List of Running Wild band members

Running Wild performing live in 2018.

Running Wild is a German heavy metal band from Hamburg. Formed in 1976 as Granite Heart, the group originally consisted of vocalist and guitarist Rolf "Rock 'n' Rolf" Kasparek, guitarist Uwe Bendig, bassist Jörg Schwarz, and drummer Michael Hoffmann. Kasparek remains the only original member of the band, which now features guitarist Peter J. Jordan (since 2005), bassist Ole Hempelmann and drummer Michael Wolpers (both since 2015).

History

1976–1990

Running Wild was initially founded as Granite Heart in 1976 by Rolf Kasparek with guitarist Uwe Bendig, bassist Jörg Schwarz and drummer Michael Hoffmann.[1] Schwarz was quickly replaced by Carsten Davis, although by 1979 both he and Hoffmann had left the group, which was then renamed Running Wild.[2] With new bassist Matthias Kaufmann and drummer Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann, the band released its first demo Rock from Hell in 1981, before temporarily disbanding in the summer of 1982 after just five shows in two years.[3] Kasparek and Hagemann reformed Running Wild in the autumn with new guitarist Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke and bassist Stephan Boriss, releasing a string of demos during 1983 and 1984.[4] The band's debut full-length album Gates to Purgatory was issued later in 1984.[5]

Jens Becker played bass for Running Wild between summer 1987 and spring 1992.

After touring in promotion of Gates to Purgatory ended in the summer of 1985, Warnecke left Running Wild. Kasparek recorded the majority of guitars on the band's second album Branded and Exiled, before Michael "Majk Moti" Kupper arrived in place of Warnecke, adding three guitar solos.[6] The new lineup released Under Jolly Roger in 1987, before Boriss and Hagemann were replaced around July or August by Jens Becker and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.[7] Live album Ready for Boarding and studio follow-up Port Royal followed in 1988, after which Iain Finlay replaced Schwarzmann, who left to join U.D.O.[8] Finlay himself left shortly after the release of Death or Glory at the end of 1989, with former stand-in Jörg Michael temporarily taking his place for live shows during 1990.[9] Kupper left towards the end of the year for "personal reasons".[10]

1990–2002

At the end of 1990, Kasparek and Becker recorded Blazon Stone with new guitarist Axel Morgan and drummer Rudiger "AC" Dreiffen.[11] This was followed later in 1991 by The First Years of Piracy, a collection of re-recordings of previous songs.[12] This was the last album to feature Becker on bass and AC on drums, both of whom were fired after touring into the early months of 1992.[13] They were replaced by Thomas "Bodo" Smuszynski and the returning Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively, who debuted together on Pile of Skulls later that year.[14] In 1993, Morgan and Schwarzmann were fired, later joining with fellow alumnus Jens Becker to form X-Wild.[7]

Running Wild released Black Hand Inn in 1994 with new guitarist Thilo Hermann and drummer Jörg Michael.[15] This was followed by Masquerade in 1995 and The Rivalry in 1998, after which Michael left to focus on his other band, Stratovarius.[16] He was replaced on tour by former Rage drummer Chris Efthimiadis, while Angelo Sasso was brought in for the recording of the band's next album, Victory.[17] In January 2001, Kasparek announced that Smuszynski had been let go from the band.[18] His replacement, Peter Pichl, was confirmed in August.[19] The following month, it was announced that Hermann had also left the group, reportedly to "focus on his family life".[20]

Peter J. Jordan has been Running Wild's second guitarist since summer/fall 2005.

Since 2002

The band's next album, The Brotherhood, was released in February 2002 and featured a reduced lineup of Rolf Kasparek on vocals and all guitars, Peter Pichl on bass, and Angelo Sasso on drums.[21] For the tour in promotion of the album, Kasparek and Pichl were joined by new guitarist Bernd Aufermann and drummer Matthias Liebetruth.[22] Aufermann later revealed that he was "nothing more or less than the live guitarist" for the band,[23] with all guitars on 2005's Rogues en Vogue performed by Kasparek.[24] By March 2005, Aufermann had left the band, with Kasparek stating he was "not sure" who would take his place for future tour dates.[25] For shows later that year, Peter J. Jordan took over as live guitarist.[26] Running Wild remained inactive from 2006 to 2009,[27] before it was announced in April 2009 that the band would play a final show on 30 July at Wacken Open Air before disbanding.[28] Jan-Sören Eckert played bass at the show, which was released in 2011 as The Final Jolly Roger.[27]

In October 2011, Kasparek announced that he was reforming Running Wild to record a new album, Shadowmaker.[29] The album was released in April 2012 and featured Jordan playing guitar solos on four tracks, with Kasparek dubbing the album "a solo project".[27] The pair continued to collaborate, releasing Resilient in October 2013.[30] After a year off due to an injury, Kasparek returned in 2015 with a full lineup of Running Wild for its first shows since reforming, adding Ole Hempelmann on bass and Michael Wolpers on drums.[31] This lineup has remained intact to date, releasing Rapid Foray in 2016 and Blood on Blood in 2021.[32][33]

