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Running Wild (band)

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox musical artist

Running Wild is a German heavy metal band formed in Hamburg in 1976. They were part of the German heavy/power/speed metal scene to emerge in the early to mid-1980s and are considered part of the scene's "big four" alongside Grave Digger, Helloween and Rage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 was pirates, sailing and other historical events. In 1987, the band released the album Under Jolly Roger, which was a switch to pirate-based and historical themes, creating and influencing the later named pirate metal subgenre of heavy metal in the 2000s in the process. While the historical lyrics were superficial at first, the lyrics for later albums were intensively researched, by frontman Rolf Kasparek in particular.<ref name="history">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After Under Jolly Roger, from 1988 to 1992 (for the albums Port Royal, Death or Glory, Blazon Stone and Pile of Skulls), 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 Battle of Waterloo, or the colonization of the New World by the Conquistadors.<ref name="history" />

In April 2009, Kasparek announced that Running Wild had split up. Their intended last show was at Wacken Open Air in July that year. It was recorded for CD and DVD release and appeared as The Final Jolly Roger in 2011. The split proved temporary as they reunited in 2012. Running Wild played live for the Wacken Open Air festival in 2015. Template:As of, the band has released 17 studio albums, with their most recent being Blood on Blood.

HistoryEdit

Early years and first albumsEdit

The band formed in 1976 under the name Granite Heart, but they changed their name in 1979 to Running Wild after the Judas Priest 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, which was released by Noise Records, featuring satanic lyrics. The album was a success, and the band quickly gained a cult following. Guitarist Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke left the band soon after the album's release. (Warnecke was studying theology at the time and is now a pastor in Cologne.)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band soon recruited Majk Moti to take his place, and soon recorded their follow-up Branded and Exiled in 1985. This album was the final release of the band with satanic imagery in their music.

Rise in popularity, success and later albumsEdit

For the following release, the band shifted their sound and image and adopted a pirate theme. The band released Under Jolly Roger 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 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 band's fifth studio recording, Death or Glory, was the band's most successful album to date.Template:Citation needed 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 were the last 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, released in 1991. The album continued the band's trend of writing about historical themes, and according to band leader Rolf Kasparek, it was the band's best-selling album of the 1990s.Template:Citation needed With this album, 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, which many regarded as one of the band's strongest efforts.Template:Citation needed Around this time, Kasparek started becoming more interested in conspiracy theories, becoming the basis of the next album, 1994's Black Hand Inn.

1995's Masquerade was the first in a trilogy of albums dealing with a specific theme. The album was one of Running Wild's worst-selling albums up to that point. The second installment was the 1998 album The Rivalry under their new label GUN Records, with the conclusion of the trilogy being 2000's Victory. 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 another three years before Running Wild released another album, Rogues en Vogue in 2005.

The Final Jolly Roger, hiatus and reunionEdit

File:Runningwild.JPG
Running Wild in 2005

On 17 April 2009, Rolf Kasparek announced the disbandment of Running Wild. The band performed their final show at Wacken Open Air on 30 July 2009, which would be recorded for a future DVD release.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The resulting effort, The Final Jolly Roger, was released on 24 June 2011 on CD and DVD format.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2011, Kasparek explained that he did not want the band to return due to other desires of his own.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In October 2011, Running Wild reformed and announced that they would record a new album, titled Shadowmaker,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which was released on 20 April 2012 via SPV/Steamhammer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2012, Kasparek and guitarist Peter Jordan formed a side project called Giant X, releasing an album titled I in January 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The next album, Resilient, was released on 4 October 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band made their return appearance at the 2015 edition of Wacken and included a new song from an upcoming album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The sixteenth album, Rapid Foray, was released on 26 August 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 6 December 2019, an EP titled Crossing the Blades was released as an early hint for a new album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Running Wild's seventeenth album, Blood on Blood, was released on 29 October 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their song "Diamonds and Pearls" was elected by Loudwire as the 31st best metal song of 2021.<ref name="lbestsongs21">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 16 February 2023, former guitarist Michael "Majk Moti" Kupper died at the age of 65.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Running Wild is currently working on a new album, which is planned for release in early 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MembersEdit

CurrentEdit

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

FormerEdit

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3 Guitar

  • Uwe Bendig (1976–1982)
  • Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke (1982–1985)
  • Michael "Majk Moti" Kupper (1985–1990; died 2023)
  • Axel Morgan (1990–1993)
  • Thilo Herrmann (1994–2001)
  • Bernd Aufermann (2002–2004)

Template:Col-3 Bass

  • Jörg Schwarz (1976)
  • Carsten David (1976–1979)
  • Matthias Kaufmann (1979–1982)
  • Stephan Boriss (1982–1987)
  • Jens Becker (1987–1992)
  • Thomas Smuszynski (1992–2002)
  • Peter Pichl (2002–2009)
  • Jan S. Eckert (2009)

Template:Col-3 Drums

  • Michael Hoffmann (1976–1979)
  • Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann (1979–1987)
  • Stefan Schwarzmann (1987–1988, 1992–1993)
  • Iain Finlay (1988–1990)
  • Jörg Michael (1990, 1994–1998)
  • Rudiger "AC" Dreffein (1990–1992)
  • Christos Efthimiadis (1998–1999, 2001)
  • Angelo Sasso (2000–2002; died 2007)
  • Matthias Liebetruth (2002–2009)

Template:Col-end

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:60 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1976 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1976 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1976

