In a recent interview with Claudio Pérez of Cuero Y Metal Radio, former Accept bassist Peter Baltes shared his thoughts on touring and recording with longtime bandmate Udo Dirkschneider as part of the U.D.O. and Dirkschneider projects.
Peter reflected, “It’s been almost two years now since I first started playing with U.D.O., and I’m really happy. I love the musicians in the band—they’re all incredibly talented. Udo sounds better than ever, and we have a lot of exciting things on the horizon. Initially, I was just helping him out on tour two years ago. He asked me to fill in, and I’m so glad I stayed. I had missed touring, and now I’m back to performing live. Udo and I have been friends for life, so it’s great to be working together again.”
When asked about the controversy surrounding Accept’s fifth album, Balls to the Wall (1983), which some considered homoerotic due to its title, cover art, and lyrics in songs like “London Leatherboys” and “Love Child,” Peter said, “Yeah, it was controversial at the time, but it was mainly because people didn’t understand it. Over time, listeners realized that the lyrics had a different meaning. Balls to the Wall has become an iconic album for Accept—it will live on forever. It’s one of the biggest albums and metal songs in the world.”
Looking ahead to Dirkschneider’s upcoming world tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of Balls to the Wall, which kicks off in South America in November, Peter added, “We’re going to play the entire album, start to finish, and I’ll likely sing one of the ballads we never performed live before. It’s going to be a really special Accept experience, with Balls to the Wall at the center of it all. To have the chance to celebrate this iconic album after more than 40 years, and to do it alongside Udo, is an honor. It’s pretty amazing to be back playing these songs all over the world.”
