METALLIAN - Krokus

KROKUS - SWITZERLAND

Krokus – 1976 – Schmoritz/Phonogram
To You All – 1977 – Schmoritz/Polygram
Pain Killer – 1978 – Polygram
Pay It In Metal – 1979 – Polygram
Metal Rendez-vous – 1980 – Polygram
Hardware – 1981 – Ariola
One Vice At A Time – 1982 – Ariola
Headhunter – 1983 – Arista
The Blitz – 1984 – Ariola
Change Of Address – 1986 – Arista
Alive And Screamin’ – 1986 – Arista
Heart Attack – 1988 – MCA
Stampede – 1991 – Phonag
To Rock Or Not To Be – 1995 – SPV
Round 13 – 1999 – Angel Air
Rock The Block – 2003 – WEA
Fire & Gasoline – 2004 – AFM
Hellraiser – 2006 - AFM

Members

S= Chris von Rohr - Tea, Biss, Blue China>>Marc Storace>>Biss, Blue China, Amen, Solo, DC World, Warrior – Biss, China, Amen, Solo>>Marc Storace>>Solo, Warrior, Blue, DC World – Peter Tanner - Persian Risk, Tokyo Blade>>Carl Sentence – Hansi Droz - Biss, Blue China, Amen, Solo, Warrior, DC World>>MARC STORACE>>Amen, Solo, Warrior, DC World
G= Montezuma>>Fernando Von Arb – Tommy Kiefer – Mark Kohler>>Steve Thomson – Killer>>Mandy Meyer>>Katmandu, Stealing Horses, Asia – Tony Castell – Chris Lauper – Dominique Favez
B= Jörg Nägelli - Remo Spadino – Solo>>Chris Von Rohr>>Solo – Andy Tonas – Cobra>>Tommy Kiefer>>Craaft – Solo>>Chris Von Rohr - TONY CASTELL
D= Fready Steady>>Steady – Cobra>>Jeff Clayfen>>Royal Jelly – Dany Crivelli – Pete Rabbit – Hydra>>Steve Pace – Steve Thomson>>Fready Steady>>Steve Thomson – Cliff Rodgers – Patrick Aeby – Running Wild, UDO, Accept, X-Wild>>STEFAN SCHWARZMANN

History

Krokus is Switzerland’s biggest contributor to the hard rock and heavy metal world and was formed in 1974 in Soluthurn. The band had progressive tendencies at the beginning and subsequently had a nice hard rock and heavy metal sound before drifting more into the AC/DC scheme of things around 1981/1982.

The band recorded its debut in 1975 and had it issued the year after through Phonogram. The only original member remaining from those heady days is Chris Von Rohr who began as the band’s singer. He initially served on drums before switching to vocals and bass. Malta native Marc Storace would be introduced to the fans in 1978 on vocals and become the band’s prime singer from then on. The new line-up recorded the decidedly heavy Metal Rendez-vous and toured with Rainbow and others. The band also made it to America where one of the headliners was none other than AC/DC. The band made its mark in Great Britain when it played both the Reading and Loch Lomond festivals in 1980. The group had briefly relocated to London in order to crack that market. Chris Von Rohr produced the debut single of Switzerland Killer in 1980. The band’s Maurer replaced Von Rohr at the end of the decade.

Kiefer left following the release of Hardware (and would commit suicide five years later), but would be replaced by Mandy Meyer. The new man would only stay for one album and would soon resurface in Asia – the band.

Headhunter was produced by Judas Priest producer Tom Allom and featured Rob Halford on one song. The album would chart on both sides of the Atlantic, but would be the swan song for Freddy Steady who would be replaced by Steve Pace. The band managed to snag the opening slot of the Def Leppard US tour (both bands sharing a label), but was kicked off the tour. Dates with Judas Priest did follow however.

The Blitz would be issued in 1984 and signal the band’s commercial peak. The album’s single, Ballroom Blitz, was a cover version. The album was recorded in Vancouver and featured credits and composition by Canada’s Bryan Adams. The band played at the huge Texxas World Music Festival that year. Change Of Address would be more commercial and was again accompanied by a cover version as a single. The honours belonged to Alice Cooper’s School’s out this time. Tom Werman who had just worked with Mötley Crüe produced the album. Chris von Rohr would return to the band, which meant that it was time for Keiser to leave.

Krokus would issue Heart Attack and again concentrate on the American market, but would surprise the fans by splitting up when Von Rohr and Storace ended up being unfriendly. Guitarist Kohler would attempt to keep the band going, but would soon realize the folly of the attempt. Von Arb would however return to action in 1990 and record a new album called Stampede. The band would only find an independent recording contract however. Peter Tanner sang on the record. Storace would obviously be back in time for To Rock Or Not To Be (how appropriate), although the singer would soon jump ship again. He would be replaced by former Tokyo Blade and Persian Risk man Carl Sentence. Storace would come back for 2001 and Krokus would resume touring. Fire & Gasoline’s release coincided with the appearance of Rock The Block in America courtesy of Reality Entertainment (formerly CMC International). The connection would introduce Marc Storace to Warrior with whom he recorded music. The line-up would continue to fluctuate as Von Arb would be turfed in 2005 and be replaced by Mandy Meyer. Drummer Stefan Schwarzmann joined in the spring of 2005. The band would open for Hammerfall in 2007. The band was involved in a bus crash on January 22 while on tour in Europe with The Poodles and Hammerfall. The accident, which happened in Denmark, only resulted in some bruises.

The band’s so-called classic line-up of singer Marc Storace, Fernando Von Arb (guitar), Chris Von Rohr (bass) and Freddy Steady (drums) reunited for an appearance on November 18th, 2007 on a Swiss TV show called Die Grössten Schweizer Hits (The Biggest Swiss Hits) where the line-up performed Tokyo Nights, Bedside Radio and Heatstrokes.

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