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Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes
Peter Baltes
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Key Information

Peter Baltes (born 4 April 1958)[1] is a German musician, best known as former bassist of heavy metal band Accept and as current bassist of U.D.O.[2]

Career

[edit]

He started out in the Solingen prog rock band Pythagoras in the 1970s[3] but is best known as the former bassist of the heavy metal group Accept, having played bass guitar on their first 15 albums. He joined them in 1976 after Dieter Rubach left the band and also made minor contributions as a lead vocalist with Accept on their early albums and on the album Predator of 1996.[4]

After 42 years as a member, Baltes announced his departure from Accept in November 2018;[5] the band later replaced him with former Uli Jon Roth sideman Martin Motnik.[6] In 2023, Baltes joined U.D.O. and Dirkschneider alongside his former Accept band mate, Udo Dirkschneider.[2]

Outside of Accept, Baltes has sung background vocals on the Scorpions' Savage Amusement album and has played bass on John Norum's albums Face the Truth, Worlds Away, and more.[4]

Baltes played bass on all but two tracks on Dokken's debut album, Breaking The Chains, after regular bassist Juan Croucier "missed the deadline to get to Germany" for recording.[7] Baltes reportedly recorded all the parts in one night.[8] Baltes later performed bass and background vocals on Don Dokken's solo effort Up from the Ashes.

References

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Peter Baltes

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Peter Baltes (born April 4, 1958) is a German heavy metal best known as the longtime for the band Accept, with whom he performed from 1976 until 2018 and contributed to all of their professional studio albums. Born in , , Baltes began his musical journey playing guitar at age 11 before switching to in his early teens, influenced by acts like Genesis and Yes. He joined Accept shortly after the band's formation and became a core member alongside vocalist , providing not only bass lines but also lead vocals on select tracks, such as "Seawinds" and "No Time to Lose." Baltes' tenure with Accept spanned key albums including Balls to the Wall (1983) and Metal Heart (1985), helping the band achieve international success and sell over 17 million albums worldwide as of 2024. In 1985, he was voted the best bassist in Europe by Metal Hammer magazine and ranked number one in Burrn! magazine's reader poll, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and influential player in the heavy metal genre. Beyond Accept, Baltes has collaborated with artists like Dokken, John Norum, and Mick Mars, and contributed to projects such as U.D.O.'s Animal House (1987) and Jax Hollow's Underdog Anthems (2021). Following his departure from Accept in November 2018—amid reported tensions over band dynamics and creative direction—Baltes relocated to the , initially to Nashville to focus on composing for radio and television, while joining Dirkschneider & The Old Gang (DATOG) in and continuing with . In the early 2000s, Baltes experienced a profound personal transformation, becoming a born-again Christian after a period of searching following personal tragedies; this led him to sobriety (over 21 years as of 2025), the formation of the band Four Inch Nails, and a life centered on faith. He resides in Florida with his wife, Johanna—whom he met at an Accept concert—and their two children.

Early life

Childhood in Solingen

Peter Baltes was born on April 4, 1958, in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. Solingen, renowned as the "City of Blades," has long been a major industrial center specializing in the production of cutlery, knives, and edged tools, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The city suffered extensive destruction during World War II, but it was swiftly rebuilt in the postwar era as part of West Germany's broader economic resurgence known as the Wirtschaftswunder. By the 1960s, Solingen's cutlery sector thrived with approximately 700 companies employing around 19,000 workers, many operating as independent home-based artisans in a decentralized tradition that blended craftsmanship with industrial output. This environment fostered a predominantly working-class community shaped by the demands of metalworking and manufacturing. Baltes spent his formative years in this industrial setting amid the cultural and economic transformations of postwar , where rapid industrialization and consumer growth redefined daily life for many families. The period marked a shift from wartime to , with Solingen's factories and workshops symbolizing the nation's recovery and emphasis on skilled labor.

