Running Wild (band)
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Running Wild is a German heavy metal band formed in
Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...
in 1976. They were part of the German metal scene to emerge in the early to mid-1980s, and are also considered to be one of the country's so-called "big four" of
power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...
, along with
Grave Digger A gravedigger is a cemetery worker who is responsible for digging a grave prior to a funeral service. Description If the grave is in a cemetery on the property of a church or other religious organization (part of, or called, a churchyard), ...
,
Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...
and Rage. Over the course of their career, they have released 17 studio albums, three live albums, five compilation albums, and six singles/EPs. Although their earlier releases contained Satanic themes and imagery, from the third album on, the band's primary subject matter centered around pirates, sailing and other historical events. In 1987, the band released the album ''
Under Jolly Roger ''Under Jolly Roger'' is the third studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It marked a stylistic turning point in which the group dropped the Satanic imagery they had previously used and adopted the pirate theme they would become ...
,'' which was a switch to pirate-based and historical themes, creating and influencing the later named
pirate metal Pirate metal is a style of heavy metal music characterized by its incorporation of pirate mythology within the music and sometimes in stage performances. Lyrics often use piratical jargon and various musical genres, such as thrash metal, speed ...
subgenre of heavy metal in the 2000s in the process. While the historical lyrics were very superficial at first, the lyrics for later albums were intensively researched, by frontman Rolf Kasparek in particular. After this album, from 1988 to 1992 (for the albums ''
Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...
'', ''
Death or Glory Death or Glory may refer to: Music *"Death or Glory", an 1895 military march (also known as "Tenth Regiment March") written by Robert Browne Hall *Death or Glory (song), "Death or Glory" (song), a 1979 song by the Clash from the album ''London Call ...
'', ''
Blazon Stone ''Blazon Stone'' is the sixth album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1991. According to Rolf Kasparek in an interview to a Brazilian heavy metal/hard rock magazine (Roadie Crew, ed. #41, June 2002), ''Blazon Stone'' is the b ...
'' and ''
Pile of Skulls ''Pile of Skulls'' is the seventh studio album by Running Wild, released in 1992. It is their last album with guitarist Axel Morgan. The song "Jennings' Revenge" tells about the exploits of pirate Henry Jennings. The lyrics of "Treasure Islan ...
''), Running Wild mainly wrote historically based lyrics. In addition to lyrics about pirates, the band also addressed subjects like the
Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These wars were fought bet ...
, the
Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...
, or the colonization of the New World by the Conquistadors. In April 2009, Kasparek announced that Running Wild had split up. Their intended last show was at
Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...
in July that year. It was recorded for CD and DVD release and appeared as ''
The Final Jolly Roger ''The Final Jolly Roger'' is a live album by heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released on 24 June 2011 via Golden Core Records. It was recorded and filmed at Wacken Open Air, Wacken on 30 July 2009 for a CD and DVD release. This ...
'' in 2011. The split would prove temporary as they reunited in 2012. Running Wild played live for the Wacken Open Air festival in 2015. As of 2021, the band have released 17 studio albums, with their most recent being ''Blood on Blood''.


History


Early years and first albums

The band formed in 1976 under the name Granite Heart, but they would change their name in 1979 to Running Wild after the
Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...
song of the same name. The band recorded their first demo in 1981 and featured the songs "Hallow the Hell", "War Child" and "King of the Midnight Fire". The first two of these tracks appeared on the compilation album "Debüt №1" on the Raubbau Label. In June 1984, the band started work on their debut album ''
Gates to Purgatory ''Gates to Purgatory'' is the debut studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1984. It predates their piracy themes and has mostly satanically-influenced lyrics but also features songs with anarchic and libertarian (in ...
'', which was released by
Noise Records Noise Records is a German heavy metal record label founded in 1983 by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any ...
, featuring satanic lyrics. The album proved to be a success, and the band quickly gained a cult following. Guitarist Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke left the band soon after the album's release. (Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke was studying theology at the time and is now a
pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...
in Cologne.) The band soon recruited Majk Moti to take his place, and soon recorded their follow up ''
Branded and Exiled ''Branded and Exiled'' is the second studio album by German Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released in 1985. Track listing All music and lyrics written by Rolf Kasparek except where noted Note * S ...
'' in 1985. This album would prove to be the final release of the band with satanic imagery in their music.


