Running Wild (band)

Running Wild
Running Wild
Background information
Origin	Hamburg, Germany
Genres	Heavy metal, power metal, speed metal
Years active	1976–2009, 2011-present
Labels	Gun
Associated acts	Grave Digger, Accept, Helloween, X-Wild
Website	running-wild.net
Members
Rolf Kasparek Peter Jordan Jan S. Eckert Matthias Liebetruth
Past members
See: Former members

Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under Jolly Roger in 1987 (thus abandoning the Satanic imagery of their earlier work). Although the earlier releases contained Satanic themes and imagery, Gerald Warnecke, the guitar player of the band, was then a Preacher and is now a vicar in Cologne.

On April 17, 2009 Rolf announced that Running Wild had split-up. Their last show was at Wacken Open Air on July 30, 2009. It was recorded for CD and DVD release, which will be released on June 24, 2011, titled The Final Jolly Roger.

As of October 21, 2011, Running Wild have reformed and have a new album that is due to released in April 2012. The announcement was made on the band's website with a video message from Captain Rolf, where he stated that he has already written 10 songs for the new album.The new album will be titled 'Shadowmaker' and be the bands first album since 2005.

Members

Current members

• Rolf Kasparek - Vocals, guitars (1976–2009, 2011-)
• Peter Jordan - Guitar (2004–2009, 2011-)

Former members

Guitar

• Uwe Bendig (1976–84)
• Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke (1984–85)
• Majk Moti (1985–90)
• Axel Morgan (X-Wild) (1990–93)
• Thilo Hermann (ex-Grave Digger, ex-Holy Moses, ex-Faithful Breath, ex-Risk) (1994-01)
• Bernd Aufermann (Angel Dust) (2002–04)

Bass

• Jörg Schwarz (1976)
• Carsten David (1976–79)
• Matthias Kaufmann (1980–83)
• Stephan Boris (1984–87)
• Jens Becker (Grave Digger, X-Wild) (1987–92)
• Thomas Smuszynski (ex-U.D.O., ex-Darxon) (1992-02)
• Peter Pichl (Herman Frank) (2002–2009)
• Jan S. Eckert [Live] (Masterplan, (Iron Savior) (2009)

Drums

• Michael Hoffmann (1976–82)
• Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann (1982–87)
• Stefan Schwarzmann (Accept, ex-Helloween, Paradox, ex-X-Wild, ex-U.D.O., ex-Voice) (1987–88, 1992–93)
• Ian Finlay (ex-Justice, ex-Demon Pact) (1988–90)
• Jörg Michael (Stratovarius, ex-Saxon, Unleashed Power, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Avenger, ex-Rage, ex-Grave Digger, ex-Mekong Delta, ex-Tom Angelripper, ex-Headhunter) (1990, 1994–98)
• Rudiger Dreffein (1990–92)
• Christos Efthimiadis (Sub7even, ex-Rage) (1998-1999, 2001)
• Angelo Sasso (2000–02)
• Matthias Liebetruth - Drums (2002–2009)

Discography

Studio albums

• Gates to Purgatory (1984)
• Branded and Exiled (1985)
• Under Jolly Roger (1987)
• Port Royal (1988)
• Death or Glory (1989)
• Blazon Stone (1991)
• Pile of Skulls (1992)
• Black Hand Inn (1994)
• Masquerade (1995)
• The Rivalry (1998)
• Victory (2000)
• The Brotherhood (2002)
• Rogues en Vogue (2005)
• Shadowmaker (2012)

Live albums

• Ready for Boarding (1988)
• Live (2002)
• The Final Jolly Roger (2011)

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)

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)

Split releases

• Death Metal (1984)

Tribute albums

• Rough Diamonds - A Tribute to Running Wild (2005) (available as a free download on the official website)
• The Revivalry - A Tribute to Running Wild (2005)
• ReUnation - A Tribute to Running Wild (2009)

External links

• Official website