Musical beginnings

Peter Baltes began his musical journey in Solingen, Germany, where he picked up the guitar at the age of 11 around 1969, teaching himself to play without formal instruction. This self-taught approach allowed him to explore music independently during his early teenage years, laying the groundwork for his instrumental skills amid the local rock scene. In the early 1970s, Baltes co-founded the progressive rock band Pythagoras in Solingen, drawing inspiration from influential acts like Yes and developing a playing style reminiscent of bassist Chris Squire. The band's sound emphasized extended compositions, with tracks lasting around 25 minutes each, featuring intricate jamming sessions packed with complex progressions and a focus on keyboard-driven arrangements. As the singer and bassist, Baltes performed in a makeshift English accent, reflecting the limitations of his hometown's linguistic environment, though the guitarist often had limited opportunities to shine within the dense, note-heavy structures. Pythagoras remained a short-lived endeavor, disbanding after producing just a handful of songs as Baltes transitioned to new opportunities. During his teenage years, Baltes shifted from guitar to bass as his primary instrument, a change prompted by a random draw in a band setting that assigned him the role. To afford his first bass—a —he took a job at a local piston factory, marking a pivotal move toward the low-end foundation that would define his later contributions. This transition simplified his approach from the elaborate prog elements of to more straightforward rhythms, honing his technique for heavier styles.

Career

Time with Accept

Peter Baltes joined Accept in 1976 as a founding member during the band's formation in , , taking over bass duties after the departure of previous bassist Dieter Rubach and helping shape the group's early sound. This lineup, featuring vocalist , guitarist , drummer Stefan , and rhythm guitarist Jörg , solidified Accept's core identity as a heavy metal outfit rooted in the German metal scene. Over his four-decade tenure, Baltes provided bass lines for all 15 of Accept's studio albums, from their self-titled debut Accept in 1979 through I'm a Rebel (1980), Breaker (1981), (1982), Balls to the Wall (1983), (1985), (1986), (1989), (1993), (1994), Predator (1996), (2010), Stalingrad (2012), Blind Rage (2014), and (2017). His bass work, characterized by a shift to a more aggressive and gripping style upon joining the band, became integral to Accept's rhythmic drive and songwriting. Baltes also contributed occasional lead and backing vocals, delivering lead parts on tracks like "No Time to Lose" from , "Breaking Up Again" and the bridge of "Midnight Highway" from Breaker, "The King" from the same album, and "Lay It Down," "It Ain't Over Yet," and "Primitive" from Predator. Accept's breakthrough came with the 1982 album Restless and Wild, which marked a pivotal evolution in their sound and profoundly influenced the heavy metal genre by blending raw aggression with structured songcraft. This success propelled the band into international prominence during the 1980s, with extensive world tours supporting albums like Breaker (1981), , Balls to the Wall, and . Notable highlights included opening for on their 1981 World Wide Point of Entry Tour across and the , headlining shows in documented on the live album Kaizoku-Ban (1985), and performing at the inaugural festival in , England, in 1984 alongside acts like and . These tours, spanning , , and , established Accept as a global heavy metal force amid the decade's rising NWOBHM and glam metal waves. The band faced periods of instability in the and , marked by hiatuses and reunions that tested but ultimately sustained their legacy. Following the release of in 1989—which featured new vocalist David Reece after Dirkschneider's initial departure—Accept disbanded in 1990 amid lineup changes and creative shifts. They reformed in 1992 with Dirkschneider returning, leading to the albums , , and Predator before another split in 1997 due to internal tensions and solo pursuits. A third reunion occurred in 2005, initially without new material, but by 2009 the band had stabilized with American vocalist , debuting live in New York and releasing in 2010 to critical acclaim. This era saw further albums like Stalingrad, Blind Rage, and , alongside renewed touring that kept Accept active through the 2010s. Baltes announced his departure from Accept on November 27, 2018, after 42 years, citing growing disillusionment with internal conflicts, artistic stagnation, and personal discoveries that made continuing untenable, including tensions between key members and a sense that "everything was wrong." During his time with the band, Accept sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, cementing their status as heavy metal pioneers. Baltes personally received recognition as Heavy Metal Bass Player of the Year in 1985, highlighting his technical prowess and stage presence.

