German heavy metal legends, Accept, are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025-2026. The band will be ringing in its golden birthday with a unique anniversary tour at the end of 2025 to mark this mammoth milestone. An anniversary album will be released in early 2026.
Wolf Hoffmann, the driving force behind Accept, was not only significantly involved in the songwriting of every Accept song, but his work has shaped an entire generation of metal musicians. A founder and the longest-standing member, Wolf Hoffmann has made the most impactful contribution to the band's unmistakable sound and success.
Since joining Accept in 1976 at the age of just 16, Wolf played a central role in the band. His instantly recognizable and signature guitar style not only created the Accept "sound" but influenced a plethora of other highly successful bands and guitarists. Because of Wolf's unflinching dedication, Accept has become one of the most significantly defining bands in heavy metal. Not only did he lay the musical foundations for the band, he also carried the band through the highs and the lows that come with a 50-year career.
WOUB's Nicholas Kobe recently spoke with Wolf Hoffmann, and asked what’s next for Accept, considering their upcoming 50th anniversary.
Says Hoffmann: "That’s going to be a big deal. Yeah, 50 years. I can’t believe it’s really been 50 years, but it has been because I still feel like I’m 16 years old sometimes when I got up there on stage or when I play guitar. I can’t believe it’s been 50 years that I’ve joined this band. So what we’re going to do, we’re going to have basically a celebration of all these years and play some stuff that we’ve never played before. We’re going to have some guest appearances and we will make it in a completely different tour event. It’s going to be something that you definitely would want to see if you’re an Accept fan. If you’re into the style of music, then definitely you should come out. But that’s two years down the road or a year and a half down the road. For now, we’re just focusing on the Humanoid tour, of course and promoting this album."
Read the complete interview at WOUB.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Accept is embarking on a spectacular world tour that will take fans on a musical metal journey through time. Fans can look forward to a unique stage show with surprise guests, all the classic hits from the band's history as well as rarely performed songs.
Wolf Hoffmann comments: "It's an incredible honor to be able to look back on five decades of a musical career and share our music with so many people. But nothing lasts forever and who knows how much longer we'll be touring…..
"This tour will be very special because we think 50 years of Accept is a GREAT reason to celebrate in style!"
In spring 2026, Accept will be releasing a special album that covers the band's entire musical history. This anniversary album will contain a carefully curated selection of the best Accept songs from the last five decades, re-recorded - partly with well-known surprise musical guests and colleagues, as well as with some rare tracks that have not been played so often before.
"We wanted to create something that captures the essence of Accept while offering something new to our loyal fans," explains Hoffmann. "This album is a tribute to our journey and to everyone who has accompanied us along the way."
Over the past five decades, Accept has sold millions of albums and inspired countless musicians. Their energetic live performances and iconic albums such as “Balls To The Wall”, “Restless And Wild,” and “Metal Heart” have left a lasting mark on the heavy metal genre. Wolf Hoffmann's guitar style and musical vision have made the band one of the most respected on the heavy metal scene.
After a hiatus in the band's career, Wolf Hoffmann was introduced to New Jersey singer Mark Tornillo in 2009. The chemistry and fit between them were so remarkable, that Accept reformed and almost immediately rose to global success with chart-topping number-one albums. Accept continues to be celebrated for each of their new records with Mark, who is now the longest reigning frontman of Accept, placing the Hoffmann- Tornillo partnership firmly in the Metal Hall of Fame!
For decades, Accept has been recognized as a guarantee of high quality and each of their albums has reached the top of the charts, delivering energy, melodies, killer riffs, and an impressively powerful stage presence for 50 years.
Accept states:
“Celebrate with us! We invite the world of heavy metal to join us in the celebrations of this extraordinary anniversary!”
Full Metal Assault Tour 2024:
September
20 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
21 - Providence, RI - The Strand Ballroom
22 - Leesburg, VA - Tally Ho Theater
24 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl
26 - New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore
27 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall
28 - Dallas, TX - Tannahill's
29 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
October
1 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre
2 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
4 - Riverside, CA - Fox Performing Arts Center
5 - San Diego, CA - The Magnolia
6 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
7 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom
European Headline Tour:
October
17 - Istanbul, Turkey - KCP
28 - Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
29 - Lyon, France - Transbordeur
31 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
November
1 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
2 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
3 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex
5 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
6 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
7 - Langen, Germany - Stadthalle
9 - Vienna, Austria - Simm City
12 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
13 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
15 - Neu-Ulm, Germany - Ratiopharm Arena
16 - Geiselwind, Germany - Eventcenter
21 - Bremen, Germany - Aladin
25 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
26 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Trädgår’n
29 - Karlstad, Sweden - Nöjesfabriken
30 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fryshuset
Festivals 2024:
October
20 - Mallorca, Spain - Full Metal Holidays
(Photo - Christoph Vohler)
