Metal School - Running Wild: The Origin of Pirate Metal 

I have only now seen this post, a friend sent me this. I have to say I am very honored. A really great report that was made about us here - thank you guys ! All the nice words that are said about us here, that really makes me very happy. I am happy that we have made so many people around this world happy with our music, that is a wonderful feeling. Best regards to all of you out there - STAY WILD !!!

I'm a simple man. I see Running Wild, I click like. All jokes aside, Running Wild was one of my favourite bands since I was 15, almost half of my life. They changed the way I saw guitar and songwriting in general. I wish more people knew about them.

Along with Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, Running Wild makes up my top three bands of all time, and still do to this day. I will never understand why Running Wild never achieved the success of Maiden and Priest considering that Rolf has written some of the best metal songs any true metalhead will ever hear!

I appreciate that they try to keep to pirates in the historical context and not the popular perception of pirates.

Most random metal moment: I was at a bass fishing tournament about 10 years ago. I was walking past weigh in and I saw a dude with a tattoo of Captain Adrian on his arm. Naturally I had to go talk to this guy and see if he really was a fan. Not too many of us Running Wild fans in the US!

Running Wild documentary... Hmm... I think, this is the best video on youtube!

"Black Hand Inn" - Best Running Wild album ever made!

Death or glory album is a masterpiece!

Are you kidding me Pile of Skulls is brilliant, I had Like a Whirlwind on repeat so many times when I was kid.

Death or glory is one of the best albums ever no matter genre. I really love it

During One of the darkest Times in my life, i travelled to wacken open air 2018. Standing in the Front row watching Running Wild play was a huge Part of my recovery. Thank you Rock n Rolf ! 2 years Later my first two sons were born - on July 1, also the birthday of rock n Rolf

I probably don’t need to say this, but I’m a HUGE Running Wild fan. Enough so that I went to Germany on their Victory tour, saw them play to a sold-out show in Osnabruck first day of the tour for 3000 people, then got backstage & met the whole band. I got all my schwag signed including a tour poster & a Rivalry flag blowing over the central air vent just right of where I'm sitting. Some Germans had heard my girlfriend & I speaking English to the guy at the merch booth & soon we had a crowd around us, asking "the Americans" all sorts of questions. Some cooler guys wanted to get backstage & used the fact that we had traveled there as a justification to get backstage. We were talking to Jens Paul, RW's webmaster & some other guys when Rolf came out in sweats through the doorway & says "So, where's the Americans?" It remains one of the coolest moments of my life. Then a few days later we saw them again in Hamburg where the fans were nowhere close to as rabid as the people from Osnabruck & went south to see some amazing German castles. It was a fantastic trip. I’d love to get back to Germany some day.

Probably my favorite metal band ever. I don’t think there’s an era of a band that can rival how much I love this band from Port Royal all the way through to the criminally underrated the Rivalry. 1988 to 1998 is unfuckwithable for the Wild. This is how I rank that era 1. Blazon Stone 2.The Rivalry 3. Black Hand Inn 4. Death or Glory 5. Masquerade 6. Pile of Skulls 7. Port Royal.

With death or glory they reached perfection!

This band is pure metal

I can't believe I had never heard of these guys before. They were laying the foundation for my music tastes before I was even born and without me noticing. I have some catching up to do!

To say they're underrated is being generous. For me, they are among the best Heavy/Power Metal bands from Germany and i have Rolf on the same level as Kai Hansen and Sacha Paeth. Great video!

Hearing Evilution playing during this vid really brought me back to a incredibly great time in my life. Death Or Glory was my first intro into Running Wild in '89 when I was a 16 year old junior in high school. I'd been playing guitar for a few years at that point and this entire album was a huge focus for me trying to learn the songs. Something I've never really gotten into heavily. I still jam Evilution to this day and it's absolutely without a doubt I'm my top 20 favorite songs of all time.

Running Wild always had badass guitar tones and playing.

First 2 albuns were some killer masterpieces. Speed metal at his finest.

There’s a whole world of German metal for me to explore

so now we know that pirates were the first metal bangers..... LOOOOOONNNNGGGG before everyone else. SHIVER ME TIMBERS.... 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE THE VIDEO AND SHARE IT

Saw them on a 3 band bill. Overkill opened. Then Running Wild and Helloween as Headliners. Great concert

Running Wild's first 6 albums are top notch. I could listen to any of them any given day. Gates and Branded are just awesome in guitar work, drumming and in vocal performance. Speed metal at its finest at a very early stage. Under Jolly Roger and Port Royal are great as well...but different. But their best is Death or Glory IMO. Outstanding documentary by the way...

Ahhh I have two of their albums on my gym plsylist. Port Royal is epic. Conquistadors is one of my faves!

Port Royal was by far their best album. It was like everything that I wished Helloween, Queensryche, and Iron Maiden would have played . The galloping rhythm guitars perfectly harmonized, and difficult to learn in an immediate sense. Unlike some of the other 1980s bands Running Wild has remained true to it's roots and still great.

