Sven Dirkschneider, was born on 8th December 1993 as the son of German metal legend Udo Dirkschneider in Pulheim near Cologne, Sven began playing drums at the early age of five. Fascinated by the musician's life, he joined his father's tours at a young age experiencing travelling, nightlining, concerts and musical instruments, this became an integral part of his life. In 2008, Sven founded his first band formation "Damaged", which started out as a cover band but then they started writing more and more of their own songs, they played gigs in German clubs and produced an EP with the support of former Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann, this was one of the highlights of the band's history, that lasted up until 2015, that also included gigs in Germany and the Czech Republic as a support act for U.D.O., his father's band.
After finishing school in the summer of 2010, Sven began training as a media designer. At the same time, he used every free moment to accompany his father to concerts and help out as a drum technician. After passing the final exams of his vocational training, he first worked with the British NWOBHM legends Saxon in 2013, who had noticed the competent work of the young drum technician on international festival stages. After signing on as Saxon's drum tech, Sven made the decision to turn his temporary job into a full-time one. Subseqently in 2013 and 2014 he toured Europe and Russia as a stage technician with U.D.O. and Saxon.
When Saxon had to cancel some shows in December 2014 due to the health problems of their drummer Nigel Glockler, they were forced to reschedule them for February 2015, frontman Biff Byford decided to hire Sven Dirkschneider as a replacement drummer. What Sven didn't know, was that a few months earlier, during a Saxon gig in Berlin, where he was an invited guest, his father Udo, had told his friend Biff Byford that U.D.O. were looking for a new drummer. To Udo's surprise, the Saxon frontman recommended Udo's son Sven, whom Byford had observed night after night at the sound checks and rated Sven as absolutely suitable for U.D.O.. In February 2015, Sven was confirmed as the new U.D.O. drummer, and just four weeks later he went on a lengthy tour with the band. Since then, Sven and Udo have formed what is probably the most successful father / son duo in metal.
This duo now also forms the personnel backbone of DATOG. During an U.D.O. concert with the German Armed Forces Music Corps in 2018, the idea for the album “We Are One” was born. Only a short time later, Peter Baltes, who had contributed several songs to “We Are One”, announced, to great surprise, his departure from Accept. Due to the cooperation on “We Are One”, there were several meetings between him, Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann during the one-year production. This eventually gave rise to the idea of “Dirkschneider & The Old Gang”, in which Sven is naturally involved, alongside former U.D.O. guitarist Mathias Dieth and singer Manuela Bibert (known for, among other things, the duet with Udo Dirkschneider on “We Are One”).
In May 2020, the version of the song “Where The Angels Fly” a left over from the album “We Are One” with the German Armed Forces Music Corps was first released via YouTube, then Udo Dirkschneider, Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes rearranged the number and turned it into a thoroughbred rock track. The result, in September 2020, you could suddenly find a low-budget video clip of the new version on YouTube. The prompt reaction of the fans was overwhelming! Without any advertising or marketing measures at all, the video clip was clicked millions of times within a few months. The second DATOG song “Face Of A Stranger” hit the web on 29th April 2021, to be followed by a third clip, “Every Heart Is Burning”, on 28th May 2021. On the 27th August 2021 a single containing all three songs, will hit the shops as a CD, a 12" vinyl and a download.
Status May 2021
Tama Rockstar
1 x 22" x 18" Bass drum
1 x 12" x 9" Rack tom
1 x 13" x 10" Rack tom
1 x 16" x 14" Floor tom
1 x 14" 6,5" Snare drum
Cymbals:- No name
DW Drums SSC Collectors Maple / Mahogany
2 x 22" x 18" Bass drums
1 x 10" x 8" Rack tom
1 x 12" x 9" Rack tom
1 x 16" x 14" Floor tom
1 x 18" x 16" Floor tom
1 x 14" x 6.5" Black nickel over brass snare drum
Cymbals:
2 x PAISTE 2002 14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats
1 x PAISTE 2002 12" Splash
2 x PAISTE 2002 19" Power Crash
2 x PAISTE 2002 20" Power Crash
2 x PAISTE 2002 20" Novo China
1 x PAISTE Signature 22" Blue Bell Ride
1 x PAISTE Rude 14" Blast China
1 x PAISTE Rude 12" Shred Bell
1 x PAISTE PSTX 14" Swiss Flanger Stack
2 x PAISTE PSTX 19" Swiss Medium Crash
2 x 22" x 18" Bass drums
1 x 10" x 8" Rack tom
1 x 12" x 9" Rack tom
1 x 16" x 14" Floor tom
1 x 18" x 16" Floor tom
1 x 14" x 6.5" Stainless steel snare drum
Cymbals:
2 x PAISTE 2002 14" Sound Edge Hi-Hats
1 x PAISTE 2002 12" Splash
2 x PAISTE 2002 20" Novo China
2 x PAISTE 2002 Black 19" Big Beat
2 x PAISTE 2002 Black 20" Big Beat
1 x PAISTE Signature 22" Blue Bell Ride
1 x PAISTE Rude 14" Blast China
1 x PAISTE Rude 12" Shred Bell
1 x PAISTE PSTX 14" Swiss Flanger Stack
2 x PAISTE PSTX 19" Swiss Medium Crash