Rise in popularity, success and later albums

For the following release, the band shifted their sound and image and adopted a pirate theme. The band released ''
Under Jolly Roger ''Under Jolly Roger'' is the third studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It marked a stylistic turning point in which the group dropped the Satanic imagery they had previously used and adopted the pirate theme they would become ...
'' in 1987. This would prove a significant change because the band would be more known as a "pirate metal" band, with lyrics dealing with pirates and historical events. With this album, the band found their identity, and the pirate theme would be prominent on their future releases. Their 1988 follow-up release ''
Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...
'' featured a more mature style of songwriting and expanded on the pirate theme explored on their previous album. The album featured one of the band's first epics, Calico Jack. In 1989, the release of the band's fifth studio recording ''
Death or Glory Death or Glory may refer to: Music *"Death or Glory", an 1895 military march (also known as "Tenth Regiment March") written by Robert Browne Hall *Death or Glory (song), "Death or Glory" (song), a 1979 song by the Clash from the album ''London Call ...
'', proved to be the band's most successful album to date. The tour was also a success and a concert during the tour was filmed and was released as ''Death or Glory Tour''. This album and tour would be the final release to feature guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay. Upon the departure of Moti and Finlay, Kasparek recruited guitarist Axel Morgan and drummer Rudiger Dreffein (better known as "AC") to record the band's first album in two years, ''
Blazon Stone ''Blazon Stone'' is the sixth album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1991. According to Rolf Kasparek in an interview to a Brazilian heavy metal/hard rock magazine (Roadie Crew, ed. #41, June 2002), ''Blazon Stone'' is the b ...
'', released in 1991. The album continued the band's trend of writing about historical themes, and according to band leader, Rolf Kasparek, it was to be the band's best-selling album of the 1990s. The album proved to be a slight shift in their overall sound, as the band brought a more speed metal approach to their songs, which would be prevalent throughout their releases during the decade. In 1992, the band began work on ''
Pile of Skulls ''Pile of Skulls'' is the seventh studio album by Running Wild, released in 1992. It is their last album with guitarist Axel Morgan. The song "Jennings' Revenge" tells about the exploits of pirate Henry Jennings. The lyrics of "Treasure Islan ...
'' which was regarded by many as one of the band's strongest efforts. Around this time, Kasparek started becoming more interested in conspiracy theories, becoming the basis of the next album, 1994's ''
Black Hand Inn ''Black Hand Inn'' is the eighth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on 24 March 1994 through Noise Records. It is a loose concept album about a resurrected man, against a backdrop of piracy, foreseeing Armageddon. ...
''. 1995's '' Masquerade'' was the first in a trilogy of albums dealing with a specific theme. The album would go on to be one of Running Wild's worst selling albums up to that point. The second album followed with the 1998 album '' The Rivalry'' under their new label
GUN Records GUN Records (''Great Unlimited Noises'') was a record label located in Bochum, Germany, founded in 1992 by Bogdan Kopec ( DRAKKAR Promotion Musikverlag GmbH) and Wolfgang Funk. Different artists on the label have had hit singles as well as albu ...
with the conclusion of the trilogy culminating with 2000's ''
Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal Duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitu ...
''. It would be the final album featuring drummer Jörg Michael. With so many line-up changes, Running Wild was considered a solo project due to the fact that guitarist and main songwriter Rolf Kasparek remained the sole constant member of the band. The album '' The Brotherhood'' was released in 2002. It was to be another three years before Running Wild released another album ''
Rogues en Vogue ''Rogues en Vogue'' is the thirteenth album by Running Wild, released in 2005. Track listing Personnel *Rolf Kasparek – Vocals, All Guitars, some bass *Peter Pichl – Bass *Mattias Liebetruth – Drums Production *Peter Pichl – Engineer ...
'' in 2005.


