Krokus are back! Their new CD ‘Rock the Block’ follows on seemlessly from their greatest successes - and no wonder with the return of Marc Storace’s roaring power.
Correct: Krokus, the most successful Swiss rock band of all time are still rocking away, just like they did in the good old days when then band was formed, more than twenty five years ago. At the turn of the decade – the end of the 70s and the early 90s – they sold more than ten million records. Krokus had multi Gold and Platinum sales on both sides of the Atlantic.
They toured the US extensively, with bands such as Van Halen, Rush, AC/DC, Nazareth, Def Leppard, Metallica and Kiss to name but a few. They were the first Swiss band to sell out at Zurich’s Hallen Stadium as well as London’s rock temple, the Hammersmith Odeon. They are still one of the biggest exportable acts from our country – every single rock fan around the world knows the name KROKUS!
Their careers began in Switzerland. Following various changes in band members, they finally found a perfect power voice for the band in the mid 70s: Maltese-born Marc Storace. The first album which features Storace, ‘Metal Rendez-Vous’, is the coming together of all that which is Krokus. Until now that is, since guitarist Fernando von Arb and singer Marc Storace have found each other once more.
Von Arb and Storace gave rock music legendary albums such as “Metal Rendez-Vous” – “Hardware” – “One Vice At The Time” – “Headhunter” – The Blitz” etc... and the clear direction of “Rock The Block” was to follow in the same vein – with no compromise! After much spirited conversation, the reunited Von Arb and Storace quickly realised that they both wanted the same thing: to get Krokus back on the rock-groove track.
Now Krokus are ready to rock once more. Along side von Arb and Storace is bass-player Tony Castell (von Arb and Castell have been making music together for ten years now, while among other things, playing for fun in the band Butthunter). With them are also the drummer Patrick Aeby and rhythm guitarist Dominique Favez. These two guys from the french part of Switzerland are also co-producers for this album and responsible for “Rock The Block’s” Bombastic sound! Krokus has worked in the past with such great producers as Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Rock, Mike Fraser, Tom Allom, Tony Platt - all legends in their own way. This time, “Rock The Block” was notably produced by Von Arb, Aeby and Favez, with Storace handling the vocals... Their combined effort can be clearly heard on “Rock The Block” in a sound that comes across as pure Krokus – a band more powerful than ever before!
Krokus’ sound for 2003: Similar in style to their early days with full guitar riffs and sing-along choruses. Their first live shows took place during the summer of 2002, and were an outstanding come back. “Marc is singing better than ever now. We are better than ever. Our heads are free. We can now concentrate totally on the music”, says von Arb. The CD with 14 new songs will be released in January. Most of the songs were written by Fernando von Arb/Storace and two by Tony Castell. The latter are, in von Arb’s opinion, “sensational songs, in the best Krokus groove”. Inspired and powerfully insightful lyrics are provided as well by Marc Storace... naturally!
“We never really split up”, says Fernando von Arb, “like the Eagles, we just went on holiday for a few years”. And now the holiday is over. There will be a US comeback as well. Everything overseas is being organized by Butch Stone, Krokus’ former manager, who is now back sailing with Krokus. Stone, in the meantime, is one of the most successful events promoters in the USA. Concerts in Switzerland and rest of Europe are planned for April/May 2003. In the summer, Krokus will be performing at many open-air festivals on both sides of the Atlantic.
KROKUS:
Marc Storace (Vocals) Fernando von Arb (Guitars) Dominique Favez (Guitars) Tony Castell (Bass) Patrick Aeby (Drums)
Source: http://krokusonline.seven49.net/seven49.asp?CathActiv1=138&CathActiv2=675
