{"title":"Running Wild","description":"\u003cp\u003eEuropean metal festival mainstays who have sold over five million albums during their three-decade-plus career, German power\/speed metal ensemble Running Wild emerged in the mid-'70s with a hard-hitting style that flirted with satanic imagery. The release of their third album, 1987's Under Jolly Roger, saw the group eschew the malevolence of prior outings for a more melodic and rousing, yet no less powerful sonic attack that relied heavily on pirate and nautical themes. Having officially found their identity, Running Wild embraced the pirate metal mantle on standout LPs like Port Royal (1988), Black Hand Inn (1994), Rogues en Vogue (2005), and Rapid Foray (2016). The group swashbuckled their way through countless bandmembers over the years, with guitarist and main songwriter Rolf Kasparek serving as the band's sole constant member.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four-man heavy metal combo was founded in 1976 in Hamburg by Kasparek along with guitarist Preacher (who quit after the first LP and actually became a vicar), bassist Stephan, and drummer Hasche. Originally operating under the handle Granite Hart, they changed their name to Running Wild in 1979, taking the moniker from the 1978 Judas Priest song. The group cut their first demos in 1982 and signed to Noise Records for their sinister debut album, Gates of Purgatory, which arrived in 1984. The similarly themed Branded and Dead arrived one year later. A support slot for Mötley Crüe in 1986 gave Running Wild a leg up on other European metal bands, and they toured America soon after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1987 album Under Jolly Roger broke the group with metal audiences across the world, employing an outlandish pirate image that would, in coming years, greatly influence the pirate metal subgenre of the 2000s. The success of this album would cement Running Wild's direction over the next two decades, and, as heard on subsequent albums like Port Royal (1988), Pile of Skulls (1992), and Masquerade (1995), their material would continue to rely heavily on historical and often piratical themes. Lineup changes continued, but the band soldiered on into the 2000s, releasing a string of narrative-driven studio albums and a handful of live releases. In early 2011, Running Wild announced that their final show together would occur at Wacken Open Air Festival in July. A CD\/DVD of the concert, titled The Final Jolly Roger, was released, though Kasparek ended up reuniting the band later that year and inking a deal with SPV\/Steamhammer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe newly revived Running Wild released two studio albums in quick succession, beginning with 2012's Shadowmaker and followed by Resilient a year later. In 2016, they issued Rapid Foray, their 16th studio long-player. In 2018, Noise Records released Pieces of Eight, a box set containing all of the band's singles for the label, as well as the re-recorded compilation The First Years of Piracy and an expanded vinyl version of their first live album, Ready for Boarding. The following year saw the release of Crossing the Blades, a four-song EP that included a blazing cover of KISS' \"Strutter.\" In October 2021, Running Wild returned with album number 17, Blood on Blood. Guitarist Majk Moti (aka Michael Kupper), who worked with the band from 1985 to 1990, died on February 16, 2023 at the age of 65. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"running-wild-the-final-jolly-roger-wacken-2009-digipak","title":"The Final Jolly Roger: Wacken 2009 [Digipak]","description":"Audio Mixer: Rock 'N Rolf.\nPhotographers: Kai Swillus; Ralph Larmann; Dirk Illing; Rolf Klatt.\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Heavy Metal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 10\/11\/2011\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44563406946537,"sku":"AJYSO4-I6ND-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Running-Wild-The-Final-Jolly-Roger-Wacken-2009-Digipak_TPOuK.jpg?v=1758993965"},{"product_id":"running-wild-black-hand-inn","title":"BLACK HAND INN","description":"\u003cp\u003eBLACK HAND INN is a Music CDs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 09\/01\/2017\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44563440369897,"sku":"SAGD86-6T4I-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Running-Wild-BLACK-HAND-INN_568JP.jpg?v=1759076245"},{"product_id":"running-wild-death-or-glory","title":"Death or Glory","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeath or Glory is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 3\/10\/2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582042271977,"sku":"F8SXMF-VAV0-00","price":42.