METALLIAN - Running Wild

Gates To Purgatory - 1984 - Noise
Branded And Exiled - 1985 - Noise
Under Jolly Roger - 1987 - Noise
Ready For Boarding - 1988 - Noise
Port Royal - 1988 - Noise/EMI
Death Or Glory - 1989 - Noise/EMI
Blazon Stone - 1991 - Noise/EMI
Pile Of Skulls - 1992 - EMI
Black Hand Inn - 1994 - Noise
Masquerade - 1995 - Noise
The Rivalry - 1998 - GUN
Victory - 2000 - GUN/Pavement
The Brotherhood - 2002 - GUN
Live - 2002 - GUN
Rogues En Vogue - 2005 - GUN
The Final Jolly Roger - 2011 - Golden Core
Shadowmaker - 2012 - Steamhammer
Resilient - 2013 - Steamhammer
Rapid Foray - 2016 - Steamhammer
Blood On Blood - 2021 - Steamhammer

Members

Vocals

Giant-X>>ROCK'N ROLF [ROLF KASPAREK]>>Giant-X

Guitar

Toxic Taste, Giant-X>>ROCK'N ROLF [ROLF KASPAREK]>>Toxic Taste, Giant-X - Preacher [Gerald Warnecke]>>Snake Ride Rodeo, The Gate - Random>>Majk [Michael Kupper]>>D'Orca, Wild Knight - Axel Morgan [Axel Kohlmorgen]>>X-Wild, Savage Circus - Faithful Breath, Holy Moses, Glenmore, Risk, Höllenhunde>>Thilo Hermann>>Höllenhunde, Grave Digger, Feanor - Peek-A-Boo, Toxic Taste, Giant-X>>PJ [PETER JORDAN]>>Toxic Taste, Giant-X

Bass

Stephan [Stephan Boriss] - Jens [Jens becker]>>X-Wild, Grave Digger, Bon Scott, Zillion, Starchild, Kickhunter, Roland Grapow, Devil's Train - Kathy Hawk, Darxon, Axel Rudi Pell, U.D.O., Bourbon $treet>>Thomas Smuszynski>>Bourbon $treet - Weinhold, Yargos, Nektar>>Peter Pichl>>Weinhold, Yargos, Nektar, Herman Frank, Victory - Talon, Thunderhead, Dreamtide, Donnerkopf>>OLE HEMPELMANN

Drum

Hasche [Wolfgang Hagemann]>>The Gate - Cronos Titan>>Stefan Schwarzmann>>Accept, U.D.O., Helloween, X-Wild, David Reece, Krokus, Godiva, Voice, Paradox, Herman Frank, Pänzer - Axon-IV, Demon Pact>>Iain Finlay>>Justice, Entera, Demon Pact - AC [Rüdiger Dreffein]>>Lacrimosa - Cronos Titan, U.D.O.>>Stefan Schwarzmann>>Accept, U.D.O., Helloween, X-Wild, David Reece, Krokus, Godiva, Voice, Paradox, Herman Frank, Pänzer - Blizzard, Avenger, Mekong Delta, Rage, Headhunter, Axel Rudi Pell, Siren, Grave Digger, House Of Spirits, X-Mas Project, Glenmore, Stratovarius, Unleashed Power>>Jörg Michael>>Stratovarius, X-Mas Project, Unleashed Power, Soulslide, Saxon, Living Death, Heavatar - Victory, Headcrash, [Matthæus], Klangstrahler Projekt, Mousse T, Daddy Long Legs, Toxic Taste, Trommelfeuer, Treibhaus.>>Matthias Liebetruth>>[Matthæus], Mousse T., Toxic Taste, Trommelfeuer, Treibhaus, Grailknights, Ö-Band - Jailbait, Soul Doctor, Treibhaus, Herman Frank, Victory, FB1964>>MICHAEL WOLPERS>>Victory, FB1964

History & Biography

The Hamburg-based band was Granite Hearts from 1976 to 1979 before changing its name to one inspired by a Judas Priest song from 1978's Killing Machine album in 1979. The band has become a cornerstone of Germany's Teutonic metal over the years. Progress, however, has been hampered due to consistent line-up changes and a lack of live work later on. The band introduced itself as a black metal band with its first two albums before switching over to becoming a founder of the pirate metal subgenre. Even when not emphasizing the piratical theme.

