Krokus Announce Farewell Tour for 45th Year
Krokus said their 2019 tour would be their farewell jaunt, meaning they’ll bow out during their 45th year.
They announced that their final show will take place on Dec. 7 next year at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland.
The Swiss band started out as a prog outfit in 1975 before adopting a heavy rock style that drew acclaim in the early ‘80s. They reached their peak of success with the 1983 album Headhunter, which included the power ballad “Screaming in the Night.” Even though they've often been accused of being too similar to AC/DC, there’s much more breadth of material in their catalog.
Last year, the band released its 18th studio album, Big Rocks, a covers set that included songs made famous by Led Zeppelin, Queen, Black Sabbath, the Who and the Rolling Stones. It was their third album in a row to reach No. 1 in Switzerland; all eight of their past records reached the Top 20.
You can watch the band’s video announcing the farewell show below.
“Krokus shows have always been special and should stay that way,” the band said in a statement. “That's why we decided to stop when it's still really good. That's how the fans should remember us. Unlike other bands that are on their eternal ‘farewell tour,’ we will keep our word and pull the plug at the end of 2019, handing over the 'Rock Magic Wand' to the youngsters.”
“It was an unparalleled journey with all the ups and downs rock life has to offer," founder and bassist Chris von Rohr said. "Now we are looking forward to the final lap of honor and will give it our all once more. We owe that to ourselves and our fans. The 7th of December 2019 will be unforgettable as it was on the 27th of March 1982.”
"We look forward to a grandiose 2019 Adios Amigos World Tour with the final highlight in Switzerland,” singer Marc Storace said. “We have signed reciprocally contracts with each other that it really is over," guitarist Fernando von Arb noted. "We will stick to that. Every party has to end eventually."
The band quoted British journalist Malcolm Dome, who once wrote, “Considering the long-term work of this band, Krokus are clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years.” “Krokus will be looking forward to prove this again in 2019,” the group added.
Full tour details will be revealed soon. Along with the final date, the only other confirmed appearance on their website so far is at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany on Aug. 19, 2019.