Guitar International's Rob Cavuoto recently interviewed KROKUS founder and original bassist, Chris von Rohr, to discuss how a band with such potential in the 80s never really took off and what we can expect from them in the future. The following is an excerpt:

Q: How is it that you started Krokus, yet were only on five studio LPs?

A: "I was thrown out of the band after the Headhunter tour! [Laughing]. It was management who threw me out. After selling millions of albums in the ‘80s and touring with the likes of JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD, DEF LEPPARD, and AC/DC, I said that I wanted to see the financial books.

"How is it that you guys, record company and management execs, are getting the new houses and horses and we’re on a payroll of $400 a week? Where’s our money? On top of that, there were some minor fights in the press between me and Fernando von Arb regarding our egos. They used this to get rid of me. To this day, I still can’t believe that I was thrown out of my own band at the peak of our success. As I look back at it right now, I call it the Steve Jobbs experience; it only made me stronger and a little wiser too.

"Shortly afterwards, the band started falling apart with dyed haircuts and silly clothes and their next two LPs fell short of the mark. The direction and continuity was lost.

"They called me back for the Heart Attack LP in 1988, but unfortunately by that time the band was completely lost and needed a break from working with the idiots in management. So when I came back, I couldn’t pull out their best, because everyone was fried. It was a mix between bad management and the guys playing so much that they were totally exhausted. They needed a well-deserved break, not just for a few weeks but for a year. Sadly, I couldn’t repair the damage."

Read the complete interview at this location.

Krokus checked in with the following announcement in late February:

"Following the massive global success of Hoodoo comes now – on the anniversary of its original CD release exactly one year ago - the Special Edition Hoodoo CD/DVD with fantastic bonus material: footage of the celebrated live reunion show at Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland and an original Krokus belt buckle – all 100% Swiss made! The Hoodoo special edition package is limited to 500 units worldwide – an absolute must for hardcore Krokus fans!

The special edition Hoodoo CD/DVD contains:

-- Hoodoo CD
-- DVD Krokus: Live In Berne – over 43 minutes of live footage & documentary
-- Krokus belt buckle made of high-quality fine pewter (with a polished, brushed, black patinated surface), numbered limited edition of only 500 worldwide, 100% Swiss made!
-- packaged in a beautiful black cardboard container with the Krokus logo embossed on the lid.

As this is a worldwide promotion, get your limited edition Hoodoo package NOW, because once they are gone there will be no more!

To order log on to this link for worldwide shipping or visit our website krokusonline.com and click on 'Order Now' picture."