Guest appearances and side projects

Baltes provided on most tracks of Dokken's debut Breaking the Chains, released in 1983, after the band's original bassist missed the recording deadline. He completed his parts in a single night at Dierks Studios in , . During the 1990s, Baltes contributed bass to Swedish guitarist John Norum's solo efforts, including the full Face the Truth (1992), which featured collaborations with vocalist Glenn Hughes. He returned for Norum's Worlds Away (1996), performing all bass tracks and co-writing songs such as "" and "Too Many Millionaires". These sessions occurred alongside Baltes' commitments with Accept. Baltes added background vocals to the Scorpions' tenth studio album Savage Amusement (1988), delivering the spoken intro on the track "Every Minute Every Day". In the late 2000s, after his conversion to Christianity, Baltes formed the Christian rock band Four Inch Nails with longtime friend and guitarist Tim Laidlaw. The project sought to integrate heavy metal influences with faith-based lyrics, aiming to reach rock audiences through evangelism. The band debuted with tracks like "In the Blood" and "Free at Last" in 2009, performing primarily at church services, youth events, and local venues in the United States to promote spiritual messages.

Later band affiliations

After leaving Accept in 2018, Peter Baltes joined U.D.O. in April 2023 as the band's full-time bassist, marking a reunion with frontman Udo Dirkschneider, his longtime collaborator from Accept. This move also extended to Dirkschneider's parallel project, with Baltes simultaneously becoming a member of Dirkschneider, where the lineup focused on performing Accept classics. Baltes cited the positive interpersonal dynamics within U.D.O. as a key reason for joining, describing it as a group where "everyone gets along, and no one has an ego, not even Udo," emphasizing Dirkschneider's contentment with simply singing and performing at this stage in his career. In a February 2024 interview, he contrasted this harmony with past experiences, noting the absence of egos allowed for a more enjoyable and focused environment. With , Baltes contributed to the band's 18th studio album, , released in August 2023, which marked his first official recording effort with the group and featured a mix of heavy metal tracks produced at Dierks Studios. The album supported extensive touring, including the Touchdown Europe Tour in early 2024, starting in and covering festivals across the continent, followed by a U.S. and Canada tour from September to October 2024. In parallel, Baltes participated in Dirkschneider & The Old Gang, a project reuniting Accept alumni including guitarist Stefan Kaufmann, which debuted material in 2023 and ramped up activity in subsequent years. The ensemble released singles like "I Still Burn" and "Requiem Reloaded" in 2023, and by 2025, issued "Dead Man's Hand" in August alongside performances of Accept-era songs. This culminated in the Balls to the Wall 40th Anniversary European Tour announced in May 2024 for 2025, where the band planned to perform the full 1983 Accept album, with Dirkschneider expressing enthusiasm for sharing the stage with Baltes on these classics. As of November 2025, the tour was underway, featuring stops in Germany and beyond, solidifying Baltes' role in reviving the Accept legacy through these affiliations.

Personal life

Family and relocation

Peter Baltes married his wife Johanna, whom he met during his years with Accept, after boldly asking for her phone number following a show she attended. The couple settled outside , , in the 1980s, relocating from for a combination of family stability and career opportunities in the U.S. music scene. This move allowed Baltes to maintain his professional commitments while establishing a home base in the United States. Following his departure from Accept in 2018, the family relocated to , to focus on music production; as of 2021, they reside in . Baltes and his wife have two children, including their son Sebastian Baltes, who serves as the bassist and vocalist for the heavy metal band Howling Giant. Throughout his touring career with Accept and later projects, Baltes balanced the demands of the rock lifestyle with family responsibilities, often returning home between tours to spend time with his loved ones. His wife provided essential support during these periods, helping manage family life amid the band's extensive travel schedules.

Religious conversion

Around the late , Peter Baltes experienced a profound shift in his following the tragic deaths of the and singer of a young punk band he was producing, in a rehearsal space fire caused by a explosion, an event that prompted deep reflections on mortality and the emptiness of his rock star lifestyle despite fame and success. This incident, where Baltes himself narrowly escaped due to arriving late, left him feeling broken and receptive to spiritual change, as he later described realizing that material achievements could not fill the void within him. His wife played a pivotal role by taking their children to a local church, which initially Baltes resisted joining, but her encouragement led him to attend services, where he sat in the balcony observing. After church members visited his home and engaged in discussions about faith, Baltes committed to during a session, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and describing an overwhelming emotional experience unlike anything he had felt before, marking his becoming a born-again Christian. In a 2009 interview, he recounted how this moment broke his pride and led to an immediate transformation, with his family's support reinforcing his newfound commitment. The conversion had a direct and lasting impact on Baltes' personal habits, particularly his struggles with alcohol and , which he had used to cope with the pressures of touring and life in the music industry; the day after his experience, he quit both entirely, achieving that he attributed solely to his . While he had avoided hard drugs throughout his , the faith provided the peace and strength needed to resolve his alcohol dependency, fostering a sense of inner calm that he described as life-changing. Baltes reaffirmed his born-again status in a 2024 interview, emphasizing how brought him enduring peace and , allowing him to navigate life's challenges without reverting to old vices. Baltes integrated his faith into his musical pursuits by joining his church's praise team and forming the Christian rock band Four Inch Nails around the early 2000s, aiming to share his beliefs with heavy metal audiences through performances that blended his bass skills with gospel messages. Though his energetic style occasionally clashed with more traditional worship settings, this outlet allowed him to express his commitment authentically, viewing music as a tool to witness his transformation.

