Wolf Hoffmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wolf Hoffmann
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Hoffmann in 2022
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| Background information | |
| Born | 10 December 1959 |
| Origin | Mainz, West Germany |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Heavy metal, speed metal, hard rock, neoclassical metal |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
Wolf Hoffmann (born 10 December 1959) is a German musician. He is best known as the guitarist for the heavy metal band Accept. He has been with the band since 1976 and is the only original member left.
Wolf Hoffmann's guitar playing helped shape the speed metal music style. He was also one of the first musicians to play neoclassical metal. This style mixes heavy metal with classical music.
He has played on all of Accept's albums since 1976. The band took a break between 1997 and 2008. They got back together in 2009. Since then, they have released several successful albums.
Wolf Hoffmann has also released two solo albums. These albums feature rock versions of classical music. They are called Classical (1997) and Headbangers Symphony (2016).
Contents
Early Life and Music
Wolf Hoffmann was born in Mainz, West Germany, on December 10, 1959. When he was six, his family moved to Wuppertal. His parents wanted him to go to university. They hoped he would have a career in science.
But Wolf became very interested in playing the guitar. He got his first acoustic guitar from his parents. He promised to take lessons. He only took lessons for about a year. His love for guitar really grew when he got his first electric guitar.
In middle school, Wolf played guitar with friends every day. They formed small bands that did not last long. These practices were mostly for fun. Wolf went to a good high school. He was very good at ancient Greek and Latin. Even though his parents and teachers wanted him to go to college, he chose to focus on his music career with Accept.
Wolf Hoffmann's Music Career
Joining Accept
In late 1975, Wolf Hoffmann heard that a band called Accept needed a new guitarist. The band practiced close to his home. A few weeks before his 17th birthday, Wolf joined Accept. This band was different from the casual groups he played with before. The members were serious about practicing. They also played live shows.
After bassist Peter Baltes joined, he and Wolf started writing new songs together. They worked together for over 40 years. They wrote most of Accept's songs. Wolf has played most of the guitar parts on Accept's studio albums.
Accept's Albums
Wolf Hoffmann has released 16 studio albums with Accept. Their first album, Accept, came out in 1979. In the 1980s, they released seven more albums. These included Balls to the Wall and Metal Heart.
The band broke up in 1989 but returned in 1992 with Objection Overruled. Wolf made two more albums with Accept before they stopped playing together again in 1997.
Accept made a big comeback with Wolf Hoffmann in 2009. Since then, they have released many new albums. These include Blood of the Nations (2010), Stalingrad (2012), Blind Rage (2014), The Rise of Chaos (2017), Too Mean to Die (2021), and Humanoid (2024).
Wolf Hoffmann has also started writing new music for the next Accept album.
Solo Music Projects
In 1997, Wolf Hoffmann released his first solo album, Classical. On this album, he played rock versions of famous classical music. His second solo album, Headbangers Symphony, came out in July 2016. For this album, he added an orchestra to his rock versions of classical songs. Both albums take well-known classical pieces and turn them into rock or metal songs.
Wolf had a dream of performing with a symphony orchestra. This dream came true in 2017 at the Wacken Open Air Festival. He played songs from Headbangers Symphony with the Czech Symphony Orchestra. This concert was also released as a live album and DVD. In April 2019, Accept started the Symphonic Terror tour. This tour included songs from Wolf Hoffmann's first solo album, Classical.
Wolf has also worked on ideas for a third classical solo album.
Working with Other Musicians
Wolf Hoffmann has also played with other musicians. He contributed to Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach's solo album. He also played on a Japanese tribute album for guitarist Randy Rhoads. Wolf also worked on an album called Peace Breaker by Skew Siskin.
Wolf Hoffmann's Guitars
Wolf Hoffmann has a special signature guitar made by Framus. It comes in two styles. One is white and called Flying Fortress. The other is chrome and looks like a World War II bomber, also called Flying Fortress.
Wolf said that growing up in Germany, many people had a Framus guitar. He was proud to have his own signature guitar made by them. He said it was a "real Heavy Metal Axe made in Germany!"
In the 1980s, Wolf often used Gibson Flying V's and Fender Stratocasters. He still uses these guitars sometimes today. He has also played guitars from other companies like Jackson guitars and Fernandes. He often uses a custom Jackson King V guitar.
Personal Life
Wolf Hoffmann has always loved photography as a hobby. It even became his second job for a while. He took the cover photo for Accept's 1993 album, Objection Overruled. When Accept took a break from 1997, Wolf worked as a professional photographer. He continued this for a few years after Accept got back together. He stopped professional photography because he did not have enough time.
Wolf Hoffmann lives in both Nashville, Tennessee, and Florida. He also has a home in Berlin. He was married to Gaby Hoffmann, who used to manage Accept. She also helped write songs for the band under the name Deaffy.
Wolf is now in a relationship with Ava-Rebekah Rahman. She is a violinist who played with Accept on their Symphonic Terror tour in 2019.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Classical (1997)
- Headbangers Symphony (2016)
Accept Albums
- 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)
See also
In Spanish: Wolf Hoffmann para niños
