Running Wild is a German heavy metal band formed in Hamburg in 1976. They emerged as part of the German heavy metal scene of the early to mid-1980s and are commonly associated with a group of prominent acts from that movement alongside Grave Digger, Helloween, and Rage. Over the course of their career, Running Wild has released seventeen studio albums, as well as live recordings, compilation albums, and extended plays. The band’s early releases featured themes and imagery associated with Satanism, but beginning with their third studio album, their lyrical focus shifted toward pirates, maritime subjects, and historical events. This change became fully established with the 1987 album "Under Jolly Roger", which introduced a pirate-oriented concept that later became closely associated with the band’s identity. The thematic approach of combining heavy metal with historical and pirate imagery has been cited as an influence on what would later be termed pirate metal. While early historical references were comparatively general, later works incorporated more detailed research, particularly by bandleader Rolf Kasparek. Between 1988 and 1992, albums such as "Port Royal", "Death or Glory", "Blazon Stone", and "Pile of Skulls" expanded on historical subject matter, including references to events such as the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Waterloo, and the European colonization of the Americas. Running Wild was originally formed under the name Granite Heart in 1976 and adopted its current name in 1979, inspired by the song "Running Wild" by Judas Priest. The band recorded its first demo in 1981, which included the tracks "Hallow the Hell", "War Child", and "King of the Midnight Fire". Two of these songs appeared on the compilation album "Debüt №1". Their debut album, "Gates to Purgatory", was released in 1984 by Noise Records and contributed to the band’s early following. Shortly after its release, guitarist Gerald Warnecke left the band and was replaced by Majk Moti. The subsequent album, "Branded and Exiled" (1985), marked the final release to prominently feature satanic imagery. A stylistic and thematic shift occurred with "Under Jolly Roger" in 1987, after which pirate and historical themes became central to the band’s work. The follow-up album "Port Royal" (1988) further developed this direction and included longer compositions such as "Calico Jack". "Death or Glory" (1989) represented a commercial high point for the band, accompanied by a successful tour documented in the live release "Death or Glory Tour". This period also saw lineup changes, with guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay departing after the tour. In 1991, Running Wild released "Blazon Stone", followed by "Pile of Skulls" in 1992, both continuing the band’s focus on historical narratives while incorporating elements of speed metal. The 1994 album "Black Hand Inn" introduced additional thematic elements influenced by conspiracy theories. In 1995, the band released "Masquerade", the first in a trilogy of albums that continued with "The Rivalry" (1998) and "Victory" (2000). Over time, frequent lineup changes led to the perception of Running Wild as being centered around Rolf Kasparek as its principal member and songwriter. Subsequent releases included "The Brotherhood" (2002) and "Rogues en Vogue" (2005). Around this period, tribute albums such as "The Revivalry", "Rough Diamonds", and later "ReUnation" (2009) were released by various artists. On 17 April 2009, Kasparek announced the band’s disbandment, and Running Wild performed a farewell concert at the Wacken Open Air festival on 30 July 2009. This performance was later released as "The Final Jolly Roger" in 2011. Despite the announced breakup, Running Wild reformed in 2011 and released the album "Shadowmaker" in 2012. Around the same time, Kasparek and guitarist Peter Jordan formed the side project Giant X, which released the album "I" in 2013. Running Wild continued with "Resilient" (2013) and returned to live performances, including an appearance at Wacken Open Air in 2015. The band’s sixteenth studio album, "Rapid Foray", was released in 2016, followed by the EP "Crossing the Blades" in 2019. In 2021, Running Wild released their seventeenth studio album, "Blood on Blood". The song "Diamonds and Pearls" from the album was included in year-end rankings by music media outlets. Former guitarist Majk Moti died on 16 February 2023 at the age of 65. As of the mid-2020s, Running Wild has announced plans to perform a final concert at Wacken Open Air in 2026, with an additional studio album expected prior to that performance. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Wild_(band) Studio albums Gates to Purgatory (1984) Branded and Exiled (1985) Under Jolly Roger (1987) Port Royal (1988) Death or Glory (1989) Blazon Stone (1991) Pile of Skulls (1992) Black Hand Inn (1994) Masquerade (1995) The Rivalry (1998) Victory (2000) The Brotherhood (2002) Rogues en Vogue (2005) Shadowmaker (2012) Resilient (2013) Rapid Foray (2016) Blood on Blood (2021)