handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

From coffee-fueled mornings to rock ‘n’ roll roots, Udo gives us an honest and thoughtful look at music, life, and the state of the world.

Capital Chaos TV: What does a typical morning look like for you, Udo? Are you a coffee-first kind of guy?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Coffee and water—always coffee and water. Then I switch on the TV and watch the news.

Capital Chaos TV: So the news is important to you?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Very important. I always want to know what’s happening in the world, especially now, with everything going on—COVID and so on.

Capital Chaos TV: I read that Germany handled the COVID-19 crisis quite well. Is that true?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Yes, I would say so. It wasn’t as heavy as in places like America, the UK, or South America. In Germany, things were a bit more under control and have continued to improve.

Capital Chaos TV: What can the rest of the world learn from Germany?

Udo Dirkschneider:
A good healthcare system is very important. The government also took action early, and most people followed the regulations. Sure, some didn’t—but most did, and it made a difference. That’s why it worked.

Capital Chaos TV: That’s good to hear. Here in California, they’re starting to shut things down again—bars, clubs, and so on.

Udo Dirkschneider:
Yeah, I saw that on TV. It seems like infection numbers are still going up in the U.S. It’s strange—when you look at other countries like Germany or New Zealand or even China, you wonder why it’s so different. I don’t know why more isn’t being done there.

Capital Chaos TV: I want to talk about your voice—it’s still so powerful. I saw you in San Francisco and was blown away. I even thought I heard a little blues influence. Is that accurate?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Blues? No, not really. I wasn’t into blues music.

Capital Chaos TV: So you were born for rock?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Yes—rock and roll. I grew up with it. My parents listened to Elvis Presley, and then I got into The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, all of that. That was my foundation.

Capital Chaos TV: Do you remember your first performance?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Yes, in 1968, in a small club with maybe 50 people. We were paid 50 Deutsche Marks—about $30. That was with my old friend Michael Wagener and a German guitarist. That band wasn’t Accept yet. We were called Band X.

Capital Chaos TV: And the first concert you attended?

Udo Dirkschneider:
The Beatles, in Hamburg. I can’t remember exactly when, but it was one of my first. I liked them, but then the Rolling Stones came and I moved in a heavier direction. Then came Hendrix, and that blew my mind. He changed everything.

Capital Chaos TV: Your new album We Are One is incredible. I listened to it last night, and there’s not a weak track on it. You must be proud.

Udo Dirkschneider:
Thank you! Yes, I’m very proud. It was a dream come true. We didn’t just take old songs and throw an orchestra on top. These are new songs, written specifically for both band and orchestra.

Capital Chaos TV: That makes a big difference. The album feels cohesive.

Udo Dirkschneider:
Exactly. It was a challenge. When we decided to do it, we already had two performances with an orchestra—one at Wacken, and one at a special show. Then we said, “Let’s make an album.” We started with around 30 demo ideas. Then we worked with the arrangers to decide what would fit with a symphonic brass orchestra.

Capital Chaos TV: And how long did the whole process take?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Almost a year. Not full-time—we were also touring with U.D.O.—but it took time to get the arrangements right and record everything. It was worth it.

Capital Chaos TV: One of the lyrics says “Mother Earth will soon revenge.” Do you think COVID is part of that?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Maybe. We need to be more careful with the planet. The way people treat the environment—trash, plastic, pollution—it’s dangerous. And nature is reacting. In Germany, we never had tornadoes before, but now we do. The seasons are changing. We need to wake up.

Capital Chaos TV: So the album is a call to action?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Yes. The whole album touches on what’s going wrong—climate, surveillance, politics. Even what happened in America with George Floyd. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, yellow—we’re all human. We have to stay together. That’s what We Are One means.

Capital Chaos TV: Germany ended conscription in 2011. Do you look back on your service with any fondness?

Udo Dirkschneider:
I served for 15 months. We were allowed to have long hair, which was great. I wasn’t in combat—I worked in hospital support. Three months of weapons training, and then I was in a medical unit.

Capital Chaos TV: You’ve always had a military style—especially with the camouflage. Are you into firearms?

Udo Dirkschneider:
No, definitely not. I’m not into military gear or guns. The camouflage look started in 1982. We were just looking for a unique stage outfit. At the time, in places like France or Poland, people sometimes thought it was political—blond hair, blue eyes—it wasn’t easy. But today, camouflage is just fashion.

Capital Chaos TV: You collaborated with a military orchestra. Was that intentional?

Udo Dirkschneider:
Not really. It just happened. I went to one of their concerts in 2013. They played Queen, Michael Jackson—it sounded incredible. It was a full symphonic brass orchestra, not folk music or violins. That sound worked perfectly with heavy metal. We weren’t looking for a military connection—it was all about the music.

Final Thoughts

Udo Dirkschneider:
We’re all living on the same planet. There is no Planet B. We have to look out for each other—and for the Earth. That’s the message behind We Are One. Stay together. Respect each other. And take care of this world.

We Are One by U.D.O. featuring the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr is available now on all major streaming platforms and physical formats.

Listen to the full interview below.