Klasyka heavy metalu rodem z Merkellandu.
Co prawda powstali już w połowie lat 70-tych, jednak oficjalnego debiutu na LP doczekali się dopiero w 1985r z rewelacyjnym Gates to Purgatory, który to dziś jest już klasykiem prawdziwego heavy metalu, niespedalonego klawiszami z Casio i pianiem kastrata, jak również wypolerowaną pop radiową produkcją. W podobnym stylu utrzymany jest kolejny Branded and Exiled wydany rok pózniej.
Kolejne lata przynoszą coraz to lepsze płyty od kultowego Under Jolly Roger po Black Hand Inn, produkcja staje się co prawda bardziej wypolerowana, niż na pierwszych płytach, pojawia się więcej melodii czy nawiązań do Iron Maiden i Judas Priest, ale wszystko to posiada wysokiej klasy szlif i nie ma mowy o tanim plagiatorstwie, do tego tematyka z wychwalania diabła i heavy metalu skręca w opowieści o piratach, historycznych bojach, teoriach spiskowych itd.
Niestety po świetnym Rivalry następuje pewien kryzys i w zasadzie Running Wild to już projekt solowy lidera Rolfa Kasparka, oczywiście pojawiają się na płytach genialne przebłyski, jak choćby Ghost z Brotherhood, ale drażni coraz bardziej syntetyczne brzmienie i plastikowo brzmiący automat perkusyjny.
Skład:
Rock 'n' Rolf - Vocals, Guitars (1979-2009, 2011-present), Bass (2004) Giant-X, Toxic Taste, ex-Granite Hearts
Peter Jordan - Guitars (2005-2009, 2011-present) Giant-X, Toxic Taste, ex-Peek-a-Boo
Ole Hempelmann - Bass (2019-present) ex-Donnerkopf, ex-Talon, ex-Thunderhead, ex-Dreamtide
Michael Wolpers - Drums (2019-present) FB1964, ex-Herman Frank, ex-Victory
Hasche - Drums (1979-1987) ex-The Gate (live), ex-Granite Hearts, ex-Grober Unfug
Uwe Bendig - Guitars (1979-1982) ex-Granite Hearts
Stephan - Bass (1982-1987)
Preacher - Guitars (1982-1985) ex-The Gate, ex-Snake Ride Rodeo
Majk Moti - Guitars (1985-1990) D'Orca, Wild Knight, ex-Random, ex-Gate, ex-Metallian
Jens Becker - Bass (1987-1992) Grave Digger, Zillion, ex-X-Wild, Bon Scott, ex-Starchild, ex-Roland Grapow (live), ex-Kickhunter (live)
Stefan Schwarzmann - Drums (1987-1988, 1992-1993) Pänzer, ex-Accept, ex-Helloween, ex-Herman Frank, ex-Krokus, ex-Paradox, ex-U.D.O., ex-Voice, ex-Cronos Titan, ex-X-Wild, ex-Godiva (live), ex-Born Loosers, ex-Canberra, ex-Die Suicides
Iain Finlay - Drums (1988-1989) ex-Axon-IV, ex-Demon Pact, ex-Entera, ex-Justice, ex-Noise Boys, ex-Opera, ex-Richard Head, ex-Touch
AC - Drums (1990-1992) ex-Lacrimosa
Axel Morgan - Guitars (1990-1993) ex-X-Wild, ex-Savage Circus
Thomas "Bodo" Smuszynski - Bass (1992-2000) Bourbon $treet, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-U.D.O., ex-Darxon, ex-Kathy Hawk
Jörg Michael - Drums (1994-1998) Heavatar, Headhunter, ex-House of Spirits, ex-Surgeon, ex-Avenger, Devil's Train, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Grave Digger, ex-Mekong Delta, ex-Rage, ex-Saxon, ex-Siren, ex-Soulslide, ex-Stratovarius, ex-Unleashed Power, ex-Glenmore, ex-X-Mas Project, ex-Living Death, ex-100 Names, ex-Der Riß, ex-Laos (Gudrun Laos)
Thilo Hermann - Guitars (1994-2001) ex-Höllenhunde, ex-Faithful Breath, ex-Grave Digger, ex-Holy Moses, ex-Glenmore, ex-Risk
Angelo Sasso (R.I.P. 2007) - Drums (1999-2002)
Peter Pichl - Bass (2001-2008) ex-Herman Frank, ex-Victory, ex-Yargos, ex-Weinhold, ex-Nektar
Matthias "Metalmachine" Liebetruth - Drums (2002-2009) Toxic Taste, ex-Grailknights, ex-Victory, ex-Thomsen (live), ex-Headcrush, ex-Mousse T.
