Accept is a German heavy metal band from Solingen formed in 1976 with their first consistent lineup featuring lead singer Udo Dirkschneider, lead guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, bassist Peter Baltes, rhythm guitarist Jörg Fischer and drummer Stefan Kaufmann. The band's current lineup includes Hoffmann, lead vocalist Mark Tornillo (since 2009), drummer Christopher Williams (since 2015), bassist Martin Motnik and rhythm guitarist Philip Shouse (both since 2019).
History 1976–1994 Accept evolved from an earlier group called Band X, formed in 1968 by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider. After several lineup changes the band would change their name to Accept, with their lineup consisting of Dirkschneider, lead guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, rhythm guitarist Gerard Wahl, bassist Peter Baltes and drummer Frank Friedrich.
Wahl was replaced by Jörg Fischer in 1977. After the recording of the group's self-titled debut album, Friedrich left Accept and was replaced by Stefan Kaufmann. Fischer was fired by the band after wrapping up the Breaker tour in 1982. He was replaced briefly by Jan Koemmet, followed by Herman Frank shortly before the release of Restless and Wild. Dirkscheider left and returned during the recording of Balls to the Wall in 1983, and Fischer returned to replace Frank shortly after the release of Balls to the Wall.
In 1987, Dirkschneider was fired from Accept and subsequently pursued a solo career under the moniker U.D.O. He was replaced by a succession of temporary vocalists including Michael White and Baby Tuckoo frontman Rob Armitage, before the band settled on David Reece and released Eat the Heat in 1989. Fischer left again before the recording of the album. Jim Stacey joined on rhythm guitar for the album's promotional tour, which also saw Ken Mary take over from Kaufmann on tour after he suffered a back injury. Accept subsequently decided to disband, after increasing differences with Reece and Kaufmann's injury. By 1992, the band had returned with a lineup of Dirkschneider, Hoffmann, Baltes and Kaufmann, releasing Objection Overruled the next year. Arjen Lucassen of Vengeance was involved at the time, he was supposed to be the touring guitarist but left before the tour started. Kaufmann was forced to leave again after the release of Death Row, with Stefan Schwarzmann taking his place.
Since 1994 After the Death Row touring cycle, Schwarzmann was replaced by Michael Cartellone, who performed on 1996's Predator. The group disbanded for a second time in 1997. In 2005, Accept returned for a short run of shows in Europe and Japan, with Dirkschneider, Hoffmann and Baltes joined by Frank and Schwarzmann. The tour ended in August, after which Hoffmann claimed that Dirkschneider was preventing a longer reunion for the band. Members returned to other projects until 2009, when a new lineup of Accept was unveiled with vocalist Mark Tornillo in place of Dirkschneider. The group's lineup remained stable until 2014, when Frank and Schwarzmann were fired. Their places were taken in April 2015 by Uwe Lulis and Christopher Williams, respectively. Baltes quit the band in November 2018.
