26 Record Mirror, April 19.1980 CLOCK THIS! Forget all that eidelweiss stuff, BRIAN HARRIGAN talks to. Switzerland's new national emblem - Krokus

_oF about time the'other always good NEW YORK citizenship It seem% á members got a name - musicianship in what is miracle that check and a bit of we do. renowned Switzerland has history. So the other "As tar as actually produced a four members of influences are for being rock band. More Krokus are, ín no Concerned I'd say we the place to get astonishing, It is a particular order, Chris sound a bit like AC/DC down and hard driving, hard - von Rohr (bass), sometimes or a bit like boogey rocking a bit. Texas seems machismo - Tommy Kiefer (lead Deep Purple. But loaded heavy metal that's not a deliberate ideal an guitar), Fernando von for band. Arb (rhythm guitar) and thing we do - we just evening full of hog The,group is called Freddy Steady try to be ourselves." - stomping rebel Krokus, a five piece (drums). yelling outfit which celebrates They, with the and its fourth birthday this drinking gallons of aforementioned Friez, year and boasts three formed Krokus In 1977 STORACE is Jack Daniels: albums released so and spent their first quietly hopeful far, The last E, still one, few months of that Krokus will en'London 'Metal Rendezvous', swings a bit, II a tittle existence playing soon be was the first to come Spanish nightclubs on coming to the geriatrically these a days. But Switzerland? out in Britain, courtesy the Costa Brava, six UK. of Ariola, and has hours of night, seven "I think the plan is The likelihood of the clocked pretty honest burghers of the days a week. In 1978 that we'll be doing a respectable sales In its 22 cantons shaking they returned to tour of Germany, their booties seems 'month on the market. Switzerland, signed up supporting the In it's about as strong as Switzerland with Phonogram and Scorpions, and then Maggie Thatcher selling like a demon - wacked out their, debut we might do a couple realising that,Lenin 15,000 copies in no album 'Painkiller' of try -out gigs in time at all. if you , was not the And which established England. I certainly think ' songwriting partner of that's pretty them as the country's hope so because we derisory you should number one rock all want to come to McCartney. realise that 25,000 band. (Anyone who England - there's a I mean, take.a look sales in that country says "only rock band" lot more appreciation at Zurich, so spotless means a gold album, should either pull for music here than It looks as though the compared with a themselves together br most places in Europe. pavements are 100,000 here. The leave this page at half hourly "I think there's room polished population is only immediately). fór us in England ntervals. They have around six million and Unfortunately, at .their matches the because there's still a football since most of these time, last year gap to be tilled here ' on Sundays and the are bankers, clock Phonogram decided fans out of the' although there are a spilling makers, chocolate Krokus had no future ' lot look like a of heavy metal stadium stirrers and Olympic outside of Switzerland bands coming out mass for the - advert ski champions, and=the revenue from again. There's still health - giving Krokus are doing ' those kind'of sales room properties of yoghurt..' stunningly well. for our kind of wouldn't even pay the music and I just hope Even Attila the Hun The rock scenedn managing get this lot to, director's the English fans agree Couldn't their native land is petrol. bills so our with go on a rampager dead with us." relatively brave lads got ditched. In Given all this Zurich Just the meantime, possessing But then Ariola came while waiting for orderliness, three recognised MARK STORACE, Krokus' Prize guy along and things have cleanliness and major venues one Krokus to make their - been looking brighter British live I'd general solid massive one which' s debut patronised mainly by he joined in October' for Krokus ever since. recommend anyone to Money which, while it And now back,to have visiting British bands, last year. hadn't had much a listen to 'Metal one medium (about He replaced one Storace who must be Rendezvous' a success, at least wondering -when he's - 2000) which Krokus Henry Friez who had ' operated classy, powerful outing in a going to get a word in which filled a few weeks ago been with Krokus for somewhat more displays some edge-ways in this fine vocals by Storace, - the same night years then suddenly exciting part of the piece. Barclay James Harvest decided to sign a solo world excellent guitar work, - ie London. - "After I'd were on at the big one contract with CBS in met by Kiefer and chunky Besides, his wife Krokus and played and another which Italy a move which was rhythm work by the - - only just . with them for is apparently about the puzzles Storace as a bit " other three. begiríning to see a bit he says, recalling his It's size of the Marquee. much as it puzzles me. of him and since a sound they the first days with the capture well stage It speaks volumes So Krokus first gig Sprenger was on band, "I realised they and one they intend to for Krokus' ability and despatched their talking about a tour of would be a great band continue on vinyl. perseverance that they manager, affable Harry Hungary it didn't seem to be in. go down so well In Sprenger, to Storace has some London to marry with any idea "I've always known Switzerland because to buy some new of wedded bliss. material already that Switzerland has a written for the next the Swiss, as one stage clothes. (No, I Eventually Sprenger lot of good musicians album native told me, are don't understand convinced which will him to try a around and Krokus probably be recorded very unexcitable either). There he met weekend with the band convinced me that I within people. Marc, whom he had in the next six Switzerland after the should try with a Swiss So unexcitable that known previously, told Hungarian months or so. trip and band again. Let's allow Storace they've only managed him about the Henry Storace agreed. The "We play to good the last words. -come up with one , Friez 1 Krokus I CBS result was a perfect strong music but it's "For the future I rock-band of any Italy situation and ' matching. He fitted not over the top. I stature before Marc the hope we get as many Krokus offered gig. into the line-up like a mean it's thekind of hits we and they were a very Storace wasn't too as can but at dream and his music t could play to the same time we've minority interest outfit _keen. He'd had a professional work with my mother, called Tea. although got to hold on to the jugful of Switzerland Krokus was recording she'd prefer to listen freshness Marc Storace was with Tea and was' we have at &yOar New Alkm the vocals for the to the Beatles I'm the moment. We're lead singer with Tea enjoying himself in 'Metal Rendezvous' sure. and now fills the What I'm trying just going to keep on same London.. He'd been in album. tb say is that we don't' working role with Krokus whom a band and hope .0;N/eUF/aáat called Easy Incidentally, it's go crazy - there's people wilLlike us,"