Interview: Wolf Hoffman from Accept

Wolf Hoffman is best known as the lead axeman of heavy metal heavyweights Accept, whose career spans over 40 years and a number of classic albums. However, Hoffman has recently re-entered the limelight with the release of his new solo album ‘Headbangers Symphony’. An album comprised of heavy metal covers of classical songs, ‘Headbangers Symphony’ presents the best of both worlds. We caught up with Hoffman to discuss the new album compared to his work with Accept.

The first question I have to ask is are you happy with how the album’s turned out?

I’m quite happy really. You can drive yourself crazy and really try to strive for perfection, but at the end of the day at some point you gotta let it go. I’m pretty bad with that, just tweaking and tweaking, but at some point you gotta say enough is enough and let the music do the talking.

What was the recording process for ‘Headbanger’s Symphony’ like? Did you record it over a period of time or did you just get in the studio until it was done?

No actually it was recorded over a very long time, over 10 years actually. I started working on it, then Accept reunited around 2009 I believe, and then nothing got done anymore, everything came to a halt and we had to wait until Accept got done touring and recording. I wouldn’t record it that way again, hell no, having to stop and start again over 10 years was such a pain!

How big of an influence has classical music been in your playing style? 

I guess it’s always been there. It hasn’t been huge in what I do with Accept, you know I’ve never been the type to do all the fast scales and everything like Yngwie, but still the influence is there definitely. Actually the riff on Scherzo is the same as the song Teutonic Terror I recorded with Accept, that’s why it might sound familiar to some fans!

What was it like to play with an orchestra? 

It was great, I actually flew to Praque to record the album and picked up an orchestra there, it was just great recording parts with a 40-person Orchestra playing as well.

Was it ever difficult getting some of the parts just right? 

I guess at times it was, you just have to feel the music out and not be too much of a perfectionist like I said, some parts were pretty tricky. The Bach piece I had to write the chords out because there are so many changes and you can’t remember it all.

So do you do it all by ear then? 

Yeah actually, I’m not classically trained in music theory and nor do I want to be, I just feel the music out how it should sound rather than worrying too much about the theory side.

Was it refreshing to take a break from playing straight heavy metal and try something a bit different like this album? 

It was, I couldn’t bring many of the material on this album to Accept because it wasn’t relevant to our music, but I do like these songs so it was nice to record them.

Do you prefer this album to the previous album you did in 1997, ‘Classical’? 

I do yeah, that album was okay and I still listen to it occasionally, fans will come up to me on the road and say they really like that album, but I think this one is better.

How much influence did Accept have on the recording of this album, did any of the members play on it or anything?

Well Peter actually plays bass on the album, I got him into the studio to record it. Of course he wasn’t into it as much as I was but I would say “Play this” and he did a good job.

What was your rig like for this album, was it any different to the one you use with Accept? 

No I think it was pretty much the same. My gear changes bit by bit over time as I keep adding new things to it, but I usually use my signature guitar model.

Would you ever consider playing shows for this album? 

That’s the plan actually. I’m not sure how I’ll do it but I would like to. Accept are planning on writing the new album for release in 2017 this year then after that we’ll be touring again, so when that happens. There’ll be no more time for this project for a while so I thought I’d just get it out of my system while I had the time.

What is your favourite song on the album? 

In a way they’re all my favourites, otherwise they wouldn’t be on the album. I’ve been recording this album for so long now that it’s become pretty objective to me you know. But I’d say Scherzo and Night On Bald Mountain are probably two of my favourites, that’s why I put them at the start of the album.

Wolf Hoffman’s new album ‘Headbangers Symphony’ is out now and can be purchased HERE