BREAKING: Statue of Accept Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann Erected in Hometown of Mainz, Germany The statue, which depicts Hoffmann mid-performance with his signature Flying V guitar, was unveiled in a public ceremony attended by …

BREAKING: Statue of Accept Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann Erected in Hometown of Mainz, Germany

 

Mainz, Germany – July 2, 2025 – In a landmark tribute to one of heavy metal’s most influential guitarists, a statue of Wolf Hoffmann, lead guitarist of the iconic German metal band Accept, has been unveiled in his hometown of Mainz. The bronze monument, situated in the city’s historic Altstadt (Old Town), celebrates Hoffmann’s decades-long contribution to music and his enduring influence on generations of metal fans and musicians worldwide.

 

The statue, which depicts Hoffmann mid-performance with his signature Flying V guitar, was unveiled in a public ceremony attended by local officials, fans, and members of the music community. Mainz Mayor Stefanie Hofmann (no relation) hailed Hoffmann as a “true ambassador of German artistry,” noting that his musical legacy “has brought pride and recognition to the city of Mainz on a global scale.”

 

Wolf Hoffmann, now 65, was visibly moved during the ceremony. “It’s overwhelming,” he said. “To stand here in the place where I grew up and see this tribute… it’s more than I ever could have imagined. Music has taken me around the world, but Mainz has always been home.”

 

Hoffmann co-founded Accept in the late 1970s, and the band rose to international prominence with albums like Balls to the Wall (1983), Restless and Wild (1982), and Metal Heart (1985). Known for their tight riffs, powerful vocals, and pioneering influence in the development of speed and thrash metal, Accept became one of the key players in the German heavy metal explosion that paralleled the rise of bands like Scorpions and Helloween.

Beyond his work with Accept, Hoffmann is celebrated for blending classical music influences into metal, particularly on his solo albums Classical (1997) and Headbangers Symphony (2016), which fused Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Mozart with high-gain guitar distortion and thunderous rhythm sections. These projects have been praised for pushing genre boundaries and inspiring a generation of neoclassical metal guitarists.

The statue was funded by a combination of public arts grants and crowdfunding efforts by fans from across Europe and beyond. Sculpted by renowned German artist Martin Schwarz, the monument stands over 2.5 meters tall and captures Hoffmann in a dynamic pose, symbolizing both the power and grace of his guitar work.

Longtime Accept fans and local residents gathered in droves to witness the unveiling, many wearing vintage tour shirts and waving German and Accept flags. A short acoustic performance by Hoffmann, joined by fellow bandmates, capped off the event.

“The statue isn’t just about Wolf,” said event organizer and lifelong fan Klaus Eberhard. “It’s about what his music represents—freedom, resilience, and the unifying power of rock and metal.”

As the metal community continues to celebrate its heroes, Mainz now stands as a permanent site of pilgrimage for fans of Wolf Hoffmann and Accept. For many, the statue is more than a monument—it’s a symbol of the genre’s endurance and the indelible mark Hoffmann has left on the world of music.