Always great to see Running Wild get some attention! A vastly overlooked band in metal. This video was fantastic.

I really love this band!!! I spent an entire summer listening treasure island on my vacation in 🇬🇷 !!!!

One of my fav metal bands ever!

Black Hand Inn is likely my favorite Running Wild. Pretty sure it's considered one of their mandatory classics now, despite the poor sales. Great video!

One of the best bands ever. What I like about Running Wild is that they never really changed their sound to some bs like nu-metal or some shit like that. They wrote a lot of amazing songs even in the late 90's.

This band was by far the most unpredictable in metal history. They started off as first wave black metal, then power/pirate metal right after the debut. In short, they influenced two genres of music in the span of under a decade.

First album gates to purgatory is a masterpiece. “Prisoners of our time” and “soldiers of hell”are my favourite songs.

Running Wild shoulda been HUGE ! More popular now than then ! Same with another of my faves Sabbat U.K. (japanese Sabbat slays too) i told everyone who would listen in the 8os ! Some dug them others didnt . Under Jolly Roger was badass ! As well as Sabbat a History of Time to Come ! THose were gold to me ! I thought i had discovered metals next big bands !

My favorite Running Wild album is Pile of Skulls. Lead or Gold is an absolute pirate metal masterpiece and Jennings's Revenge is a straight up anthem. Treasure Island is an 11+ minute epic and would be at home on any Iron Maiden album. Rock 'n Rolf is a killer arranger and lyricist!

Riding The Storm is one of the best songs ever and like Hallowed By Thy Name by IRON MAIDEN, Treasure Island is a masterpiece! Thank you for this great video!

Got into Running Wild while living in Germany in the early 90's and saw someone wearing their T-shirt. Went to the local cd store and got Under Jolly Roger. Got every album after that. Used to watch the live video on VHS every day while eating breakfast before school. That VHS tape is worn out.

The band X-Wild, formed in 92 from 3 ex Running Wild members (Stefan Schwarzmann, Axel Morgan and Jens Becker) is also really great, if short lived. Always loved the vocals on those.

As a little kid Running Wild was probably my favorite band. My dad used to blast them in the car. Very good memories.

*Any RW fans reading this owe it to themselves to check out the spiritual successor band "Blazon Stone".* Their first album "Return to Port Royal", along with their name, are obvious throwbacks to the absolutely classic albums of the same name. It's primarily the work of one guy; Ced Forsberg from Sweden. But, man does he NAIL that classic RW sound & style! They have 6 albums now & an EP. He has a channel here under the name "ildur". Highly recommended for fellow swashbucklers. ☠️🏴‍☠🤘

Branded and Exiled is a masterpiece !

Very cool show! I’m a big Running Wild fan, and I had a Running Wild tribute band many years ago. I love this band so much, and I have all their albums. Jens Becker is one of my heroes as a bass player.

WOW!! 21 Albums and I had never heard of this Band Before!! Thanks 🙏

criminally underrated band, rock and rolf baby

Thanks for making a video about my favorite Heavy Metal band, man. Even though I know the band's history by heart, it was a great fun watching it.

the band that got me into metal with their record Masquerade back in '94. Also shaped my view of the world to never trust those in charge

Thanks for this video! I've been into RW in my metallest years (some 30 years ago) and I must say the band aged like wine. I had and tortured to death the first 6 albums. I also had a Blazon Stone t-shirt and a full-sized Under Jolly Roger back patch that I drew myself. Under Jolly Roger remains my favourite, I can listen to it over and over again - both from the original album and more recent live gigs.

I can't believe you didn't mention The Battle of Waterloo, one of the best opening riffs ever.

I'm most fond of the Jörg Michael era albums, but that has to do with me discovering Running wild through being a Jörg Michael fan. I guess if you followed them from the start you would probably prefer the older records.

My favourite metal band of all time, Rolf's voice I put it second to Halford's imo,. It's just a pure metal voice. The riffs, the solos, the drums, I love everything about them

"Cruisin' for booty" has such a different meaning now. Still works though.

Holy Cow.. never even heard of these guys. You are a regular heavy metal archeologist! The more obscure the band, the harder it must be to find background info so KUDOS to you and this channel!! Keep it up, dude

thanks for making a great documentary for the best band in the world, Wild and Free!!

absolutly nice Thanks for taking the time to make the video and share it

Man your school of metal is best thing on youtube..yesterday watch about Manowar and now Running Wild..my favorite bands..please can make about Rhapsody of Fire..that will be interesting to see...

Thank you for the excellent presentation. 🙏 Bought Port Royal from the discount section after school. One couldn't listen to the ones on such discount in the store, but the cover looked fun. Best deal ever. It became one of my favorite metal albums. Running Wild had really good melodic lines with an uplifting energy. I always liked Medieval music (old music in general) so those flavors are gold to me. Naturally I also found Jethro Tull and went heavily into their music.

