WOLF HOFFMANN On ACCEPT’s 50th‑Anniversary Tour: “It’s Gonna Be A Completely Different Show With A Lot Of Surprises”
As Accept’s founding guitarist and the only original member still in the lineup, Wolf Hoffmann will steer the band into its golden jubilee celebration—an anniversary tour ending 2025 and a commemorative album in early 2026. “It’s a milestone that needs to be celebrated properly,” Hoffmann reflects, “we only have one chance for a 50th‑anniversary” .
Hoffmann joined Accept in 1976 at just 16, and over five decades his guitar work helped define the band’s signature sound—and even helped birth speed and neoclassical metal . Speaking with Metal Talks, he said, “I joined… when I was 16 and just never left. And here I am… on a 50th anniversary, which is crazy” . That longevity, he admits, is no small feat. “Not every band is lucky enough to be around for this long.”
Accept’s current era, led by vocalist Mark Tornillo since 2009, has been a renaissance. Albums like Blood of the Nations (2010) through 2024’s Humanoid have brought critical and commercial success. Hoffmann praises this era: “the last few albums have been phenomenal, the touring is going great, we have sold‑out shows everywhere” . He’s deeply grateful for this second wind of creativity and energy.
So, what should fans expect in 2025–26? Hoffmann promises “a completely different show with a lot of surprises” featuring deeper cuts and songs they’ve “never played before” . The 50th‑anniversary album will re‑record classic tracks and rarities with guest vocalists and musicians—a project Hoffmann describes as “a massive thing” that spans the band’s entire catalogue . Production will be handled by Chris “Zeuss” Harris, filling in for longtime collaborator Andy Sneap, who’s taking a break .
Hoffmann is also opening the door to former members. He affirms that legendary singer Udo Dirkschneider and ex‑bassist Peter Baltes are “welcome” to participate as guest performers during the tour —though he’s coy about details: “The door is always open… but you never know who will show up” .
Underlying the whole celebration is Hoffmann’s enduring passion. At M3 Rock Festival, he admitted the early songs “still blow my mind” with how lasting they’ve become. He said it’s “something that nobody could have expected… 40 years later, it means something to people” . Hoffmann emphasizes that despite being “a little bit up there in age,” the band’s hunger hasn’t waned: “we still have the energy… and that is what keeps us motivated” .
And while the idea of retirement has crossed his mind—it being a natural endpoint—Hoffmann makes it clear that for now, Accept’s story isn’t over. He muses: “At some point someone might get sick… it could be our last tour. You never really know.” But for this once‑in‑a‑lifetime anniversary, they’re going full throttle .
In short, Accept’s 50th‑anniversary tour is shaping up to be more than a nostalgia trip. With reinterpretations of classics, guest appearances, rare deep cuts, and a deluxe retrospective album in tow, it’s bound to be a spectacle that even Hoffmann—the man who never expected to last this long—is proud to share with fans around the world.
Be the first to comment