Colors = 

id:vocals  value:red    legend:Vocals
id:guitar  value:green  legend:Guitars
id:bass    value:blue   legend:Bass
id:drums   value:orange legend:Drums
id:lines   value:black  legend:Studio album
id:Lines2  value:gray(0.45)    legend:Live album
id:bars    value:gray(0.92)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData = 

at:12/26/1984 color:black layer:back
at:08/01/1985 color:black layer:back
at:03/11/1987 color:black layer:back
at:02/22/1988 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:09/26/1988 color:black layer:back
at:11/08/1989 color:black layer:back
at:04/04/1991 color:black layer:back
at:11/05/1992 color:black layer:back
at:03/24/1994 color:black layer:back
at:10/30/1995 color:black layer:back
at:01/29/1998 color:black layer:back
at:01/10/2000 color:black layer:back
at:02/25/2002 color:black layer:back
at:10/18/2002 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:02/21/2005 color:black layer:back
at:06/24/2011 color:Lines2 layer:back
at:04/20/2012 color:black layer:back
at:10/02/2013 color:black layer:back
at:08/26/2016 color:black layer:back
at:10/29/2021 color:black layer:back

BarData = 

bar:Rolf    text:"Rolf Kasparek"
bar:Uwe     text:"Uwe Bendig"
bar:Gerald  text:"Gerald Warnecke"
bar:Majk    text:"Majk Moti"
bar:Axel    text:"Axel Morgan"
bar:Thilo   text:"Thilo Herrmann"
bar:Bernd   text:"Berd Aufermann"
bar:Peter   text:"Peter Jordan"
bar:Schwarz  text:"Jörg Schwarz"
bar:Carsten  text:"Carsten David"
bar:Matthias text:"Matthias Kaufmann"
bar:Stephan  text:"Stephan Boriss"
bar:Jens     text:"Jens Becker"
bar:Thomas   text:"Thomas Smuszynski"
bar:Pichl    text:"Peter Pichl"
bar:Jan      text:"Jan S. Eckert"
bar:Ole      text:"Ole Hempelmann"
bar:Michael  text:"Michael Hoffmann"
bar:Hasche   text:"Wolfgang Hagemann"
bar:Stefan   text:"Stefan Schwarzmann"
bar:Ian      text:"Ian Finlay"
bar:Jorg     text:"Jörg Michael"
bar:Rudiger  text:"Rudiger Dreffein"
bar:Christos text:"Christos Efthimiadis"
bar:Angelo   text:"Angelo Sasso"
bar:Lieb     text:"Matthias Liebetruth"
bar:Wolp     text:"Michael Wolpers "

PlotData= 

width:12
bar:Rolf  from:01/01/1976 till:04/30/2009  color:vocals
bar:Rolf   from:01/01/1976 till:04/30/2009 color:guitar width:3
bar:Rolf   from:06/24/2011 till:end        color:vocals
bar:Rolf   from:06/24/2011 till:end        color:guitar width:3
bar:Uwe    from:01/01/1976 till:04/01/1984 color:guitar
bar:Gerald from:05/01/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:guitar
bar:Majk   from:04/01/1985 till:01/01/1990 color:guitar
bar:Axel   from:01/02/1990 till:02/01/1993 color:guitar
bar:Thilo  from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2001 color:guitar
bar:Bernd  from:01/02/2002 till:07/01/2004 color:guitar
bar:Peter  from:08/01/2004 till:04/30/2009 color:guitar
bar:Peter  from:06/24/2011 till:end        color:guitar

bar:Schwarz  from:01/01/1976 till:09/09/1976 color:bass
bar:Carsten  from:10/01/1976 till:12/01/1979 color:bass
bar:Matthias from:01/02/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:bass
bar:Stephan  from:07/01/1984 till:11/01/1987 color:bass
bar:Jens     from:12/01/1987 till:01/01/1992 color:bass
bar:Thomas   from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/2002 color:bass
bar:Pichl    from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2009 color:bass
bar:Jan      from:01/01/2009 till:04/30/2009 color:bass
bar:Ole      from:08/01/2015 till:end        color:bass

bar:Michael  from:01/01/1976 till:07/01/1982 color:drums
bar:Hasche   from:08/01/1982 till:10/15/1987 color:drums
bar:Stefan   from:11/01/1987 till:07/01/1988 color:drums
bar:Stefan   from:07/01/1992 till:01/01/1994 color:drums
bar:Ian      from:08/01/1988 till:01/01/1990 color:drums
bar:Jorg     from:01/01/1990 till:08/31/1990 color:drums
bar:Jorg     from:01/01/1994 till:02/01/1998 color:drums
bar:Rudiger  from:09/02/1990 till:07/01/1992 color:drums
bar:Christos from:07/02/1998 till:01/01/1999 color:drums
bar:Christos from:01/01/2001 till:08/31/2001 color:drums
bar:Angelo   from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2000 color:drums
bar:Angelo   from:09/01/2001 till:06/30/2002 color:drums
bar:Lieb     from:07/01/2002 till:04/30/2009 color:drums
bar:Wolp     from:08/01/2015 till:end        color:drums

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3

Studio albums
Live albums

Template:Col-3

Compilation albums
  • The First Years of Piracy (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)

Template:Col-3

DVDs
Split releases
  • Rock From Hell: German Metal Attack (1983)
  • Death Metal (1984)
  • Metal Attack Vol. 1 (1985)
Tribute albums

Template:Col-end

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project

Template:Running Wild

Template:Authority control

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