Musical style and equipment

Playing technique

Peter Baltes is renowned for his aggressive, riff-driven heavy metal bass style, which perfectly complemented Accept's high-energy sound through precise, fast picking and dynamic jumps that locked tightly with the guitar riffs. This approach emphasized straightforward, eighth-note-driven lines that provided a solid foundation without overpowering the band's dual-guitar assault, contributing to the genre's raw power during the . His playing featured gripping grooves with economical note choices, delivering high-impact propulsion. Baltes drew significant influences from 1970s bassists, particularly of , whose riff-heavy, groove-oriented techniques shaped his early adoption of a thick, driving tone suited to heavy music. He also cited of as a key inspiration for maintaining rhythmic drive in high-tempo settings, blending these elements into a style that prioritized aggression over flash. Additional roots in Black Sabbath's dark, heavy grooves informed his playing. His technique evolved notably across his career, beginning with progressive rock elements in his 1970s band Pythagoras, where influences from Chris Squire of Yes led to more complex, melodic bass lines inspired by bands like Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Upon joining Accept in 1976, Baltes streamlined this into a heavier, simpler metal approach focused on beat-keeping and precision, a shift that carried into his work with U.D.O. starting in 1987, where he maintained the aggressive riffing but adapted to the band's evolving power metal edges. This progression allowed him to balance prog complexity with metal directness, as seen in his solo material blending Emerson, Lake & Palmer progressiveness with Deep Purple-style heaviness. In Accept's music, Baltes often integrated vocal-bass interplay by providing backing harmonies and occasional lead vocals, such as on "Seawinds" and "No Time to Lose," where his bass lines synced seamlessly with the melodic demands of to enhance the songs' emotional depth. This dual role amplified the band's anthemic quality, with his precise picking ensuring the bass remained a rhythmic anchor even during vocal sections. His gear choices, including robust amplification, supported this technique by delivering a clear, powerful tone that cut through the mix.

Preferred instruments

Baltes began his musical career playing guitar, starting at the age of eleven, before switching to bass when his first band drew lots and he was assigned the role. Throughout much of his professional tenure with Accept in the 1970s and 1980s, Baltes favored Fender Precision-style basses equipped with EMG active pickups for their reliable, punchy tone in heavy metal recordings and tours. Since 2014, he has primarily used Warwick basses, including Custom Shop Streamer CV models featuring EMG active P/J pickups for enhanced clarity and output. Notable examples include his signature Warwick CV PB-03 with a special "Mad PB03" finish and lightweight toured instruments displayed at the 2014 and 2015 NAMM shows, such as a red alder-bodied Streamer CV weighing approximately 8.16 lbs (3.7 kg). For amplification, Baltes employed the Peavey Max Bass Head in live setups during the 1980s, as promoted in band advertisements, alongside SVT-CL heads (using three units) and 8x10 cabinets for the 1985 tour. This equipment selection provides the high-midrange drive and tight response essential to his aggressive, pick-driven style.