Rock From Hell was the 1981 debut demo. The band was singer and guitarist Rock 'n' Rolf, who would go on to become the band's mainstay, singer and guitarist Uwe Bendig, bassist Matthias Kaufmann and drummer Hasche. Demo 2 and Demo 3 were added to the mix as the upstart Noise Records signed the band, placing the quartet on the German Metal Attack and Death Metal samplers. The band itself compiled some of its demo material into a tape called Heavy Metal Like A Hammerblow. Gates To Purgatory was released at the end of 1984. The group was Rock'N Rolf, guitarist Preacher (who actually was studying theology and would become a professional preacher after leaving in 1985), bassist Stephan and drummer Hasche. With a positive review in Metal Hammer and a repertoire of catchy and Satanic tunes the album was as close a hit as an underground metal album could be in 1984/1985. The song Prisoner Of Our Time contained the line, "Fight for the freedom, Fight for the right/We are Running Wild." The lyrics also touched on social matters, while the cover model sported an inverted cross. This album sold 20,000 copies in 3 months. Branded And Exiled repeated the pattern. The inverted pentagram on the cover was the last of the Satanic emblems before the band picked up on something even more evil, namely pirates. Combat Records released the album in the land of Billy Bob hicks into Big Macs and Orange Julius. Majk, who would die in 2023 at the age of 65, was the second guitarist here. Girlschool released an album called Running Wild in 1985. Running Wild was to open for Mötley Crüe in Germany. US club dates were with Voivod and Celtic Frost.

Under Jolly Roger maintained the line-up demonstrating that it was not any change in personnel that drove the thematic makeover. It remains one of the band's more popular albums. Ready For Boarding was a live record with Running and Wild sides. Jens was on bass. The material was immortalised in Munich, Germany. Port Royal featured even more changes in the line-up and featured drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. The label reported sales of 50,000. Hasche returned for a guest spot briefly in 1989. Briton Iain Finlay played drums on the even more popular Death Or Glory. The group toured with Rage in 1990. The speedy Blazon Stone (later the name for a band full of fans) ushered in the 1990s with Axel Morgan on bass and AC (a.k.a. roadie Rüdiger Dreffein) on drums. The man would go on to manage Hammerfall and others. Kreyson's Ladislav Køížek contributed backing vocals on the Running Wild album Death Or Glory. Running Wild’s Rolf Kasparek produced the Angel On The Run version of the band's debut record. The band became one of the earlier proponents of the self-cover version trend and issued The First Years Of Piracy in 1991. Strangely, despite the title, the choice of tracks partly predated the band's Under Jolly Roger album. Raven opened for Running Wild in Europe in 1991.

Pile Of Skulls on EMI featured bassist Thomas Smuszynski and the return of session man Stefan Schwarzmann. A band, simply called X-Wild, was founded by former members Axel Morgan, Jens Becker and Stefan Schwarzmann in 1993. Stefan was the first to depart this act in 1995. X-Wild lasted no more than four years. Line-up changes in Running Wild were the law and Black Hand Inn had Thilo Hermann on guitar and Jörg Michael on drums. Thus, Masquerade became the first record with the same line-up as its previous one. It was also the first album of a trilogy addressing good and evil. The band was part of the seven dates of the Summer Metal Meetings alongside Glenmore, Gamma Ray, Iced Earth, Rage and Grave Digger. The Rivalry was preceded by an EP by the same name. The EP, now on GUN Records, featured no exclusive tracks. The album itself clocked in at nearly 70 minutes. Victor Records of Japan released a compilation called The Story Of Jolly Roger. Victory featured Angelo Sasso on drums. The friend of Rolf was said to be - and audio evidence points at such - a drum machine. Running Wild was booked for Bang Your Head festival and played shows with Iron Savior. Therefore, The Brotherhood was a tight knit unit since it featured Rolf, bassist Peter Pichl and Sasso. The band played with Rebellion live. Angel Dust's Bernd Aufermann was drumming live. Victory sold 50,000 copies in the first 6 months of release. The group performed at Wacken to commemorate its 20th anniversary in 2003.

Rogues En Vogue brought in Matthias Liebetruth on the stool. The Orden Ogan song We Are Pirates featured Running Wild guitarist Majk Moti and was meant as a tribute to that band. Rock 'n Rolf announced soon the end of the band and a final performance. The Final Jolly Roger featured the so-called final concert at Wacken in 2009. The set was voted on by fans. It was filmed for a live video. Well, Running Wild could not hope to compete with Ozzy, but it certainly put Motley Crue to shame given how it reformed a mere two years later.

Shadowmaker was on Steamhammer/SPV. Rolf Kasparek was accompanied by guitarist PJ who had played with the band since 2005 and was part of Rolf's Toxic taste side-project. Resilient, like its predecessor, was not well-received. It nonetheless featured Adrian (the skull and crossbones) on its cover. Adrian S.O.S. (Son Of Satan) was an early Running Wild song. The group returned to Wacken in 2015. The band had slowed down and tours were not forthcoming although the group did a run of Germany in 2016.

