Udo Dirkschneider: “Why I’m Not Afraid of Death at 73”
At 73, Udo Dirkschneider, the legendary German heavy metal frontman and former voice of Accept, speaks with the clarity of someone who has faced the extremes of life—and made peace with all of it. Sitting in a quiet room far removed from the thunderous amplifiers and roaring crowds that have defined his career, he reflects on a question that often hangs in the background for those who’ve lived fast and loud: death.
“I’ve lived an extraordinary life,” Udo begins, his voice still carrying the gravelly strength that made him an icon. “There’s been loss, yes. There’s been wild success. I’ve had moments of despair and moments of joy so intense, it’s hard to describe. But at some point, you realize it’s not about chasing legacy—it’s about being present, and the most important thing is having and knowing fully well that you’ve lived with authenticity.”
For Udo, fear was never part of the equation. From his early days fronting Accept with anthems like “Balls to the Wall” and “Metal Heart,” to his decades-long solo career with U.D.O., he has faced every phase of life head-on. “People ask me all the time, ‘Are you afraid of dying?’” he says with a shrug. “And I tell them—no. I’m not. I’ve seen too much, lived too much, to fear the end. I’ve come to understand that death isn’t the enemy. Regret is.”
He pauses, running a hand over his weathered face, still framed by the same fierce intensity that captivated fans across continents. “I’ve been on stages where 100,000 people were screaming my name. And I’ve also been alone in a hotel room in a foreign city, feeling like nobody in the world knew I existed. Both experiences are real. Both shaped me.”
Udo speaks of death with reverence, not dread. For him, it’s simply a closing of the curtain after a performance he gave everything to. “I think the metal community, in particular, understands something most people don’t. We celebrate life loudly, intensely—but we also accept the end with dignity. Every great song fades out. Every show ends. What matters is how we play while we’re here.”
His worldview is shaped not only by his years on tour but also by personal loss. Udo has lost friends, bandmates, and family. “There were times I didn’t think I’d get back up,” he admits. “Losing people breaks you. But it also teaches you that this ride isn’t forever. And that makes each moment more precious.”
He credits his ability to face mortality with a sense of internal peace he’s cultivated over the years. “When I was young, I thought life was about being the loudest, the fastest, the best. But as you get older, you learn it’s about connection. With your fans. With your family. With yourself.”
That sense of connection is perhaps most evident in his relationship with his son, Sven, who drums for U.D.O. “Watching him play beside me—it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received,” Udo says, smiling. “That’s a legacy you can feel while you’re still alive.”
He has also found joy in stepping away from the spotlight on occasion, preferring quiet walks, vinyl records, and late-night conversations over beers with old friends. “I don’t need to be center stage anymore to feel alive,” he says. “I know who I am. I know what I’ve done. And I’m proud of it.”
As for the future, Udo remains active—touring, recording, and occasionally surprising audiences with acoustic renditions of metal classics. But he’s not chasing immortality in the form of eternal relevance. “Look, none of us are getting out of here alive,” he laughs. “So why not live like you mean it while you can?”
In his final thoughts, Udo offers the kind of wisdom only time and experience can give: “Don’t be afraid of death. Be afraid of never really living. I’ve screamed my lungs out across the world, and I’ve felt love, pain, madness, and peace. I’ve done everything I ever dreamed of and more. So when my time comes, I’ll go with a smile. Because I know I was here. And I made it count.”
There’s a lesson in that for all of us. Not just in how we confront the end, but how we embrace the now.
