WOLF HOFFMANN On ACCEPT’s 50th Anniversary: ‘Not Every Band Is Lucky Enough To Be Around For This Long’…
As Accept mark a remarkable 50‐year journey from their Solingen beginnings in 1976, founding guitarist Wolf Hoffmann reflects on both unexpected longevity and ongoing creativity.
Hoffmann, who joined the band at just 16, admits his teenage self never imagined this kind of staying power. “If you’d have told me when I started… I would have said, ‘You’re nuts. It’s impossible. No.’ But here we are” . For him, the longevity of their music—spanning classics to new material—is something extraordinary. As he told Metal Talks, “Not every band is lucky enough to be around for this long and to still be in the business… we are very fortunate” .
The celebratory plans are ambitious: a deluxe anniversary tour and a companion album slated for release in early 2026. Hoffmann states the forthcoming tour (expected late 2025) will be “a retrospective of the whole 50‑year career… featuring a lot of… classic hits and some deeper cuts,” with special guests—both singers and guitarists—poised to make it “a once‑in‑a‑lifetime thing”. The album, co‑produced by Zeuss (replacing longtime producer Andy Sneap, who’s taking a sabbatical), will re‑record classics and deep cuts alongside contemporary guest performers, forming “a special album that covers the band’s entire musical history” .
Far from being nostalgic, Accept continue to thrive creatively. Hoffmann says that since the 2010 reunion with vocalist Mark Tornillo, they’ve “been smooth sailing” artistically and commercially, building on the success of six new albums . He emphasizes they’re still “hungry… full force… still working so hard,” and fans appreciate hearing both old favorites and fresh tracks during live shows .
Acclaim isn’t just about the past: Hoffmann’s guitar work helped shape speed and neoclassical metal, and Accept’s 1983 breakthrough, Balls to the Wall, remains their most iconic and best-selling track . He marvels at the song’s lasting impact, noting its unexpected durability even decades later
At 65, Hoffmann reveals he still feels like he did at 16 when he steps onstage. “I can’t believe it’s been 50 years,” he says, yet his passion remains undiminished .
In an era where many bands falter long before such milestones, Accept’s 50th anniversary is not just a celebration—it’s a testament to resilience, evolution, and enduring artistry. For Hoffmann and his bandmates, it’s a golden opportunity to honor the past while still racing forward into the future.
