Artist: RUNNING WILD
Album: ROGUES EN VOGUE (CD)

Release date: 2005
EAN/UPS: 828766472424
Media type: CD

One of the stoic mainstays of the German Metal scene. RUNNING WILD debuted with the 1984 album 'Gates To Purgatory', a record laden with stereotypical occultism but soon developed a unique, if bizarre, image based around pirates which they have fostered to the present day. Led by Rock n' Rolf (real name Rolf Kasparek) RUNNING WILD has proved to be a mainstay of the German Metal scene with consistently high profile albums and tours.

The band started out in the early 80's billed as GRANITE HEART switching to RUNNING WILD for their first demo in 1981, this cassette featuring the songs 'Hallow The Hell', 'War Child' and 'King Of The Midnight Fire'. The band's first line up consisted of Rock n' Rolf, guitarist Uwe Bendig, bassist Michael Hoffmann and drummer Jorg Schwarz. By the band's second tape, the suitably titled 'Heavy Metal Like A Hammer Blow', the following year only Rock n' Rolf remained. Fresh blood was provided by guitarist Preacher, bassist Stephan Borisso and drummer Hasche Haggemann. RUNNING WILD's third demo 'Heavy Metal Like A Hammerblow' secured a deal with Noise Records. The group's first offerings, two tracks 'Iron Heads' and 'Bones To Ashes', would be donated to the four way split album 'Death Metal' of 1984, sharing space with HELLOWEEN, DARK AVENGER and HELLHAMMER.

The release of the 'Branded And Exiled' album, with new guitarist Majik Moti, in 1985 saw RUNNING WILD receive an invitation to open for American Glam Rockers MOTLEY CRUE's German 'Theatre Of Pain' tour dates.

One of the first German Thrash bands to tour North America, RUNNING WILD undertook a lengthy club tour with CELTIC FROST and VOIVOD throughout June of 1986. Following the release of the popular 1987 'Under Jolly Roger' album drummer Hasche quit (and now works for the Rockfabrik club in Ludwigsburg), being substituted by Stefan Schwarzmann. German gigs in April of 1987 had British act SATAN as openers. The band yielded to another blow shortly after when bassist Stephan Borisso departed to join U.D.O. Before long Schwarzmann followed for the same destination. The live 'Ready For Boarding' album saw Winter 1988 shows with guests SATAN once again.

The 'Port Royal' opus was promoted by an extensive run of European dates throughout January and February 1989 with support from ANGEL DUST. The rhythm section was re-established with the recruitment of bassist Jens Becker and English drummer Iain Finlay for the 1990 'Death Or Glory' album. A lengthy string of European dates in January and february of 1990 found RAGE, S.D.I. and RANDOM supporting. The line-up would remain less than stable as guitarist Majk Moti departed in early 1991 and was replaced by Axel Morgan. The 'Blazon Stone' album marked another run of Euro touring, this time RUNNING WILD taking RAVEN and CROSSROADS as guests throughout April and May of 1991.

The 'Pile Of Skulls' album in 1992 saw the addition of ex U.D.O. rhythm section bassist Thomas 'Bodo' Smusynski and the return of drummer Stefan Schwarzmann and was recorded in Studio M in Hildesheim. Meantime, Becker deputized for former touring partners CROSSROADS the same year. The 'Pile Of Skulls' tour had UNIVERSE as support in early 1993.

RUNNING WILD would effectively split down the middle with Becker, Schwarzmann and Morgan creating X WILD, an outfit that lasted for three albums. Becker was later to join GRAVE DIGGER.

Two years later the group released their eighth album, 'Black Hand Inn', the record featuring the fifteen minute epic 'Genesis', RUNNING WILD's alternative view on the theory of evolution. Concert dates in Germany witnessed a Summer 1994 co-headline alliance with GRAVE DIGGER. 1995 yielded 'Masquerade' - recorded with Gerhard 'Anyway' Wolfe at Horus Sound in Hannover. The group immediately played the 'Summer Metal Meetings' with the likes of RAGE, GLENMORE, ICED EARTH and GRAVE DIGGER.

With the band inoperative for a period new guitarist Thilo Hermann, previously with HOLY MOSES and RISK, joined GLENMORE for live work but would return to RUNNING WILD the following year. The band opened up 1996 with another German tour, this time with Brits CHINA BEACH providing the opening honours. Schwarzmann continued his musical chairs by emerging once again as the man behind the kit for U.D.O. in 1997. The same year Herrmann put together the side project HOLLENHUNDE for the 'Alptraum' album with GLENMORE drummer Dany Loble. Herrmann. When HOLLENHUNDE dissolved the same year as the album release Herrmann resumed activies with RUNNING WILD.

For the 1997 release, 'The Rivalry', which saw RUNNING WILD switching to the G.U.N. label, Rock n' Rolf was joined by Smuszynski, Hermann and drummer Jorg Michael. The latter boasting credits with AVENGER, RAGE, MEKONG DELTA, LAOS, HEADHUNTER, GRAVE DIGGER and AXEL RUDI PELL. Touring to promote the record had RUNNING WILD pairing with PRIMAL FEAR in April 1998.

1998 found the band returning with a brand new studio affair. The 'Victory' album had Rolf, Herrmann and Smuszynski joined by Angelo Sasso. The latter being a pseudonym for a non 'Metal' drummer not wishing to be associated with the genre!

For touring RUNNING WILD pulled in erstwhile RAGE drummer Chris Efthimiades as Michael had committed himself fully to STRATOVARIUS. The band, now including new bass player Peter Pichel, Thomas Smuszynski having joined covers band BOURBON, would spend the latter half of 2001 recording new album 'The Brotherhood'. Rock n' Rolf put in a cameo appearance in the video for famous German spoof act the DONUTS cover version of TWISTED SISTER's 'We're Not Gonna Take It' in September of 2002.

RUNNING WILD guitarist Bernd Aufermann collaborated with Zak Stevens in early 2004 on songs destined for the second CIRCLE II CIRCLE album. Another collaboration saw bassist Peter Pichl uniting with THE RUGGED's Jose Juan Gallego and Juan Antonio Soria on a song entitled 'The Reason Around'. The band set 'Rogues En Vogue' as the preliminary title for a 2005 record. Limited editions of the album added two exclusive tracks, 'Cannonball Tongue' and 'Libertalia'.

TRACKLIST:

01. Draw the Line
02. Angel of Mercy
03. Skeleton Dance
04. Skulls & Bones (a 7-minutes epic pirate-song)
05. Born Dead, Dying Worse
06. Black Gold
07. Soul Vampires
08. Rogues en Vogue
09. Winged & Feathered
10. Dead Man's Road
11. The War

LINE-UP:

Rock n' Rolf (vocals / guitar)
Majk Moti (guitar)
Jens Becker (bass)
Iain Finlay (drums)

DISCOGRAPHY:

1984 - Gates To Purgatory
1985 - Branded And Exiled
1987 - Under Jolly Roger
1988 - Port Royal
1988 - Ready For Boarding [Live]
1989 - Death Or Glory
1990 - Blazon Stone
1992 - Pile Of Skulls
1994 - Black Hand Inn
1995 - Masquerade
1997 - The Rivalry
2000 - Victory
2002 - The Brotherhood
2005 - Rogues en Vogue

http://www.running-wild.net