Balls to the Wall (song)
Encyclopedia
"Balls to the Wall" was the lead single
from Accept's
fifth studio album with the same name
. The album's best known song, which became Accept's signature tune, is the anthemic title track, for which a music video
was shot that received American
airplay on MTV
.
replied:
in the 1993 episode "Tornado".
The song has also been featured on two VH1
countdown shows: as #38 on the 40 Greatest Metal Songs, and as #29 on the 40 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs Ever. It is also on the in-game radio for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
on the V-Rock station, and appears as a playable track in the video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
, as a cover version. In this game, the word "ass" is censored, and replaced with "case" (and word "rape" was replaced with "fade").
The song was also covered by the following bands:
The song was featured in the 2008 movie The Wrestler.
and Stefan's
band U.D.O.
also perform this song at the end of their shows. Since 2004 this line-up of U.D.O. has performed "Balls to the Wall" live:
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from Accept's
Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s...
fifth studio album with the same name
Balls to the Wall
Balls to the Wall is the fifth album by the German metal band Accept. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its US release was delayed until a month later as to not compete with the band's then-current album Restless and Wild, which had arrived in the US in early 1983...
. The album's best known song, which became Accept's signature tune, is the anthemic title track, for which a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was shot that received American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
Song meaning
Asked about the meaning of the song, guitarist Wolf HoffmannWolf Hoffmann
Wolf Hoffmann grew up in Wuppertal. He is primarily known as guitarist in the German heavy metal band Accept since 1976. In 1997, he released the album Classical with rock versions of classical pieces...
replied:
- "We've always been interested in politics and in human rights and things like that, so a lot of the lyrics that we had in those days, and to the end actually, were dealing with human rights, for instance, and that's really what "Balls To The Wall" is all about. "One day the tortured will stand up and kick some ass!"
Legacy
The video later appeared on Beavis and Butt-headBeavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
in the 1993 episode "Tornado".
The song has also been featured on two VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
countdown shows: as #38 on the 40 Greatest Metal Songs, and as #29 on the 40 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs Ever. It is also on the in-game radio for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a 2006 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Rockstar North. It was published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation Portable in late 2006 and later for the PlayStation 2 in March 2007. The game is the eighth...
on the V-Rock station, and appears as a playable track in the video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s is a music video game and the third installment in the popular Guitar Hero series...
, as a cover version. In this game, the word "ass" is censored, and replaced with "case" (and word "rape" was replaced with "fade").
The song was also covered by the following bands:
- Fozzy on their 2002 album HappenstanceHappenstance (Fozzy album)Happenstance is the second album by heavy metal band Fozzy. For the album the band continue with their spoof that they had spent the last 20 years in Japan being megastars and once they returned to America, they realized that many famous artists have ripped off their songs...
- AltariaAltaria (band)Altaria is a power metal band from Jakobstad, Finland, who have released four albums on the record label Metal Heaven and a fifth on Escape Music.In January 2008, the band decided to part ways with their record label Metal Heaven for undisclosed reasons...
on their 2004 album DivinityDivinity (album)Divinity is the second studio album from the Finnish power metal band Altaria.-Track listing:# "Unchain the Rain" – 3:43# "Will to Live" – 3:57# "Prophet of Pestilence" – 3:41# "Darkened Highlight" – 3:44# "Discovery" – 3:53# "Falling Again" – 4:14... - BenedictumBenedictumBenedictum is an American heavy metal band formed in 2005 in San Diego, California. Their current line-up consists of vocalist Veronica Freeman, guitarist Pete Wells, bassist Chris Shrum, keyboardist Tony Diaz, and drummer Micky Pannone...
on their 2008 album Seasons of TragedySeasons of TragedySeasons of Tragedy is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Benedictum, released through Locomotive Records in 2008.-Track listing:#"Dawn of Seasons" – 1:26#"Shell Shock" – 4:25#"Burn It Out" – 3:32#"Bare Bones" – 5:11...
; - BulletboysBulletBoysBulletBoys is an American hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of former Ratt guitarist/King Kobra lead vocalist Marq Torien , former King Kobra guitarist Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vencent and Jimmy D'Anda...
- Eyes of the DeadEyes of the DeadEyes of the Dead is a thrash/death metal band from New Haven, Connecticut. They are signed to indie label Black Picket Fence Records. They were formed in 2004, and have since recorded and released two full length albums, two EP's, and one single...
on their EP "Lets Play Drink the Beer!!" - Amon AmarthAmon AmarthAmon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
on their 2011 album "Surtur RisingSurtur RisingSurtur Rising is the eighth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth. The album was released on March 29, 2011.On June 27, 2011, the band released a music video, with footage taken a live performance in Philadelphia, PA and directed by David Brodsky, for the third track on...
" (only limited edition)
The song was featured in the 2008 movie The Wrestler.
Personnel (Accept)
- Udo DirkschneiderUdo DirkschneiderUdo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
- Lead Vocals - Wolf HoffmannWolf HoffmannWolf Hoffmann grew up in Wuppertal. He is primarily known as guitarist in the German heavy metal band Accept since 1976. In 1997, he released the album Classical with rock versions of classical pieces...
- Lead Guitar - Herman FrankHerman FrankHerman Frank is a German guitar player. He joined the heavy metal band Accept before the release of their 1982 album, Restless and Wild, and left after the following album, 1984's Balls to the Wall was released. He was preceded by Jan Koemmet in Accept and succeeded by Jörg Fischer...
- Rhythm Guitar - Peter BaltesPeter BaltesPeter Baltes, born April 4, 1958 in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a German hard rock and heavy metal musician. He is a member of the German heavy metal group Accept, which he played as bassist with on 15 albums, selling more than 17 million records around the world...
- Bass Guitar - Stefan Kaufmann - Drums
- BACKGROUND VOCALS: Accept
Personnel (U.D.O.)
UdoUdo Dirkschneider
Udo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
and Stefan's
Stefan Kaufmann
Stefan Kaufmann was born August 4, 1960, Solingen, Germany. He joined Accept as drummer early enough to appear on the cover photos for their debut, but too late to record the drums for the album...
band U.D.O.
U.D.O.
U.D.O. is a German heavy metal band founded by lead singer Udo Dirkschneider in 1987.-1987–1992:After Udo Dirkschneider left Accept in 1987, a large fan community followed him to U.D.O....
also perform this song at the end of their shows. Since 2004 this line-up of U.D.O. has performed "Balls to the Wall" live:
- Udo Dirkschneider - Lead Vocals
- Stefan Kaufmann - Lead Guitar
- Igor Gianola - Rhythm Guitar
- Fitty Weinhold - Bass Guitar
- Francesco Jovino - Drums