References

  1. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Peter_Baltes/21656
  2. https://datog.de/bandmembers/peter-baltes.html
  3. https://www.k-m.de/brand/en/endorser/accept/
  4. https://vintageguitarsus.com/blogs/artist-of-the-month/peter-baltes-artist-of-the-month-december-2018
  5. https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/peter-baltes-accepted
  6. https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-accept-bassist-peter-baltess-home-damaged-by-hurricane-milton-gofundme-campaign-launched
  7. https://www.britannica.com/place/Solingen
  8. https://www.shanzuchef.com/en-us/blogs/recounded-guide/solingen-en
  9. https://historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/germany-1945-1949-a-case-study-in-post-conflict-reconstruction/
  10. https://www.udo-online.com/band.html
  11. https://myglobalmind.com/2023/09/14/peter-baltes-of-u-d-o-on-his-former-band-accept-financial-and-musical-aspects-changed-and-i-went-from-a-full-band-member-to-a-hired-gun-i-got-tired-and-it-wasnt-what-i-wanted-anymore/
  12. https://metalstorm.net/bands/biography.php?band_id=291&bandname=Accept
  13. https://www.acceptworldwide.com/the-band/
  14. https://sleazeroxx.com/bassist-peter-baltes-leaves-accept-after-being-in-the-band-since-1976/
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9p_bSAv71I
  16. https://www.facebook.com/themetalvoice/posts/accept-breaker-released-march-16-1981one-of-their-bestudo-and-peterfavorite-song/1184652163056787/
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  19. http://www.accept-archive.ru/concert/concerts8086.html
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  21. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/peter-baltes-accept/
  22. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ex-accept_bassist_opens_up_on_why_he_left_the_band_too_many_things_were_just_bad.html
  23. http://www.maximummetal.com/interviews/intresults.asp?ID=peterbaltes_accept&idBand=1360
  24. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Dokken/Breaking_the_Chains/38116
  25. https://johnnorum.se/face-the-truth-1992/
  26. https://www.discogs.com/release/3933462-John-Norum-Worlds-Away
  27. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Scorpions/Savage_Amusement/35045
  28. https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-accept-members-baltes-hoffmann-shredding-away-together
  29. https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-accept-bassist-peter-baltes-officially-joins-udo-dirkschneiders-u-d-o-and-dirkschneider
  30. https://www.udo-online.com/news-details/welcome-peter-baltes-as-new-band-member-on-bass.html
  31. https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/udo-dirkschneider-welcome-bassist-peter-baltes-to-the-band/
  32. https://www.metal-rules.com/2024/02/26/peter-baltes-u-d-o-is-a-band-where-everyone-gets-along-and-no-one-has-an-ego-not-even-udo-at-his-age-ego-no-longer-matters-and-he-is-simply-happy-just-to-sing-and-perform/
  33. https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/u-d-o-announces-touchdown-studio-album/
  34. https://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/interviews.php?intid=854
  35. https://www.earsplitcompound.com/u-d-o-to-kick-off-touchdown-us-canada-tour-2024-this-week/
  36. https://blabbermouth.net/news/u-d-o-announces-touchdown-first-studio-album-with-peter-baltes-as-official-member
  37. https://www.metal-rules.com/2025/08/06/dirkschneider-the-old-gang-release-new-single-dead-mans-hand/
  38. https://www.udo-online.com/news-details/announcement-dirkschneider-balls-to-the-wall-40th-anniversary-european-tour-2025.html
  39. https://blabbermouth.net/news/udo-dirkschneider-is-looking-forward-to-playing-entire-balls-to-the-wall-album-with-peter-baltes
  40. https://secure.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/Peter_Baltes082609.aspx
  41. https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-accept-members-udo-dirkschneider-and-peter-baltes-cover-ac-dcs-shoot-to-thrill-with-howling-giant
  42. https://myglobalmind.com/2015/06/26/interview-with-accept-bassist-and-back-vocalist-peter-baltes/
  43. https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-accept-bassist-peter-baltes-how-i-became-a-born-again-christian
  44. https://www.premierguitar.com/pro-advice/on-bass/on-bass-the-song-guys-part-2
  45. https://blabbermouth.net/news/ex-accept-bassist-peter-baltes-on-his-long-awaited-solo-album-ive-been-working-on-it
  46. https://equipboard.com/pros/peter-baltes
  47. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/peter-baltes-of-accept-sound.1301214/
  48. https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/229793-warwick-streamer-nammwow/
  49. https://forbassplayersonly.com/peter-baltes/
  50. https://reverb.com/item/46663725-warwick-customshop-streamer-cv-toured-by-peter-baltes-of-accept-emg-active-pj-4-string-bass-8-16-lbs
  51. https://www.facebook.com/officialwarwickbasses/posts/streamer-cv-handcrafted-for-peter-baltes-from-accept-special-finish-mad-pb03for-/801956946598709/
  52. https://www.ebay.com/itm/265127789892
  53. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/peter-baltes-accept-blood-of-the-nations-tone.1007005/
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