''The Final Jolly Roger'', hiatus and reunion

On 17 April 2009, Rolf Kasparek announced the disbandment of Running Wild. The band performed their final show at
Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...
on 30 July 2009, which would be recorded for a future DVD release. The resulting effort ''
The Final Jolly Roger ''The Final Jolly Roger'' is a live album by heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released on 24 June 2011 via Golden Core Records. It was recorded and filmed at Wacken Open Air, Wacken on 30 July 2009 for a CD and DVD release. This ...
'' was released on 24 June 2011 on CD and DVD format. In May 2011, Kasparek explained that he did not want the band to return due to other desires of his own. A biography, titled ''Death and Glory: The Story of a Heavy Metal Legend'', was announced in June 2011 that was tentatively scheduled for release in 2013 or 2014, but no more information was given since then. In October 2011, Running Wild reformed and announced that they would record a new album titled ''
Shadowmaker ''Shadowmaker'' is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on 20 April 2012. It is the band's first studio album since 2005's '' Rogues en Vogue'' and the first since the band's return after breaking up i ...
'', which was released on 20 April 2012 via SPV/Steamhammer. In November 2012, Kasparek and guitarist Peter Jordan formed a side project called Giant X, releasing an album titled ''I'' in January 2013. The next album ''
Resilient Resilience, resilient, resiliency, or ''variation'', may refer to: Science Ecology * Ecological resilience, the capacity of an ecosystem to recover from perturbations ** Climate resilience, the ability of systems to recover from climate change * ...
'' was released on 4 October 2013. The band made their return appearance at the 2015 edition of Wacken and included a brand new song from an upcoming album. The sixteenth album ''
Rapid Foray ''Rapid Foray'' is the sixteenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Running Wild. It was released by Steamhammer Records on 26 August 2016. The album was delayed due to Rolf Kasparek's shoulder injury, and their subsequent show at W ...
'' was released on 26 August 2016. On 6 December 2019, an EP titled ''Crossing the Blades'' was released as an early hint for a new album. Running Wild's seventeenth album ''Blood on Blood'' was released on 29 October 2021. Their song "Diamonds and Pearls" was elected by ''
Loudwire ''Loudwire'' is an American online media magazine that covers news of hard rock and heavy metal artists. It is owned by media and entertainment business Townsquare Media. Since its launch in August of 2011, ''Loudwire'' has secured exclusive ...
'' as the 31st best metal song of 2021.


Members


Current

*Rolf Kasparek – vocals, guitars (1976–2009, 2011–present) *Peter Jordan – guitars (2004–2009, 2011–present) *Ole Hempelmann – bass (2015–present) *Michael Wolpers – drums (2015–present)


Former

Guitar *Uwe Bendig (1976–1984) *Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke (1984–1985) *Majk Moti (1985–1990) *Axel Morgan (1990–1993) * Thilo Herrmann (1994–2001) *Bernd Aufermann (2002–2004) Bass *Jörg Schwarz (1976) *Carsten David (1976–1979) *Matthias Kaufmann (1980–1983) *Stephan Boriss (1984–1987) *
Jens Becker Jens Becker (born 24 May 1965) is a German heavy metal bass guitarist who currently performs with Grave Digger. History Becker was born in Fürth. His first major band was Running Wild, which he joined in 1987. He stayed with them for four ...
(1987–1992) *Thomas Smuszynski (1992–2002) *Peter Pichl (2002–2009) *
Jan S. Eckert Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Numb ...
(2009) Drums *Michael Hoffmann (1976–1982) *Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann (1982–1987) *
Stefan Schwarzmann Stefan Schwarzmann (born 11 November 1965Larkin, Colin (2006). ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. Oxford University Press. p. 189. .) is a German drummer who has recorded for Accept,Montgomery, James et al (2005)"Metal File: Korn, Motorhead, ...
(1987–1988, 1992–1993) *Iain Finlay (1988–1990) *
Jörg Michael Jörg Michael (born 27 March 1963) is a German drummer who is known for playing with numerous groups, including the power metal band Stratovarius, with whom he played from 1995 to 2011. He has also been a member of Mekong Delta, Rage, and many ...
(1990, 1994–1998) *Rudiger Dreffein (1990–1992) *Christos Efthimiadis (1998–1999, 2001) *Angelo Sasso (2000–2002; died 2007) *Matthias Liebetruth (2002–2009)