For tour dates in early 2019, Baltes was replaced by Danny Silvestri, who had previously played with the group in 2017. In April, the band brought in Martin Motnik as their new full-time bassist. On 1 November, the band announced that Philip Shouse, previously a touring member, had joined them as their third guitarist, thus making them a sextet. In September 2025 the band parted ways with Lulis, thus returning to a two guitar line-up.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsWolf Hoffmannall Accept releasesMark Tornillo2009–presentlead vocalsall Accept releases from Blood of the Nations (2010) onwardsChristopher Williams2015–presentall Accept releases from Restless and Live (2017) onwardsMartin Motnik2019–present all Accept releases from Too Mean to Die (2021) onwardsPhilip Shouse
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPeter Baltesall Accept releases to Symphonic Terror: Live at Wacken 2017 (2018)Udo Dirkschneiderlead vocalsall Accept releases from Accept (1979) to All Areas: Worldwide (1997)Frank Friedrich1976–1979drumsAccept (1979)Gerhard Wahl1976–1978rhythm guitarnoneJörg Fischerall Accept releases from Accept (1979) to Staying a Life (1990), except Balls to the Wall (1983) and Eat the Heat (1989)Stefan KaufmanndrumsHerman Frankrhythm guitarMichael White1987lead vocalsnoneRob Armitage1987–1988David Reece1988–1989Eat the Heat (1989)Jim Stacey1989rhythm guitarnoneStefan SchwarzmanndrumsUwe Lulis2015–2025all Accept releases from Restless and Live (2017) to Humanoid (2024)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsJan Koemmet1982rhythm guitarKoemmet was hired to replace Jörg Fischer and was soon replaced Herman Frank.Ken MarydrumsMary was hired to finish the Eat the Heat tour due to Stefan Kauffmann's health problems.Michael Cartellone1995–1997Cartellone was hired Stefan Kauffmann's departure health problems and has played on Predator (1996) as session musician.Danny SilvestribassSilvestri substituted for Baltes at Wacken Open Air 2017, and rejoined after his departure in late 2018.Ava-Rebekah Rahman2019violinRahman joined the touring lineup of Accept for the Symphonic Terror tour.Joel Hoekstra2024guitarHoekstra temporarily filled in for Shouse.Shawn Drover2026drumsDrover temporarily fills in for Williams.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1976 – late 1978Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Gerhard Wahl – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Frank Friedrich – drumsLate 1978 – early 1979Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Frank Friedrich – drumsAccept (1979)Early 1979 – early 1982Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsI'm a Rebel (1980) Breaker (1981)Early – mid 1982Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – guitars, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsRestless and Wild (1982)Mid 1982Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jan Koemmet – rhythm guitar (touring) Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsLate 1982 – early 1984Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Herman Frank – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsBalls to the Wall (1983)Early 1984 – mid 1987Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsMetal Heart (1985) Kaizoku-Ban (1985) Russian Roulette (1986) Staying a Life (1990)1987Michael White – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsrowspan="3" 1987 – 1988Rob Armitage – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drums1988David Reece – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jörg Fischer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drums1988 – 1989David Reece – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – guitars, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsEat the Heat (1989)1989David Reece – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jim Stacey – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsrowspan="2" 1989David Reece – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Jim Stacey – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Ken Mary – drums (touring)Band inactive 1989–19921992 – 1994Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – guitars, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Kaufmann – drumsObjection Overruled (1993) Death Row (1994)1994 – 1995Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – guitars, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Schwarzmann – drumsDeath Row (1994) All Areas: Worldwide (1997)1995 – 1997Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – guitars, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums (touring/session)Predator (1996)Band inactive 1997–20052005Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Herman Frank – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Schwarzmann – drumsBand inactive 2005–2009May 2009 – December 2014Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Herman Frank – rhythm guitar Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals Stefan Schwarzmann – drumsBlood of the Nations (2010) Stalingrad (2012) Blind Rage (2014)December 2014 – April 2015Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocalsApril 2015 – November 2018Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Uwe Lulis – rhythm guitar, backing Peter Baltes – bass, backing vocals vocals Christopher Williams – drums, backing vocalsRestless and Live (2017) The Rise of Chaos (2017) Symphonic Terror: Live atWacken 2017 (2018)November 2018 – April 2019Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Uwe Lulis – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Danny Silvestri – bass (touring) Christopher Williams – drums, backing vocalsrowspan="2" April – November 2019Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffmann – lead guitar, backing vocals Uwe Lulis – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Martin Motnik – bass, backing vocals Christopher Williams – drums, backing vocalsNovember 2019 – September 2025Mark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffman – lead guitar, backing vocals Philip Shouse – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Uwe Lulis – rhythm guitar Martin Motnik – bass, backing vocals Christopher Williams – drums, backing vocalsToo Mean to Die (2021) Humanoid (2024)September 2025 – presentMark Tornillo – lead vocals Wolf Hoffman – lead guitar, backing vocals Philip Shouse – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Martin Motnik – bass, backing vocals Christopher Williams – drums, backing vocalsnone to date
References
External links Accept official website