Guitarist Bill Hudson explains why he is no longer in Dirkschneider
Guitarist Bill Hudson explains why he is no longer in Dirkschneider
Back on April 24, 2018, Dirkschneider, the band led by former Accept lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider made the following announcement: “As of Today, the German-based Metal Band U.D.O. / Dirkschneider and their US-based Guitarist Bill Hudson have decided to go their own separate ways. The split is due to a difference in their individual visions for the future, and is without any negative feelings on either side.”
In a recent interview with United Rock Nations, Udo Dirkschneider explained Hudson‘s departure as follows (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “We had a problem with a session guitar player for the second time. Bill Hudson was not the right guy for us. He was not a team player. He was not interested in songwriting and recording the album. It was a little bit strange situation. And then, after the American tour, we said, ‘Okay. Sorry, guy, but this doesn’t work with us.’ And then I don’t wanna have another — how do you say this? — quick looking for a guitar player. And then I was calling Stefan Kaufmann….”
Hudson released a statement to Blabbermouth yesterday with his thoughts on what Udo Dirkschneider apparently stated in his interview with United Rock Nations (with slight edits):
“I was very surprised to become aware of a comment Udo Dirkschneider was quoted as saying about me and his project, Dirkschneider.
“Every part of [Udo‘s above-mentioned quote] is not only false but also, not an accurate representation of why I am no longer a part of Dirkschneider.
“I resigned from Dirkschneider prior to the start of their American tour. I did, though, remain with the band for that tour as a favor to the band’s manager, who asked me to stay on for the tour. Furthermore, upon the completion of their American tour, I was asked to perform with the band in Europe a month after the American tour was completed on the ‘Full Metal Cruise’. These actions validate that Udo Dirkschneider‘s quoted comments surrounding my departure from the project/band are false. No one at any time, including Udo Dirkschneider, ever said to me, ‘Sorry, guy, but this doesn’t work with us.’ I resigned from the project/band, stayed on for the American tour and the cruise as requested by management, and then fully departed.
“While I am grateful for the opportunity to have performed with Dirkschneider, I acknowledge there were musical differences I experienced with the project/band during the European tour in late 2017 which, resulted in the conclusion that the project/band was not a good fit for me. Additionally, my resignation from the project/band was influenced by previously confirmed show dates with I Am Morbid that conflicted with newly scheduled show dates for Dirkschneider, as well as my desire to focus more on my own band, Northtale.”