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Running Wild Rockharz 2022 03.jpg
 Rolf "Rock 'n' Rolf" Kasparek
  • 1976–1982
  • 1982–2009
  • 2011–present
  • lead vocals
  • guitar
  • bass (studio, 2011–2015)
 all Running Wild releases
Running Wild Rockharz 2022 04.jpg
 Peter J. Jordan
  • 2005–2009
  • 2011–present
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from The Final Jolly Roger (2011) onwards
Running Wild – Wacken Open Air 2015 05.jpg
 Ole Hempelmann 2015–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from Rapid Foray (2016) onwards
20180803 Wacken Wacken Open air Running Wild 0052.jpg
 Michael Wolpers drums

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Uwe Bendig 1976–1982
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 Rock from Hell demo (1981)
Michael Hoffmann 1976–1979 drums none
Jörg Schwarz 1976 bass
Carsten Davis 1976–1979
Wolfgang "Hasche" Hagemann
  • 1979–1982
  • 1983–1987
  • drums
  • occasional backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from the Rock from Hell demo (1981) to Under Jolly Roger (1987)
Matthias Kaufmann 1979–1982 bass Rock from Hell demo (1981)
Stephan Boriss 1982–1987
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from the 1982 demo to Under Jolly Roger (1987)
Gerald "Preacher" Warnecke 1982–1985
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from the 1982 demo to Gates to Purgatory (1984)
MajkMoti2.jpg
 Michael "Majk Moti" Kupper
(1957–2023) 		1985–1990 all Running Wild releases from Branded and Exiled (1985) to Death or Glory Tour Live (1990)
Jens Becker – Tower-Festival 2014 02.jpg
 Jens Becker 1987–1992
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from Ready for Boarding (1988) to The First Years of Piracy (1991)
Stefan Schwarzmann – Wacken Open Air 2014 02.jpg
 Stefan Schwarzmann
  • 1987–1988
  • 1992–1993
  • drums
  • backing vocals
Iain Finlay 1988–1990 drums
  • Death or Glory (1989)
  • Wild Animal EP (1990)
  • Death or Glory Tour Live (1990)
Axel Morgan 1990–1993
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Blazon Stone (1991)
  • The First Years of Piracy (1991)
  • Pile of Skulls (1992)
Rudiger "AC" Dreffein 1990–1992
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • Blazon Stone (1991)
  • The First Years of Piracy (1991)
Sound of Silence 04.jpg
 Thomas "Bodo" Smuszynski 1992–2001
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all Running Wild releases from Pile of Skulls (1992) to Victory (2000)
Thilo Hermann 1993–2001 guitar
Jörg Michael (2009).jpg
 Jörg Michael 1993–1998[a] drums
  • Black Hand Inn (1994)
  • Masquerade (1995)
  • The Rivalry (1998)
Chris "Efti" Efthimiadis 1998–2000 (touring only) drums none
Angelo Sasso 1999–2001 (session only)
Peter Pichl 2001–2009
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Matthias Liebetruth 2002–2009
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • Live (2002)
  • 20 Years in History (2003)
  • Rogues en Vogue (2005)
  • The Final Jolly Roger (2011)
Bernd Aufermann 2002–2004 (touring only)
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
 Live (2002)
Jan-Sören Eckert 2009 (touring only)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 The Final Jolly Roger (2011)

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
1976
(as Granite Heart)
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Uwe Bendig — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jörg Schwarz — bass
  • Michael Hoffmann — drums
 none
1976–1979
(as Granite Heart)
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Uwe Bendig — guitar, backing vocals
  • Carsten Davis — bass
  • Michael Hoffmann — drums
1979–summer 1982
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Uwe Bendig — guitar, backing vocals
  • Matthias Kaufmann — bass
  • Wolfgang Hagemann — drums
  • Rock from Hell demo (1981)
Band inactive summer–fall 1982
Fall 1982–summer 1985
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Gerald Warnecke — guitar, backing vocals
  • Stephan Boriss — bass, backing vocals
  • Wolfgang Hagemann — drums
Summer 1985–summer 1987
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Majk Moti — guitar, backing vocals
  • Stephan Boriss — bass, backing vocals
  • Wolfgang Hagemann — drums
July 1987–summer 1988
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Majk Moti — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jens Becker — bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann — drums, backing vocals
Summer 1988
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Majk Moti — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jens Becker — bass, backing vocals
  • Jörg Michael — drums (temporary)
 none — live performances only
Summer 1988–January 1990
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Majk Moti — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jens Becker — bass, backing vocals
  • Iain Finlay — drums
  • Death or Glory (1989)
  • Wild Animal EP (1990)
  • Death or Glory Tour Live (1990)
Early–late 1990
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Majk Moti — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jens Becker — bass, backing vocals
  • Jörg Michael — drums (temporary)
 none — live performances only
Late 1990–spring 1992
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Axel Morgan — guitar, backing vocals
  • Jens Becker — bass, backing vocals
  • AC Dreffein — drums, backing vocals
1992–1993
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Axel Morgan — guitar, backing vocals
  • Thomas Smuszynski — bass, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann — drums, backing vocals
1993–1998
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Thilo Hermann — guitar
  • Thomas Smuszynski — bass, backing vocals
  • Jörg Michael — drums
Spring 1998–January 2001
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Thilo Hermann — guitar
  • Thomas Smuszynski — bass, backing vocals
  • Chris Efthimiadis — drums (touring only)
  • Angelo Sasso — drums (session only)
August 2001–January 2002
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter Pichl — bass, backing vocals
  • Angelo Sasso — drums (session only)
January 2002–summer 2004
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Bernd Aufermann — guitar (touring only)
  • Peter Pichl — bass, backing vocals
  • Matthias Liebetruth — drums, backing vocals
  • Live (2002)
  • 20 Years in History (2003)
Late 2004–summer 2005
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter Pichl — bass, backing vocals
  • Matthias Liebetruth — drums, backing vocals
Summer 2005–June 2009
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter J. Jordan — guitar (touring only)
  • Peter Pichl — bass, backing vocals
  • Matthias Liebetruth — drums, backing vocals
 none — live performances only
June–July 2009
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter J. Jordan — guitar (touring only)
  • Jan-Sören Eckert — bass (touring only)
  • Matthias Liebetruth — drums, backing vocals
Band inactive August 2009–October 2011
October 2011–June 2015
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter J. Jordan — guitar, backing vocals
June 2015–present
  • Rock 'n' Rolf Kasparek — lead vocals, guitar
  • Peter J. Jordan — guitar, backing vocals
  • Ole Hempelmann — bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Wolpers — drums

