Running Wild

Running Wild were a very popular and influential German ^Germany heavy metal ^{Heavy metal music} band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene ^{Music of Germany#Metal} to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under Jolly Roger in 1987 (thus abandoning the Satanic imagery of their earlier work). Although the earlier releases contained Satanic themes and imagery, the guitar player of the band was then Preacher (aka Gerald Warnecke) who is now a vicar in Cologne.
On April 17, 2009 Rolf announced that Running Wild had split-up. Their last show was at Wacken Open Air on July 30, 2009. It was recorded for CD and DVD release.

 
Final members

*Rolf Kasparek - Vocals, guitars (1976-2009)
*Peter Jordan ^{Peter Jordan (musician)} - Guitar (2004-2009)
*Jan S. Eckert - Bass (2009)
*Matthias Liebetruth - Drums (2002-2009)


Former members

'Guitar'
*Uwe Bendig (1976-84)
*Gerald Warnecke (1984-85)
*Majk Moti (1985-90)
*Axel Kohlmorgen (X-Wild) (1990-93)
*Thilo Hermann (ex-Grave Digger ^{Grave Digger (band)} , ex-Holy Moses, ex-Faithful Breath, ex-Risk ^{Risk (German band)} ) (1994-01)
*Bernd Aufermann (Angel Dust ^{Angel Dust (band)} ) (2002-04)

'Bass'
*Jörg Schwarz (1976)
*Carsten David (1976-79)
*Matthias Kaufmann (1980-83)
*Stephan Boris (1984-87)
*Jens Becker (Grave Digger ^{Grave Digger (band)} , X-Wild) (1987-92)
*Thomas Smuszynski (ex-U.D.O., ex-Darxon) (1992-02)
*Peter Pichl - Bass (2002-2009)

'Drums'
*Michael Hoffmann (1976-82)
*Wolfgang Hagemann (1982-87)
*Stefan Schwarzmann (Accept, ex-Helloween, Paradox ^{Paradox (German band)} , ex-X-Wild, ex-U.D.O., ex-Voice ^{Voice (German band)} ) (1987-88, 1992-93)
*Ian Finlay (ex-Justice ^{Justice (German band)} , ex-Demon Pact) (1988-90)
*Jörg Michael (Stratovarius, ex-Saxon ^{Saxon (band)} , Unleashed Power, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Avenger ^{Avenger (German band)} , ex-Rage ^{Rage (band)} , ex-Grave Digger ^{Grave Digger (band)} , ex-Mekong Delta ^{Mekong Delta (band)} , ex-Tom Angelripper, ex-Headhunter ^{Headhunter (German band)} ) (1990, 1994-98)
*Rudiger Dreffein (1990-92)
*Christos Efthimiadis (1998-00)
*Angelo Sasso (2000-02)
Studio albums

* Gates to Purgatory (1984)
* Branded and Exiled (1985)
* Under Jolly Roger (1987)
* Port Royal ^{Port Royal (album)} (1988)
* Death or Glory ^{Death or Glory (album)} (1989)
* Blazon Stone (1991)
* Pile of Skulls (1992)
* Black Hand Inn (1994)
* Masquerade ^{Masquerade (Running Wild album)} (1995)
* The Rivalry ^{The Rivalry (album)} (1998)
* Victory ^{Victory (Running Wild album)} (2000)
* The Brotherhood ^{The Brotherhood (album)} (2002)
* Rogues en Vogue (2005)


Live albums

* Ready for Boarding (1988)
* Live ^{Live (Running Wild Album)} (2002)


Compilation albums

* The First Years of Piracy (1991)
* The Story of Jolly Roger (1998)
* 20 Years in History (2003)
* Best of Adrian (2006)


Singles and EPs

* "Victim of States Power" (1984)
* "Bad to the Bone ^{Bad to the Bone (Running Wild song)} " (1989)
* "Wild Animal ^{Wild Animal (Running Wild song)} " (1990)
* "Little Big Horn ^{Little Big Horn (Running Wild Single)} " (1991)
* "Lead or Gold" (1992)
* "The Privateer" (1994)


Split releases

* Death Metal ^{Death Metal (split album)} (1984)


Tribute albums

* The Revivalry - A Tribute to Running Wild (2005)
* Rough Diamonds - A Tribute to Running Wild (2005) (available as a free download on the official website)
* ReUnation - A Tribute to Running Wild (2009)