Marc Storace best known as vocalist with Krokus expands on his singing career and what the future holds with regard to new music and live gigs.
Who were your influences in the early days and have you always wanted to be a singer?
I grew up on the Mediterranean island of Malta which was still a British Colony at the time. With both my mum and eldest sister playing serious piano, and my mum and dad loving opera, I was brought up in a classical music atmosphere at home, but managed to balance it out by listening to my daily portion of modern music coming from the BBC radio!!
The jukebox in the Wild Swan Bar on my street-corner played all the latest hits from Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Rolling Stones and more. I even tuned in to the old Pirate Radio Station called Radio Caroline which broadcast from a ship sailing up and down the West coast of England. I joined my first band at the age of fourteen and never looked back. Later on we started covering hard-rock songs by Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. I flew to London to follow my career in 1971.
Have you ever auditioned for the vocal spot in any notable bands?
I auditioned for Ritchie Blackmore`s Rainbow in France after my 7 year stint with the Swiss Progressive Rockers called TEA.
You have appeared on a number of albums. Do you have a favourite and why?
It`s hard for me to mention just one album because I normally go by songs, and there are too many songs to mention all. But here’s a handfull I would put on the turntable right now!
TEA – Cool In The Morning; Glorimont; Summer In The City (cover).
KROKUS – Bedside Radio; Heatstrokes; Playin` The Outlaw; Longstick Goes Boom!; Screaming In The Night; Night Wolf
BLUE – Hold On; Searching
EAZY MONEY – Telephone Man
STORACE – Live and Let Live ; High On Love ; Lady Of The Night ; No Place To Hide ; Carry the Burden ;
Do you still get the same buzz out of singing live as you did in the past?
Believe it or not, I enjoy singing much more nowadays.
Some vocalists are on strict dietary regimes or gargle with special liquids. How have you kept your voice in tip top shape all these years?
I sing at home, rehearsals and gigs. I feel best after a good soundcheck on an empty stomach, then, 3 hours after a meal of pasta with a simple tomato and basil sauce and a glass of red wine, I take a quite power nap. Over a nice cup of coffee and some cool white wine to wash it down I start warming up slowly one hour before hitting the stage!
Are there any musicians that you have not worked with, but would like to in the future?
My guitar idols are Jimmy Page and Brian May, in that order. Ian Paice is the drummer. Roger Glover the bass player…they are a great rhythm section.
Is there any unreleased recorded material from your days in Krokus, China or any bands you’ve been involved with that could be released?
Not that I`m aware of!
Do you have any plans to release another solo album?
I am working on my second Storace album right now.
With the live circuit opening up again, is there a possibility that we could see you performing some live shows in the UK? Maybe a short headline tour for Krokus to say goodbye to their fans, including Glasgow?
That would be great! Tell your promoters to contact our booker : www.krokusonline.com
Are you interested in doing some production work for other bands?
I would, but my hands are always pretty full! www.facebook.com/marcstorace
Do you have anything in the pipeline at the moment that you would like to share?
I promise you, my second Storace album will rock with more power than the first!!
Interview by Stuart Dryden
Comments