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Running Wild (band)

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Running Wild (band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 30 November 2025
Running Wild
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1976 in Hamburg, Germany
Headquarters
Hamburg
,
Germany
ProductsHeavy metal music, studio albums, live albums, compilation albums, singles, EPs
Websiterunning-wild.net

Running Wild is a heavy metal band from Germany that originated in Hamburg in 1976. Rising to prominence during the early to mid-1980s, they are recognized as one of the leading acts within the German heavy, power, and speed metal movement, often grouped with Grave Digger, Helloween, and Rage as part of the scene’s "big four." Throughout their extensive career, they have produced 17 studio albums, three live recordings, five compilation albums, and six singles or EPs.

Their initial work featured themes centered on Satanic motifs; however, starting with their third studio release, the band transitioned toward narratives involving pirates, nautical adventures, and historical subjects. This shift was notably marked by their 1987 album Under Jolly Roger, which played a pioneering role in establishing the pirate metal subgenre that influenced heavy metal music into the 2000s. Lead vocalist Rolf Kasparek is known for conducting thorough research to support the historically inspired lyrics featured in later works.

Between 1988 and 1992, albums such as Port Royal, Death or Glory, Blazon Stone, and Pile of Skulls incorporated lyrical content based on historical events including the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Waterloo, and the colonization of the New World.

In April 2009, Kasparek declared that Running Wild would disband, culminating in a farewell performance at Wacken Open Air in July of that year. This final concert was recorded and issued as The Final Jolly Roger in 2011. The group reassembled in 2012 and returned to perform at Wacken Open Air in 2015. , their most recent studio album is titled Blood on Blood.

Formation and early releases

Originally founded under the name Granite Heart in 1976, the band adopted the name Running Wild in 1979, inspired by a song from Judas Priest. Their first demo tape was recorded in 1981 and included tracks like "Hallow the Hell," "War Child," and "King of the Midnight Fire," with the first two featured on the compilation "Debüt №1." In June 1984, they launched their debut record Gates to Purgatory through Noise Records; this album contained satanic-themed lyrics and achieved notable success, gaining a dedicated cult audience. Shortly after its release, guitarist Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke departed to pursue theological studies and currently serves as a pastor in Cologne. Majk Moti stepped in as his replacement, and together they produced Branded and Exiled in 1985, which was their final album embracing satanic imagery.

Growth in acclaim and subsequent works

The band embraced a pirate motif starting with their 1987 album Under Jolly Roger, solidifying their reputation within the "pirate metal" niche through songs focused on piracy and historical tales. The following year’s release, Port Royal (1988), showcased more sophisticated songwriting while expanding upon pirate-related themes; it included standout tracks like the epic "Calico Jack." Their 1989 album Death or Glory became their most commercially successful record up to that point and was supported by a well-received tour documented in Death or Glory Tour. This album marked the final contribution of guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay.

Following Moti and Finlay’s exit, Kasparek enlisted guitarist Axel Morgan and drummer Rudiger Dreffein ("AC") for the 1991 release Blazon Stone. This album maintained historical storytelling elements and is often cited as their best-selling work throughout the 1990s; it introduced a pronounced speed-metal approach that came to define their sound during that decade. In 1992, they recorded Pile of Skulls, widely regarded as one of their most powerful albums. Kasparek's increasing fascination with conspiracy theories influenced their 1994 album Black Hand Inn.

The thematic trilogy began with Masquerade in 1995 but suffered from poor sales. The series continued with 1998’s The Rivalry, released under GUN Records, and concluded with 2000's Victory, which was also drummer Jörg Michael’s final contribution. Due to frequent personnel changes over time, Running Wild effectively became Kasparek’s solo endeavor. Subsequent albums included The Brotherhood (2002) and Rogues en Vogue (2005). In addition to these releases, two tribute albums—The Revivalry and Rough Diamonds—were issued in 2005; notably, Rough Diamonds was offered as a free download via the band’s official website. A third tribute compilation titled ReUnation followed in 2009.

The Final Jolly Roger, hiatus, and comeback

On 17 April 2009, Rolf Kasparek declared that Running Wild would disband. Their concluding performance at Wacken Open Air on 30 July 2009 was captured on video and later released as the DVD The Final Jolly Roger on 24 June 2011. Initially, Kasparek dismissed the possibility of a reunion, citing other commitments. Although a biography titled Death and Glory: The Story of a Heavy Metal Legend was announced in 2011, it ultimately never came to fruition.

In October 2011, Running Wild reunited and commenced work on the album Shadowmaker, which was released on 20 April 2012 through SPV/Steamhammer. Later that year, in November 2012, Kasparek and guitarist Peter Jordan initiated the side project Giant X, debuting their album I in January 2013.

Their subsequent release, Resilient, came out on 4 October 2013. The band made a return appearance at Wacken in 2015, where they introduced a new track from an upcoming record.

The sixteenth studio installment, Rapid Foray, was launched on 26 August 2016. On 6 December 2019, they issued the EP Crossing the Blades as a teaser for forthcoming material.

Running Wild’s seventeenth studio album, Blood on Blood, was released on 29 October 2021. The song "Diamonds and Pearls" earned recognition from Loudwire as one of the standout metal tracks of that year.

On 16 February 2023, former guitarist Michael "Majk Moti" Kupper died at the age of 65.

The band has announced plans to hold their final concert at Wacken Open Air in 2026, accompanied by the release of their concluding album.

Band members

Current

  • Rolf "Rock 'n' Rolf" Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter J. Jordan — guitar, backing vocals
  • Ole Hempelmann — bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Wolpers — drums

Discography

Studio albums
Live albums


Compilation albums
  • The First Years of Piracy (1991)
  • The Story of Jolly Roger (1998)
  • The Legendary Tales (2002)
  • 20 Years in History (2003)
  • Best of Adrian (2006)
  • Black Demons on Stage (2010)
  • Greatest Hits (2011)
  • Riding the Storm: Very Best of the Noise Years 1983–1995 (2016)
  • Pieces of Eight: The Singles, Live and Rare 1984–1994 (2018)
Singles and EPs
  • "Victim of States Power" (1984)
  • "Bad to the Bone" (1989)
  • "Wild Animal" (1990)
  • "Little Big Horn" (1991)
  • "Lead or Gold" (1992)
  • "The Privateer" (1994)
  • "The Rivalry" (1998)
  • "Revolution" (2000)
  • "Crossing the Blades" (2019)
Video albums
Split releases
  • Rock From Hell: German Metal Attack (1983)
  • Death Metal (1984)
  • Metal Attack Vol. 1 (1985)
Tribute albums
  • The Revivalry – A Tribute to Running Wild (2005)
  • Rough Diamonds – A Tribute to Running Wild (2005)
  • ReUnation – A Tribute to Running Wild (2009)

External links

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