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-death-or-glory_jNcsn_e2157680-d0b8-4a5a-8e18-d426fd161253.jpg?v=1759366440"},{"product_id":"running-wild-the-first-years-of-piracy-red-vinyl-version","title":"Running Wild | First Years Of Piracy (LP, Colored Vinyl Red)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eLimited colored vinyl LP pressing. German Heavy Metal legends Running Wild, led by enigmatic front man, Rock N'Rolf Kasparek, single handed invented the pirate metal genre with their 1987 breakthrough album, Under Jolly Roger. After the Death Or Glory tour wound up there was a change of members in the bands ranks, so they headed back to the studio in 1991 and re-recorded the biggest tracks from their first three albums. The result was 'The First Years Of Piracy' and thus closed the first chapter in Running Wild's career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eRunning Side    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eA1        Under Jolly Roger    \u003cbr\u003e\r\nA2        Branded And Exiled\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA3        Soldiers Of Hell\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA4        Raise Your Fist\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA5        Walpurgis Night\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eWild Side\u003cbr\u003e\r\n    \u003cbr\u003e\r\nB1        Fight The Oppression\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB2        Marching To Die\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB3        Raw Ride    \u003cbr\u003e\r\nB4        Diamonds Of The Black Chest\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB5        Prisoner Of Our Time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eLabel: NOISE RECORDS\u003cbr\u003e\r\nRel. Date: 05\/27\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\r\nUPC: 4050538706147\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat Detail: LP\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Rock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 05\/27\/2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582088802537,"sku":"7IJX51-HS0Z-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-first-years-of-piracy-lp-colored-vinyl-red_NbsJO.png?v=1746548526"},{"product_id":"running-wild-under-jolly-roger","title":"Under Jolly Roger","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnder Jolly Roger is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 3\/10\/2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582497419497,"sku":"ST26E5-8HP4-00","price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-under-jolly-roger_vD0ix.jpg?v=1743078722"},{"product_id":"running-wild-gates-to-purgatory","title":"Gates to Purgatory","description":"\u003cp\u003eGates to Purgatory is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 4\/7\/2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582858195177,"sku":"PNNBSY-PVG9-00","price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-gates-to-purgatory_mtXYu.jpg?v=1759286698"},{"product_id":"running-wild-black-hand-inn-1","title":"Black Hand Inn","description":"\u003cp\u003eBlack Hand Inn is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 2\/10\/2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44584572354793,"sku":"MS1HK0-4BEK-00","price":42.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-black-hand-inn_Pv9vz.jpg?v=1758984194"},{"product_id":"running-wild-port-royal","title":"Port Royal","description":"\u003cp\u003ePort Royal is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 2\/10\/2023\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44584739373289,"sku":"MY1MAC-VN5A-00","price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-port-royal_m5CbW.jpg?v=1759413677"},{"product_id":"running-wild-ready-for-boarding","title":"Ready for Boarding","description":"\u003cp\u003eReady for Boarding is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Running Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 06\/17\/2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44585973645545,"sku":"4W8Q1A-2MMU-00","price":36.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Running-Wild-Ready-for-Boarding_djJkj.jpg?v=1759200260"},{"product_id":"running-wild-blazon-stone","title":"BLAZON STONE","description":"Running Wild: Rock N Rolf (vocals, guitar); Axel Morgan (guitar, background vocals); Jens Becker (bass, background vocals); AC (drums, background vocals).\nAdditional personnel: Ian Kreyson, Kalle Bosel, Jan Olav, Martina Wiegendt, Sven Poschmann, Michael Herwig, Jens Butterwick, Raymond Kana, Oliver Losshagen (background vocals).\nRecorded at Studio M, Machtsum between December 1990 and January 1991.\nBlazon Stone solidified Running Wild's cult following with another heavy dose of pirate imagery and enough strong riffs to put the record over, although some songs can be a bit repetitive or unmemorable. ~ Steve Huey\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 09\/01\/2017\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Wild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44587221352681,"sku":"03CGHL-ETH5-00","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/running-wild-blazon-stone_83BWO.jpg?v=1758742961"},{"product_id":"running-wild-port-royal-1","title":"PORT ROYAL","description":"Running Wild includes: Rolf Kasparak (vocals).\nRecorded at Sky Trak, Berlin, Germany in June 1988.\n1988's Port Royal is somehow surprising, as Running Wild's large back catalog isn't of the highest quality. Port Royal is very fine overall, with excellent songs and fantastic arrangements. Even though the second half of the album fails in comparison with the first, Port Royal is absolutely the most steady of Running Wild's albums. The only thing that might bother listeners is the rather poor mixing, which leaves some pretty vital instruments behind drums and vocals. However, highlights such as the title track, \"Blown to Kingdom Come,\" and \"Mutiny\" help ensure that Port Royal is a great choice for anyone into speed metal and its spin-offs. ~ Antti J. 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