KROKUS Preparing To Write New Material

Thirty years after KROKUS' original lineup conquered the world with its straight-forward, no-nonsense rock 'n' […]

By Elina Papadogianni

• January 2, 2011

Thirty years after KROKUS' original lineup conquered the world with its straight-forward, no-nonsense rock 'n' roll, the band's new studio album, "Hoodoo", was released last year and it reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Vocalist Marc Storace states, "It exceeded our boldest expectations; we never expected such a huge success!"

With all of KROKUS' commercial success since the reunion of the band's original lineup, there is most importantly total harmony among the bandmembers. Gone are the heated arguments and heavy disputes that troubled the group in the past and resulted in constant lineup changes. KROKUS founder and bassist Chris Von Rohr sums it up best: "We finally learned to accept the flaws and individual characteristics of each other and live with it."

And what will the immediate future bring? The only Swiss rock band ever to have sold 13 million albums worldwide since 1976 is planning a follow-up to "Hoodoo". Chris Von Rohr confirms: "Beginning of the year we start writing new songs."

Once the first step of writing songs is completed, recording will start most likely in the second half of 2011 with a release date in 2012 at the latest. By then the rockers from Solothurn, Switzerland will be - on average - 60 years old. Asked by Switzerland's largest boulevard paper if they were slowing down, Chris Von Rohr answered quickly, "No way." Reflecting for a moment, he laughed and added, "We are the prime example that rock music keeps you young - besides AC/DC and THE ROLLING STONES, of course."

"Hoodoo" was made available in the U.S. on May 25, 2010 via SonyMusic Independent Network (SIN). The CD was produced by bassist and founding member Chris Von Rohr and was recorded by Dennis Ward (who previously worked on KROKUS' "Hellraiser" album) at House of Music Studios in Winterbach, Germany, with additional recordings at Pink Bild and Ton (engineered by ex-KROKUS member Jürg Naegeli) in Solothurn, Switzerland and Henson Studios, Los Angeles. Photography, artwork and graphic design was handled by Martin Häusler.