Wolf Hoffmann

Wolf Hoffmann (born 10 December 1959) is a German musician, primarily known as the guitarist and last remaining original member of heavy metal band Accept since 1976.^[1] His work in Accept influenced the development of speed metal genre. He is also one of the first players of neoclassical metal.

Wolf Hoffmann
Hoffmann in 2017
Background information
Born	(1959-12-10) 10 December 1959 (age 64)
Origin	Mainz, West Germany
Genres	Heavy metal, speed metal, hard rock, neoclassical metal
Occupation(s)	Guitarist
Member of	Accept
Website	wolfhoffmann.com

Hoffmann has played in all Accept's line-ups since 1976. The band was inactive between 1997 and 2008 except some live performances in 2005. The band was reformed by Hoffmann and another original member was released on 20 August 2010 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Four follow-up albums were released successively since then. Baltes left Accept in 2018 and Hoffmann is now the last original member.

Hoffmann has released two neoclassical solo albums, Classical (1997) and Headbangers Symphony (2016).

Early life

Wolf Hoffmann was born on 10 December 1959 in Mainz, West Germany. He moved with his parents to Wuppertal at the age of six. His father was a chemistry professor and his mother a housewife. The parents hoped their son would go to university and pursue an academic career. However, Hoffmann became interested in playing the guitar and got his first acoustic guitar from his parents by promising to take playing lessons. ^[2][3]

Hoffmann was not enthusiastic about playing the acoustic guitar and took playing lessons only for a year. His passion for playing returned after he got his first electric guitar. While studying in middle school, Hoffmann played the guitar with his friends every day. There were the occasional bands that would usually last only a few rehearsals. Rehearsals were mostly for hanging out and having fun. ^[2][4] Hoffmann attended a prestigious high school and was particularly successful in ancient Greek and Latin.^[5] Though he was coaxed by his parents and teachers to pursue higher education and Hoffmann himself considered applying for a spot at a conservatory, he ultimately decided to continue building his nascent music career by committing fully to Accept.^[6]

Career

Accept

At the end of 1975, Hoffmann heard in a local music store that a band called Accept was looking for a new guitarist. The band practiced in the nearby town of Solingen, only a 15-minute drive from Wuppertal. Hoffmann became Accept's guitarist a few weeks before his 17th birthday. Accept was not like the random groups of friends that Hoffmann had played in before. The band members took practice seriously, and they also played gigs locally.^[2][7]

After bassist Peter Baltes joined the band half a year after Hoffmann, they started composing new songs for the band together. Their collaboration continued for more than 40 years, and they made most of Accept's songs. Since Restless and Wild Hoffmann has played the majority of all the guitar parts on Accept's studio albums, although the entire band is typically listed on the records.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Hoffmann has released 16 studio albums with Accept. The first album Accept was released in 1979. In the 1980s the band released seven albums: I'm a Rebel, Breaker, Restless and Wild, Balls to the Wall, Metal Heart, Russian Roulette, and Eat the Heat. In 1989 the band broke up, and it returned in 1992 with the album Objection Overruled. Hoffmann made two more albums, Death Row and Predator, with Accept before the band disbanded again in 1997.^[12][13] Accept made a comeback with Hoffmann in 2009. Since then, the band has released the albums Blood of the Nations, Stalingrad, Blind Rage, The Rise of Chaos, and Too Mean to Die.^[14]

In July 2022, Hoffmann revealed that he has started writing material for the next Accept album that will possibly be released in 2023.^[2][15]

Solo works

In 1997, Hoffmann released the album Classical with rock versions of classical music works. Hoffmann's second solo album, Headbangers Symphony, was released in July 2016. On the first album, Hoffmann reduced the music to mainly just guitar, while on the second album, he included an orchestra. However, both albums have the same basic idea: they have well-known classical compositions, of which Hoffmann has made his own rock/metal adaptations.^[16]

Hoffmann's long-time dream of performing together with a symphony orchestra on stage came true in 2017 at the Wacken Open Air Festival, when he performed Headbangers Symphony songs for the first time in front of an audience with the Czech Symphony Orchestra. The concert was available as a live stream on the festival's website and was also released as a live album and DVD Accept – Symphonic Terror Live at Wacken 2017. ^[17][18] In April 2019, Accept started the Symphonic Terror tour, which also included songs from Wolf Hoffmann's first solo album, Classical.^[19]

In July 2022, Hoffmann told that he has worked some tracks and ideas for a third neoclassical solo album but it will not be released in the near future.^[2][20]

Work with other musicians

He contributed to Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach's solo album Bring 'Em Bach Alive! and to a 2000 Japanese tribute to Randy Rhoads album called Randy Rhoads Tribute with Sebastian Bach on "I Don't Know" and with Joe Lynn Turner on "Diary of a Madman". Hoffmann also contributed to Peace Breaker by Skew Siskin.^[21][22]

Instruments

During the 2013 NAMM Show, Hoffmann has unveiled a new signature guitar which was manufactured by Framus.^[23][24] This guitar is manufactured in two styles, a guitar in white called Flying Fortress and the other one is in chrome and has been made to resemble a World War II bomber which is called Flying Fortress. Hoffmann told Metal Shock Finland's chief editor, Mohsen Fayyazi:

"Growing up in Germany everybody had a Framus guitar at one point or another and I could have never anticipated that one day I would be friends with Hans Peter Wilfer, the man behind the re-birth of his father's legendary brand. I had no idea what an amazing company they really are until I went to their factory and saw first hand the unbelievable craftsmanship and quality they deliver. I am happy and proud to introduce my first signature guitar, a real Heavy Metal Axe made in Germany!"^[25][26][27]

In addition, Hoffman was a heavy user of Gibson Flying V's and Fender Stratocasters during Accept's prime in the 1980s, guitars that he still uses periodically today. Hoffman has also played guitars by various other companies such as Jackson guitars, most notably a custom Jackson King V, a guitar he still uses presently. He has also periodically played Fernandes guitars.

