Running Wild

The history of Running Wild



Of musicians and pirates



Originally founded in 1976, band founder and mastermind Rock'n Rolf and his merry band of musicians have written their own important chapter in international heavy metal history



The unique recording career of the four guys from Hamburg began in 1984 with the release of their debut album 'Gates To Purgatory', which, together with the single 'Walpurgis Night', entered the charts. The follow-up album, 'Branded And Exiled', was released a year later, and reinforced their early success, together with tours in support of Sinner and Mtley Cre. In 1987 'Under Jolly Roger' became the first of the band's albums to feature their unique pirate-style image and subject matter, and their European tour of that year saw them play to thousands of excited fans. A live album culled from this tour entitled 'Ready For Boarding' was released in 1988, garnering worldwide acclaim, as did their fourth studio album, 'Port Royal' (also 1988).



1989 saw further chart success with 'Death Or Glory' and an accompanying EP, 'Bad To The Bone'. Then, after a two year hiatus, the group returned with a new single entitled 'Little Big Horn', which, together with the follow-up album,

'Blazon Stone', continued their run of chart success. The first act in their history was then closed with the compilation 'The First Years Of Piracy', which was backed up with another headlining European tour.



The second act began in 1992 with the overtly political 'Pile Of Skulls' album and 'Lead Or Gold' single. The tour in support of the album was a superb piece of pirate-theatre, an unbelievable show complete with amazing pyro-effects.



Following 'Black Hand Inn' (1994) RUNNING WILD invited bands such as Grave Digger and Rage to participate in Summer Metal Meetings 1995, which was followed in the autumn of 1996 by the album 'Masquerade'. In 1998 their most recent album 'The Rivalry' continued to impress listeners with its unique sound and atmosphere that only Rock'n Rolf is able to create.

Up to now Running Wild released three more albums - VICTORY, THE BROTHERHOOD & the newest one from 2005 ROGUES EN VOGUE!