Jörg Michael - Drums (1990) Heavatar, Headhunter, ex-House of Spirits, ex-Surgeon, ex-Avenger, Devil's Train, ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Grave Digger, ex-Mekong Delta, ex-Rage, ex-Saxon, ex-Siren, ex-Soulslide, ex-Stratovarius, ex-Unleashed Power, ex-Glenmore, ex-X-Mas Project, ex-Living Death, ex-100 Names, ex-Der Riß, ex-Laos (Gudrun Laos)
Chris Efthimiadis - Drums (1998-1999, 2000-2001) Refuge, ex-Atlain, ex-Cracked Bazoo, Tri State Corner, ex-Rage, ex-King's Tonic, ex-Sub7even
Bernd Aufermann - Guitars (2002-2005) Angel Dust, Odenkirchen
Jan-Sören Eckert - Bass (2009) Grimmark, Iron Savior, ex-Charon, ex-Masterplan, ex-Mydra
Ole Hempelmann - Bass (2015-2019) ex-Donnerkopf, ex-Talon, ex-Thunderhead, ex-Dreamtide
Michael Wolpers - Drums (2015-2019) FB1964, ex-Herman Frank, ex-Victory
1981 - Rock from Hell [demo]
1983 - Rock from Hell - German Metal Attack [split]
1983 - Heavy Metal like a Hammerblow [kompilacja]
1983 - Demo 2 [demo]
1983 - Demo 3 [demo]
1984 - Demo 4 [demo]
1984 - Victim of States Power [EP]
1984 - Death Metal [split]
1984 - Gates to Purgatory
1985 - Branded and Exiled
1985 - Metal Attack Vol. 1 [split]
1987 - Under Jolly Roger
1988 - Ready for Boarding [live]
1988 - Port Royal
1989 - Death or Glory
1989 - Bad to the Bone [EP]
1990 - Wild Animal [EP]
1990 - Death or Glory Tour - Live [video]
1991 - Little Big Horn [EP]
1991 - Blazon Stone
1991 - Gates to Purgatory + Branded & Exiled [kompilacja]
1991 - The First Years of Piracy
1992 - Lead or Gold [single]
1992 - Pile of Skulls
1994 - The Privateer [single]
1994 - Black Hand Inn
1995 - Masquerade
1998 - The Rivalry [EP]
1998 - The Rivalry
1998 - The Story of Jolly Roger [kompilacja]
2000 - Revolution [single]
2000 - Victory
2002 - The Brotherhood
2002 - The Legendary Tales [boxed set]
2002 - Live [live]
2002 - Live [video]
2003 - 20 Years in History [kompilacja]
2005 - Rogues en Vogue
2006 - Best of Adrian [kompilacja]
2011 - The Final Jolly Roger [live]
2011 - The Final Jolly Roger [video]
2012 - Shadowmaker
2013 - Resilient
2016 - Riding the Storm - The Very Best of the Noise Years 1983-1995 [kompilacja]
2016 - Rapid Foray
2016 - Inside My Crosshairs / Warmongers [split]
2018 - Pieces of Eight [boxed set]
2019 - The Rivalry / Victory [kompilacja]
2019 - Crossing the Blades [single]
2019 - Ride on the Wild Side [single]
2019 - Crossing the Blades [EP]
2021 - Blood on Blood
MA: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Running_Wild/306
BC: https://runningwild.bandcamp.com/music