U.D.O. recruits temporary bassist
U.d.o., the German band led by former Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider, has tapped ex-Vanize/Majesty bassist Marcus Bielenberg as the temporary replacement for Fitty Weinhold, who is currently unable to perform with the group "for private reasons." Bielenberg played with U.d.o. last weekend at the Granito Rock festival in Villalba, Spain and will do so again at the Maximum Rock festival in Cluj Napoca, Romania on August 10.U.d.o. will team up with Primal Fear for a European co-headlining tour this fall.
As previously reported, U.d.o. will embark on a North American tour in January/February 2008. It is not presently clear if this will be a package tour or a solo trek. Exact cities and dates to be anounced.
U.d.o. recently signed with Coallier Entertainment (Twisted Sister, Sebastian Bach, Belladonna, W.a.s.p.) in New York City for booking and is said to be "excited" to come back to America and Canada to play for the fans again.
Fan-filmed video footage of U.d.o. performing the Accept classics "Restless and Wild" and "Son of a Bitch" at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 8, 2007 in Sölvesborg, Sweden has been posted at YouTube.
A 23-minute audio interview with Udo Dirkschneider, conducted recently by Denmark's Revolution-Music.dk (web site), has been posted online at this location (Mp3, 18 Mb).
U.d.o.'s new album, "Mastercutor", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 39 ? the highest German chart position in the band's history.
"Mastercutor" was released on May 18 via Afm Records. Several extra songs were recorded for the Cd, with different territories getting their own bonus cuts. The Japanese edition of the Cd comes with the track "Man a King Ruler", the Russian album includes "Platchet Soldat", and both feature the song "Streets of Sin". The European limited-edition version of "Mastercutor" includes the songs "Borderline" and "Screaming Eagles".