Accept

Accept is a German heavy metal band, originally from Solingen. It was founded by singer Udo Dirkschneider and guitarist Michael Wagener (who has since become a producer). The band started under the name Band X in 1968, before adopting the name Accept in 1971. They only began a professional career in the late 1970s. The band has disbanded and reformed several times; most recently in 2009. They are notably recognised for having played an important role in the rise of speed metal, with their song Fast as a Shark. The album Balls to the Wall, released in 1983, is considered one of the classic records in metal history.

From an aesthetic point of view, their music is distinguished by an incisive and powerful heavy metal style, and by numerous references to classical music. The band has also explored different stylistic possibilities (including hard FM, speed metal, hard rock, alternative metal, etc.). Lyrically, a significant part of their repertoire features texts concerned with social issues and human rights (denouncing the oppression of minorities, racism, prejudice, the death penalty, war and militarism, religious fundamentalism or social conformity...), as well as themes then emerging in society, such as ecology and certain gender-related issues.

The band achieved significant success during the 1980s. They are generally considered the second most important figure in German heavy metal, after Scorpions, but were also the subject of controversies during the 1980s, in turn accused, without any foundation, of Nazi sympathies (France and Poland), Soviet sympathies (United States) or anti-Soviet attitudes (in the USSR). They were also criticised by a conservative fringe of the metal audience for the gay-friendly themes of some songs and their imagery. All these controversies dissipated and disappeared over time.