Rapid Foray was out on August 26th 2016. The recording of the album was delayed as band leader Rolf Kasparek had broken his shoulder in the spring of 2014 and needed a year to recuperate. A new self-cover version edition of Under Jolly Roger was released in 2017. The band was booked for Sweden Rock Festival 2017, Rock Fest Barcelona 2017 and Rock Fest Barcelona 2017. Masters Of Rock 2017 and Wacken 2018 followed. The group uploaded a MP3 called Ride On The Wild Side in advance of the band's Crossing The Blades EP. Blood On Blood introduced bassist Ole Hempelmann and drummer Michael Wolpers. Diamonds & Pearls was the single. The group was at Hellfest Open Air 2022. Blazon Stone appeared at Headbangers Open Air 2024 with early Running Wild members Preacher and Hasche covering Running Wild. The band reported a new album would be coming in 2025. The group was billed at Sweden Rock Festival 2025.

The fathers of pirate metal have been influential especially in Europe. There are several Running Wild cover albums out there.

Reviews

RUNNING WILD - VICTORY - GUN/PAVEMENT
I truly believe life in Metallian Towers would take a turn for the drab were it not for record company-supplied bios. With virtually no profile in the USA or Canada the line, "Running Wild's Victory is now ready to conquer the States" rings as true as a used car commercial. Witticisms aside, it is a delight to hear something new from Running Wild, a band that I had not heard anything new from in some 13 years. In the mid-'80s we invested a lot of time cranking Running Wild albums and so the last album I had purchased from them was 1987's Under Jolly Roger. An album whose pirate themes the band still maintains. No surprise to note then that RW has changed little. The riffs are instantly recognizable and the band shifts its trade mark heavy metal from mid-paced to fast and back consistently. New drummer Sasso sounds too mechanical, especially on opener Fall of Dorkas, but given the song's fictional theme it might be appropriate. When Time Runs Out is a great song with Rock'n'Rolf's voice a dead ringer for Bif of Saxon - something I previously hadn't noted. The more one listens the more Saxon comes to mind vocally. Timeriders is a great song which rocks with great speed and lead guitars - only Germans can execute these fast and melodic metal guitars - and shows again that RW rocks. And so the songs go! Previous RW fans, German HM lovers or anybody into Painkiller era Judas Priest should purchase this CD. I wish I could be present at the band's performance at this year's Bang Your Head festival. - Ali "The Metallian"

RUNNING WILD - ROGUES EN VOGUE (LIMITED EDITION) - GUN
The last two Running Wild releases, Victory and The Brotherhood, were harshly criticized because of uninspired songwriting and the use of a drum computer with the name Angelo Sasso. Needless to say that no one has ever met Angelo Sasso in person, even though Rolf Kasparek (better known as Rock n’ Rolf) still claims that Sasso is a close friend of his.
Rogues En Vogue features a human drummer again, Matthias Liebetruth. The drums sound clinical anyway, though probably because of digital production techniques. The guitars are a bit thin in the overall mix, but loud enough. The opener Draw The Line is a boring mid-tempo song and definitely a bad choice to start the album with. But Angel Of Mercy is really fast and reminiscent of Pile Of Skulls' material. Skeleton Dance features a cheesy chorus and is again a disappointment at the beginning of the album. Most people might quit after these three songs! But after that, it gets better and better. Skull And Bones, my personal favourite, begins with an acoustic intro, then changes into a pounding rhythm, drifts off into a fast part, and then returns to the original acoustic theme at the end. It is well written and brings up memories of Black Hand Inn. Born Bad, Dying Worse is another of those pirate songs like Lead Or Gold once was. Black Gold is a song about current issues, as they sometimes appear on Running Wild albums (see Bad To The Bone or Fight The Fire Of Hate, which were both against Nazis). The song deals with the Iraq war and the war for oil in general. Soul Vampires begins with an AC/DC type riff. The title track, also the album’s general lyrical theme, talks about corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen. They are the rogues who are currently en vogue in the world. The riffing of the song is very Port Royal like. Winged And Feathered is a weaker song about the Pegasus. Dead Man’s Road tells a story about TV-casted bands and commercial pop songs without substance. Whether such a song needs to be on a Metal album is debatable. After all, who cares about pop music in the Metal business anyway? The War, a ten-minute epic about World War One, surprises with its happy melodies. These are said by Rolf to represent the blind patriotism in that war. The song itself is a matter of taste. It could have been three to four minutes shorter. The limited edition features two good bonus tracks, Cannonball Tongue and Libertalia.
All in all, the album is a step back in the right direction for Rolf but Running Wild is not a real band anymore. Except for the drummer and the occasional bassist Peter Pichl, Rolf has done everything by himself. New musicians could revitalize the songwriting and deliver better lyrics. As it is, only fans will buy this CD. People who have never heard of Running Wild should either check out the early stuff (Branded And Exiled or Gates To Purgatory) or the later pirate albums like Port Royal or Black Hand Inn. - Andreas Herzog

Interviews

Running Wild