18:10 btw this is supposed to be just a regular soldier from the early 19th century i think, considering that hes holding military looking flags. Awesome video and band tho, thanks for bringing me into the world of pirate metal!

You're awesome. What a great video. Shedding light on one of the most underrated but also influencial heavy metal bands in history.

Their debut Gates To Purgatory was their best work imo. I remember, I was there 💯

Great work mate. RW is my favourite band, hopefully more people will learn about their legendary albums.

Running wild is one of the best kept secrets in North America...black hand Inn.. masquerade....Port royal and death or glory are masterpieces

Such an amazing band.

Running Wild genuinely have one of the most consistent and strong discographies I have ever seen. Albums like Death or Glory are among the best in all of metal.

I've binged all of these videos. Great stuff.

I've been a fan since Under Jolly Roger! 🤘 Awesome band...always blast them to this day!!!

Never was a super fan, but I was proud to have a cool, original metal band coming from my home country. And live they are unbelievable.

Wow !! Thank you for this great running wild documentary. My favorite band , i am right now watcing it on a saturday night with a beer . Thanks again !!!!!

I’m baffled as to why Black Hand Inn had a bad reception. To me it’s easily their best album and IMO one of the top 5 metal albums of all time. Absolute assault on your eardrums from start to finish.

Great band! They have never lose their touch their essence to this day! Cheers from Argentina !

Personally i more enjoy their earlier black/speed metal efforts, a bit more of a rough and ready rock n' roll feel to it than later albums Unfortunately the pirate/power metal thing never really caught on with me, despite their musicianship improving greatly on latter albums. Great video, cheers!

I love gates to purgatory

Running Wild is the world best pirate metal band in Europe & the world.

I love the pre-pirate stuff, from 84 and 85

what a fantastic tribute to the band

Rolf Kasparek is the world best pirate metal Master Lead Vocalist & Lead Guitarist in Europe & the world.

This is a really great channel kind of takes me back to high school when I would listen to VH1 classic all the time and watch documentaries about 80s metal keep up the good work man

Man I’m addicted!! Love these vids thanks!

Your documentaries are must viewing. I'm enjoying your productions. All the bands. Great to see or learn about

Angelo Sasso plays like a machine 😁😂😜

Thanks for the video, metal is what I work out to, meditate to, return to when I stray too far from myself. First time I had heard running wild I was struck by how natural it felt to me. Talented songwriters, musicians that aren't afraid of the guitar, themes that transport you. Pure metal and irreplaceable in my dark heart and soul..

Never understood the low selling of BHI. It's hands down their best Album with 'Genesis' being my favorite RW Song ever. The Drumming on thie is pure Mania. Agree with the Homework ... best cut possible.

One of my favorite bands...great job!!

Nice work. A great video about a great band

Hell yes man, great video! BTW Raise Your Fist is also my favorite song from UJR album

I am a fan since about 1994, and I really enjoyed your documentary! They simply are not the same since "The Rivalry" or maybe "Victory".

What an amazing virtually unheard-of band! Subscribed

I love your channel. Keep it up!

Loving the videos! Metal Forever!

Great band, '90 era is raw and powerful great video 🤘🤘cheers from brazil!!!

Enjoyed quite much this documentary. RW is one of my favorite bands of all time. Strange that you don't enjoy Pile Of Skulls...such a great album, but ok, not everyone has to like the same things. I just love RW, always did, always will. Cheers!

I’m 26, i’ve spent the last ~12 years scavenging for every metal record i can find that intrigues me enough to listen. Throughout those years it’s been so incredibly easy (comparatively) to find random webpages and blogs dedicated to relatively unknown death metal bands, i’m so happy somebody’s finally going through and detailing the history of all these sick 80’s bands. Thank you so much for the hours of irrelevant knowledge you’re gifting me. If you take suggestions on bands to cover at all, i’d love to see you cover any of these: Witch Cross Blood Money Satan/Blitzkrieg Exorcist

Thanks for your excellent work. Keep on rocking in a free world

Death Or Glory had the most impact but Black Hand Inn is severely overlooked. My favourite of theirs.

Awesome video...thank you so much ❤

I don’t even like this music but I love these documentaries- you are a super fan! 🤘🏻

Amazing vidéo...Thanks for the huge Work.👍

I think this is the best RU-vid Channel about metal. Finally someone talking about this gods

Killer from Switzerland released a pirate theme metal record in 1984 (three years before Running Wild did) called "Stronger Than Ever". The funny part is that stylistically it really does sound like Running Wild.

Thank you ,who ever you are, for this video!🙂 I got stuck on this band 20 years ago when i was 17 years old. I fell for the epic guitars. I love the the most of what they have produced. I got shivers down my spine often when i saw your video🙂

Even if not ALL songs are great, good Rolf knows how to write hits!!! 🤘👊 Really powerfull and true Heavy Metal🤘