"Midnite Madness" by Krokus

Song#:  2046
Date:  09/15/1984
Debut:  94
Peak:  71
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  This Swiss band was formed in 1975 and they issued a self-titled debut album the following year. Initially, the sound of the band was more prog-rock than hard rock. Their first three albums didn't do all that well and the band needed something to boost their career. The inspiration they needed for a new direction came from them seeing AC/DC. That band's brand of rock prompted Krokus to move into metal territory and in 1981 they debuted their new sound with the album Metal Rendez-vous. It would be highly successful in Switzerland and soon the band was picking up airplay in other countries including the US. Each successive follow-up album did better than the last until they hit their US peak with the gold-selling 1983 album Headhunter. With more attention drawn to them and potential to break even wider, there was pressure on the band to deliver an even bigger follow-up. They recorded a new disc titled The Blitz and this first single was issued. It would be their biggest hit at Rock getting to #10 and it would be their first to cross over to the Pop chart. It didn't stay long there, but the extra attention helped to secure a second gold album.

ReduxReview:  This was a band that definitely wore their influences (AC/DC) on their sleeves. For the most part, I think they were able to spin it into their own thing, but it's hard to hear them and not think of AC/DC. This rollicking tune has high energy and enough commercial rock installed to make it sound good on radio. With action on MTV and solid rock radio support, this probably should have done better at Pop than it did.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  For The Blitz, the band recorded the song "Boys Nite Out." This song was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and originally recorded by Adams. Apparently, this song was being considered for inclusion on Adams' upcoming album Reckless, but it ended up getting cut. The song then found its way to Krokus, who ended up rewriting a chunk of it. Two band members got writing credits for the song along with Adams and Vallance. Adams' version of the song would later see the light of day on the 2014 expanded anniversary edition of Reckless.

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