Footnotes

  1. ^ Michael also featured as a temporary stand-in during the summer of 1988 and throughout 1990, either side of Iain Finlay's tenure.[9]
  2. ^ Moti appears on three tracks only on Branded and Exiled, as Kasparek had recorded the majority of guitar parts before his arrival.[6]

References

  1. ^ "History". Running Wild. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  2. ^ Rademacher, Brian (10 April 2005). "Interview: Rolf Kasparek (Running Wild)". Rockeyez.com. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  3. ^ Lambart, Thorsten (December 1983). "Running Wild". Power Infusion. No. 2. p. 6. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  4. ^ Muldowney, Rob (July 1984). "Running Wild". Kick-Ass. No. 26. Long Island, New York: Kick-Ass. p. 8. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  5. ^ Meyer, Thomas. "Running Wild — Gates To Purgatory Review". Voices from the Darkside. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b Krämer, Hans Jürgen (November 1985). "Metal Hammer Festival Live Dabei!". Live Wire (in German). No. 5. pp. 5–8. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b Gabriel, Bart (June 2005). "Interview with Jens Becker". Metalpage. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  8. ^ Veneris, Andrew (1989). "Running Wild". The Wild Rag. No. 12. Montebello, California: The Wild Rag. p. 38. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b Schoewe, Andreas (January 1990). "Running Wild: Death or Glory". Loud 'n' Proud (in German). No. 1. p. 7. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Running Wild". Metal Maniac (in Czech). No. 8. 1991. p. 4. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Running Wild". Totentatz (in German). No. 6. 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Running Wild – The First Years of Piracy / Ready For Boarding (Expanded Edition) Reissues". Ever Metal. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Riding the Storm: The story of Running Wild's 'Death or Glory' & interview with Jens Becker". Crystal Logic. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  14. ^ Stein, Lior "Steinmetal" (25 September 2017). "Running Wild - Pile of Skulls (Reissue)". Metal Temple. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  15. ^ Nakos, Nikos (26 July 2025). "Running Wild — Black Hand Inn". Metal Invader. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Artist biography Jörg Michael". Drummerszone. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Rolf Kasparek Interview". Running Wild. February 2000. Archived from the original on 21 November 2000. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  18. ^ "News". Running Wild. Archived from the original on 11 February 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Archive News Aug 10, 2001 - update 2". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Archive News Sep 25, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Running Wild – The Brotherhood". Coagulopath. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Running Wild Revamp Touring Line-Up, Improve Press Relations". Blabbermouth.net. 27 January 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Running Wild Guitarist Says Cancelled Festival Appearances Are Not His Fault". Blabbermouth.net. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Running Wild: CD-Release Party Photos Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. 6 March 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  25. ^ Patrashov, Roman (29 March 2005). "Interview c Running Wild". Darkside.ru. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Band". Running Wild. Archived from the original on 25 October 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Morgan, Anthony (April 2012). "Running Wild – Locomotive". Metal Forces. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Running Wild — "It's Time To Lower The Flag And Take Down The Sails"; Final Show At Wacken Open Air To Be Recorded For Upcoming Release". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Running Wild reunite and begin work on new album". Metal Riot. 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Running Wild Mainman Answers Fan-Submitted Questions - Part 1". Blabbermouth.net. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Running Wild To Perform New Song At Germany's Wacken Open Air". Blabbermouth.net. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  32. ^ Van Horn Jr., Ray. "Reviews - Rapid Foray". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Running Wild To Release 'Blood On Blood' Album In October". Blabbermouth.net. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
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