Personal life

Hoffmann has loved photography as a hobby early on, and eventually made it his second career. He took the cover photo for 1993's Objection Overruled. During Accept's hiatus from 1997, Hoffmann worked as a professional photographer. He continued to photograph for a few years after Accept's comeback in the 2010s until he quit professional photography due to lack of time.^[28]

Hoffmann is currently based both in Nashville, Tennessee, and Florida.^[2] He also maintains a residence in Berlin.^{[citation needed]} Hoffmann was married to Gaby Hoffmann (née Hauke), who used to be Accept's manager. She contributed to Accept's songwriting under the pseudonym Deaffy.^[2]

Now Wolf is in a relationship with Ava-Rebekah Rahman, who had accompanied the band on the European Orchestra Tour "Symphonic Terror" in 2019 as a violinist.^[29]

Discography

 

Hoffmann (center) performing with Accept in 2022

Solo

• Classical (1997)
• Headbangers Symphony (2016)

Accept

• Accept (1979)
• I'm a Rebel (1980)
• Breaker (1981)
• Restless and Wild (1982)
• Balls to the Wall (1983)
• Metal Heart (1985)
• Russian Roulette (1986)
• Eat the Heat (1989)
• Objection Overruled (1993)
• Death Row (1994)
• Predator (1996)
• Blood of the Nations (2010)
• Stalingrad (2012)
• Blind Rage (2014)
• The Rise of Chaos (2017)
• Too Mean to Die (2021)
• Humanoid (2024)

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Biography: Accept". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
2. "Talkin' Rock with Wolf Hoffmann of Accept and I Prevail's Eric and Brian". WMMR. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
3. Wolf Hoffmann. . Archived from the original on 15 February 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
4. Wolf Hoffmann. . Archived from the original on 15 February 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
5. Götz Kühnemund (August 2012), "Schwatzkasten: Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)", Rock Hard, no. 303, pp. 18f
6. Götz Kühnemund (August 2012), "Schwatzkasten: Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)", Rock Hard, no. 303, pp. 18f
7. Wolf Hoffmann. . Archived from the original on 15 February 2001. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
8. "Interview with Wolf Hoffman of ACCEPT". Antihero Magazine. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
9. "Accept". K.K. Downing Steel Mill. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
10. "Interview With Peter Baltes: "Finland is a true, true metal country."". Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ). 12 February 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
11. "Accept: The Wolf is still on the hunt – an interview with Wolf Hoffmann". Global Texan Chronicles. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
12. "Accept – Discography – Metal Storm". www.metalstorm.net. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
13. Marko Syrjälä. "WOLF HOFFMANN INTERVIEW BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ". Retrieved 23 August 2022.
14. Toimittaja: Jani Ritvanen (21 February 2021). "Metallisydän sykkii edelleen voimakkaana - Arviossa Acceptin "Too Mean to Die"". KaaosZine. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
15. "An Interview with Wolf Hoffmann of Accept". vwmusicrocks.com. Metal Shock Finland. July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
16. "Accept Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann Discusses New Solo Album Headbangers Symphony". metalassault. Metal Shock Finland. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
17. Andrew Catania (16 October 2018). "Wolf Hoffmann Of Accept Discusses Symphonic Terror – Live At Wacken". Welcome To All That Shreds Magazine!. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
18. Metalliluolan toimitus (2 August 2017). "Acceptin 3.8.2017 Wacken-juhlakonsertti nähdään suorana livestriiminä". Metalliluola. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
19. "Live report ACCEPT and THE ORCHESTRA OF DEATH, Mehr!Theater am Grossmarkt, Hamburg – 22.04.2019". Markus' Heavy Music Blog. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
20. "An Interview with Wolf Hoffmann of Accept". vwmusicrocks.com. Metal Shock Finland. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
21. Blabbermouth (17 May 2007). "ACCEPT Guitarist WOLF HOFFMANN Guests On New SKEW SISKIN Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
22. "Wolf Hoffmann | Dinosaur Rock Guitar". www.dinosaurrockguitar.com. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
23. "ACCEPT's WOLF HOFFMANN Unveils Signature Guitar". Blabbermouth.net. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
24. "Legendary Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann To Unveil His First Signature Guitar". MetalShockFinland.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
25. "Video ACCEPT's WOLF HOFFMANN Unveils Signature Guitar At NAMM". Blabbermouth.net. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
26. "ACCEPT's Wolf Hoffmann Unveils Made In Germany Signature Guitar At NAMM: Video Available". Bravewords.com. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
27. Fayyazi, Mohsen (30 January 2013). "Legendary Wolf Hoffmann on Mohsen Fayyazi's Burning Crown: "I've actually started work on new follow up material already"". MetalShockFinland.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
28. ""Elannon ansaitseminen valokuvaamisella on huomattavasti helpompaa kuin musiikkibisneksessä" – haastattelussa Acceptin Wolf Hoffmann". Inferno.fi. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
29. Daly, Andrew (28 October 2022). "Wolf Hoffmann of Accept Talks European Tour, Touring with the Iron Maidens, and His Secret to Heavy Metal Guitar". MetalCastle - All about Rock and Metal. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wolf Hoffmann.

• Official website
• High resolution photos of Hoffmann (and Accept) in 2011
• Hoffmann's YouTube channel