Krokus (band)

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Krokus
Origin Solothurn, Switzerland
Genre(s) Heavy metal, hard rock
Years active 1974-present
Label(s) AFM, Arista
Website Official Website
Members
Marc Storace
Mandy Meyer
Dominique Favez
Tony Castell
Stefan Schwarzmann
Former members
Tommy Kiefer
Hansi Droz
Remo Spadino
Chris Von Rohr
Fernando von Arb
Jürg Naegeli
Freddy Steady
Mark Kohler
Jonathan Stern
Steve Pace
Jeff Klaven
Andy Tanas
Cheetah Juarez
Tommy Keiser
Dani Crivelli
Peter Tanner
Many Maurer
Peter Haas
Carl Sentence
Chris Lauper
Dave Stettler
Patrick Aeby

Krokus is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Switzerland.

Krokus was founded in Solothurn in 1974 by bassist (and original lead vocalist) Chris von Rohr and guitarist Tommy Kiefer. Former Eazy Money vocalist Marc Storace joined the band as frontman in time for their Metal Rendez-vous album in 1980.

Contents

[edit] History

Krokus enjoyed popularity in the 1980s in parts of Europe and the USA. They toured with Nazareth in Europe and with AC/DC, Motörhead, Rainbow, Rush, Def Leppard, Judas Priest and Sammy Hagar in the United States. Headhunter was awarded platinum album status in the United States. All Krokus albums to date have gone platinum in Switzerland.

In 2005, longtime lead guitarist Fernando von Arb left the band after continuing wrist problems required surgery. Mandy Meyer, who had played with the band in the mid-1980s, replaced von Arb in the lineup.

On November 18th 2007 the line up featuring Chris von Rohr, Fernando von Arb, Fready Steady and Marc Storace reunited to play a medley (Tokyo Nights, Bedside Radio and Heatstrokes) during the TV-Show Die grössten Schweizer Hits on Swiss television. A cover of Krokus' cover of Sweet's Ballroom Blitz also appered in the 2007 game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.

It was announced on April 20th 2008 that the classic lineup of Chris von Rohr, Fernando von Arb, Fready Steady and Marc Storace have reunited and will be releasing a new studio record in 2009 with a supporting world tour.

[edit] Origin of band name

The band name "Krokus" evolved from the word for a flower common to the region of southern Europe, the crocus. Early in the spring of 1975, band founder Chris von Rohr observed a field of these flowers while traveling by train. He was returning from the "L'Ecole des Chefs" located in France after an aborted career in the culinary arts, and it was around this time the idea for a Metal band was formed.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Live albums & Compilations

  • 1980: Early Days '75-'78 (Compilation)
  • 1986: Alive And Screamin' (Live) , US #97
  • 1987: Stayed Awake All Night - The Best (Compilation)
  • 1993: The Dirty Dozen (Best Of)
  • 2000: Definitive Collection (Compilation)
  • 2000: The Collection (Compilation)
  • 2000: Best Of (Compilation)
  • 2003: Long Stick Goes Boom: The Anthology (Best Of)
  • 2004: Fire And Gasoline (Live + DVD)

[edit] Singles & EPs

  • 1980: Tokyo Nights
  • 1980: Heatstrokes
  • 1980: Bedside Radio
  • 1981: Winning Man
  • 1981: Rock City
  • 1982: American Woman
  • 1982: Save Me
  • 1982: Bad Boys Rag Dolls
  • 1983: Stayed Awake All Night
  • 1983: Screaming In The Night
  • 1984: Midnite Maniac
  • 1984: Ballroom Blitz
  • 1984: Our Love
  • 1986: School's Out
  • 1987: Screaming In The Night (Live)
  • 1987: Let The Love Begin
  • 1988: Let It Go
  • 1988: Wild Love
  • 1994: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
  • 2003: I Want It All
  • 2006: Angel of My Dreams

[edit] Videos & DVDs

  • 1985: The Video Blitz (VHS)
  • 2004: Fire And Gasoline (Bonus DVD)
  • 2004: As Long As We Live (DVD)

[edit] External links