Timeline


Discography

;Studio albums * ''
Gates to Purgatory ''Gates to Purgatory'' is the debut studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1984. It predates their piracy themes and has mostly satanically-influenced lyrics but also features songs with anarchic and libertarian (in ...
'' (1984) * ''
Branded and Exiled ''Branded and Exiled'' is the second studio album by German Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released in 1985. Track listing All music and lyrics written by Rolf Kasparek except where noted Note * S ...
'' (1985) * ''
Under Jolly Roger ''Under Jolly Roger'' is the third studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It marked a stylistic turning point in which the group dropped the Satanic imagery they had previously used and adopted the pirate theme they would become ...
'' (1987) * ''
Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...
'' (1988) * ''
Death or Glory Death or Glory may refer to: Music *"Death or Glory", an 1895 military march (also known as "Tenth Regiment March") written by Robert Browne Hall *Death or Glory (song), "Death or Glory" (song), a 1979 song by the Clash from the album ''London Call ...
'' (1989) * ''
Blazon Stone ''Blazon Stone'' is the sixth album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1991. According to Rolf Kasparek in an interview to a Brazilian heavy metal/hard rock magazine (Roadie Crew, ed. #41, June 2002), ''Blazon Stone'' is the b ...
'' (1991) * ''
Pile of Skulls ''Pile of Skulls'' is the seventh studio album by Running Wild, released in 1992. It is their last album with guitarist Axel Morgan. The song "Jennings' Revenge" tells about the exploits of pirate Henry Jennings. The lyrics of "Treasure Islan ...
'' (1992) * ''
Black Hand Inn ''Black Hand Inn'' is the eighth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on 24 March 1994 through Noise Records. It is a loose concept album about a resurrected man, against a backdrop of piracy, foreseeing Armageddon. ...
'' (1994) * '' Masquerade'' (1995) * '' The Rivalry'' (1998) * ''
Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal Duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitu ...
'' (2000) * '' The Brotherhood'' (2002) * ''
Rogues en Vogue ''Rogues en Vogue'' is the thirteenth album by Running Wild, released in 2005. Track listing Personnel *Rolf Kasparek – Vocals, All Guitars, some bass *Peter Pichl – Bass *Mattias Liebetruth – Drums Production *Peter Pichl – Engineer ...
'' (2005) * ''
Shadowmaker ''Shadowmaker'' is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on 20 April 2012. It is the band's first studio album since 2005's '' Rogues en Vogue'' and the first since the band's return after breaking up i ...
'' (2012) * ''
Resilient Resilience, resilient, resiliency, or ''variation'', may refer to: Science Ecology * Ecological resilience, the capacity of an ecosystem to recover from perturbations ** Climate resilience, the ability of systems to recover from climate change * ...
'' (2013) * ''
Rapid Foray ''Rapid Foray'' is the sixteenth studio album by the German heavy metal band Running Wild. It was released by Steamhammer Records on 26 August 2016. The album was delayed due to Rolf Kasparek's shoulder injury, and their subsequent show at W ...
'' (2016) * ''
Blood on Blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...
'' (2021) ;Live albums * '' Ready for Boarding'' (1988) * ''Death or Glory Tour – Live'' (1989) * ''
Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of albums ...
'' (2002) * ''
The Final Jolly Roger ''The Final Jolly Roger'' is a live album by heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released on 24 June 2011 via Golden Core Records. It was recorded and filmed at Wacken Open Air, Wacken on 30 July 2009 for a CD and DVD release. This ...
'' (2011) ;Compilation albums * ''
The First Years of Piracy ''The First Years of Piracy'' is an album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It is their last album with both bassist Jens Becker and drummer AC. It contains re-recorded versions of songs from the first three albums. A promo video was ma ...
'' (1991) * ''The Story of Jolly Roger'' (1998) * ''The Legendary Tales'' (2002) * '' 20 Years in History'' (2003) * ''Best of Adrian'' (2006) * ''Black Demons on Stage'' (2010) * ''Greatest Hits'' (2011) * ''Riding the Storm: Very Best of the Noise Years 1983–1995'' (2016) ;Singles and EPs * "Victim of States Power" (1984) * "Bad to the Bone" (1989) * "Wild Animal" (1990) * "Little Big Horn" (1991) * "Lead or Gold" (1992) * "The Privateer" (1994) * "The Rivalry" (1998) * "Revolution" (2000) * "Crossing the Blades" (2019) ;DVDs * ''Running Wild Live (DVD)'' (2002) * ''
The Final Jolly Roger ''The Final Jolly Roger'' is a live album by heavy metal band Running Wild (band), Running Wild, released on 24 June 2011 via Golden Core Records. It was recorded and filmed at Wacken Open Air, Wacken on 30 July 2009 for a CD and DVD release. This ...
'' (2011) ;Split releases * ''Rock From Hell: German Metal Attack'' (1983) * ''
Death Metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...
'' (1984) * ''Metal Attack Vol. 1'' (1985) ;Tribute albums * ''Rough Diamonds – A Tribute to Running Wild'' (2005) (available as a free download on the official website) * '' The Revivalry – A Tribute to Running Wild'' (2005) * ''ReUnation – A Tribute to Running Wild'' (2009)


References


External links

* *
Running Wild
on noiserecords.net {{Authority control German heavy metal musical groups German power metal musical groups German speed metal musical groups GUN Records artists Musical groups established in 1976 Musical groups disestablished in 2009 Musical groups reestablished in 2011 Musical groups from Hamburg Noise Records artists Piracy in fiction Steamhammer Records artists