List of Accept band members

Accept is a German heavy metal band from Solingen formed in 1968 by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, with the bands first stable lineup featuring Dirkschneider, lead guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, bassist Peter Baltes, rhythm guitarist Jörg Fischer and drummer Stefan Kaufmann. The band's current lineup includes Hoffmann, lead vocalist Mark Tornillo (since 2009), drummer Christopher Williams (since 2015), bassist Martin Motnik and rhythm guitarist Philip Shouse (both since 2019).

Accept evolved from an earlier group called Band X, formed in 1968 by lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider and lead guitarist Michael Wagener, who were soon joined by rhythm guitarist Gerhard "Watu" Wahl, bassist Rainer Bickehoer and drummer Birke Hoe.^[1][2] Hoe left in 1971 and was replaced by Stefan Thimm.

In 1972 after Dirkschneider and Wagener had completed their military service, Dirkschneider, along with Wahl assembled the first line-up using the name Accept, with Hansi Heitzer (lead guitar), Frank Friedrich (drums) and Dieter "Rubi" Rubach (later in the band Bad Steve with future Accept guitarist Jan Koemmet) on bass.^[3]

In 1975 Wolf Hoffmann replaced Heitzer on guitar and the following year Peter Baltes replaced Rubach on bass.^[1] Finally Wahl was replaced by Jörg Fischer in 1977.^[4] After the recording of the group's self-titled debut album, Friedrich left Accept and was replaced by Stefan Kaufmann.^[4] Fischer was fired by the band^[5] after wrapping up the Breaker tour in 1982.^[4] He was replaced briefly by Jan Koemmet,^[6] followed by Herman Frank shortly before the release of Restless and Wild.^[7] Dirkscheider left and returned during the recording of Balls to the Wall in 1983,^[8] and Fischer returned to replace Frank shortly after the release of Balls to the Wall.^[4]

In 1987, Dirkschneider was fired from Accept and subsequently pursued a solo career under the moniker U.D.O.^[9] He was replaced by a succession of temporary vocalists including Michael White and Baby Tuckoo frontman Rob Armitage, before the band settled on David Reece and released Eat the Heat in 1989.^[10] Fischer left again before the recording of the album.^[4] Jim Stacey joined on rhythm guitar for the album's promotional tour, which also saw Ken Mary take over from Kaufmann after the regular drummer suffered a back injury.^[4] Accept subsequently decided to disband, after increasing differences with Reece and Kaufmann's injury.^[4] By 1992, the band had returned with a lineup of Dirkschneider, Hoffmann, Baltes and Kaufmann, releasing Objection Overruled the next year.^[11] Arjen Lucassen of Vengeance was involved at the time, he was supposed to be the touring guitarist but left before the tour started.^[5] Kaufmann was forced to leave again after the release of Death Row, with Stefan Schwarzmann taking his place.^[12]

After the Death Row touring cycle, Schwarzmann was replaced by Michael Cartellone, who performed on 1996's Predator.^[13] The group disbanded for a second time in 1997.^[4] In 2005, Accept returned for a short run of shows in Europe and Japan, with Dirkschneider, Hoffmann and Baltes joined by Frank and Schwarzmann.^[14] The tour ended in August, after which Hoffmann claimed that Dirkschneider was preventing a longer reunion for the band.^[15] Members returned to other projects until 2009, when a new lineup of Accept was unveiled with vocalist Mark Tornillo in place of Dirkschneider.^[16] The group's lineup remained stable until 2014, when Frank and Schwarzmann were fired.^[17] Their places were taken in April 2015 by Uwe Lulis and Christopher Williams, respectively.^[18] Baltes quit the band in November 2018.^[19]

For tour dates in early 2019, Baltes was replaced by Danny Silvestri, who had previously played with the group in 2017.^[20] In April, the band brought in Martin Motnik as their new full-time bassist.^[21] On 1 November, the band announced that Philip Shouse, previously a touring member, had joined them as their third guitarist, thus making them a sextet.^[22] In September 2025 the band parted ways with Lulis, thus returning to a two guitar line-up.^[23]

• Accept official website