Here's the third and final part of MikeBugeja.com's exclusive Marc Storace feature ahead of the international rock star's upcoming performance at this year's Rockestra concert on Saturday, September 12.
MY FAVOURITE MALTA PERFORMANCE (SO FAR...)
That would be the concert in Gozo that Krokus performed for the Nadur Carnival in 2007. This was my last performance with the line-up from the Hellraiser album. Never before had Krokus toured Europe so intensively. We covered many new territories stretching as far North as the arctic circle in Finland or the Swedenrock Festival, to Ireland in the West and Greece in the East. We also played The Montreux Jazz Festival on home turf for the first time. For me it was a very emotional last gig together with my band comrades and thousands of Maltese and Gozitans. Nadur rocked! That last gig marked the end of an important era in Krokus's history. For me it continued with the start of a new one...The Reunion of the Originals!
WHAT I LOVE MOST AND MISS MOST ABOUT MALTA
I miss my family and friends, the sea and our beautiful countryside. I love Dingli cliffs at sunset and walking barefoot on the sandy beaches in spring and late summer. I also like to go to the occasional festa, and seeing our colourful luzzus, our temples and museums, enjoying seafood platters and a hearty conversation in our language over a fine glass of local wine.
MUSIC IN THE FAMILY GENES
My nephew's daughter is the Maltese singer-songwiter Alexandra Alden. She started out at a very young age and is truly very gifted. I find her song-writing to be deep, colourful and sensitive; quite up-to-date and commercial in fact. She has a sweet character with a healthy sense of humour and is now furthering her musical studies in Holland. Her father, Simon, dabbled with guitar and was one of our earliest and very keen Tea and Krokus fans. My niece Katryna Sotrace is also very talented. I like what Stolen Creep were doing; very original, sometimes abstract, but deep and tongue-in-cheek. She's furthering her studies in London now.
TURNING DOWN AC/DC
After Bon Scott's tragic demise, I was offered an audition as singer with AC/DC. To understand the matter better, one has to see things in context to that particular timeframe. Krokus was my new baby and we were going places. I strongly believed in our music and respected my new comrades. AC/DC was, at that very point in time, not much bigger than Krokus, and they did not play any ballads, which I happen to love to sing. In the end, Krokus enjoyed a much wider musical spectrum, which seemed perfect and more suited to me.
PERFORMING WITH ORCHESTRAS
So far I have done 24 shows with the Rock Meets Classic international concert, which basically consists of the Mat Sinner Rock Band together with The Bohemian Symphonic Orchestra of Prague and four great backing vocalists. In 2011, I sang in the first 4 shows in Switzerland alongside Ian Gillan, Lou Gramm, Les Holroyd and Dan McCafferty as the main artists. In 2014 I did one show in Zürich with Alice Cooper and Orianthi, Mick Box and Bernie Shaw, Joe Lynn Turner, Midge Ure and Kim Wilde. Earlier this year, we did a 19-date tour, playing concerts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the line-up included Ian Gillan, Rick Parfitt, Gianna Nannini, Eric Martin, John Wetton and myself.
PERFORMING AT MALTA'S ROCKESTRA
Her Excellency, our dear President, kindly asked me to be part of Rockestra right after the Award Ceremonials at the Palace in Valletta last December on Republic Day, where I was awarded a Gieħ Ir-Repubblika for my international work as Malta's Ambassador of Rock, so to speak. I had almost participated in Rockestra a couple of years back, and Sigmund Mifsud and I were already discussing it but I was suddenly forced to pull back due to an important concert with Krokus. I am really looking forward to this concert, to finally have the chance to perform with so many talented Maltese musicians. Having the opportunity to perform for a huge Maltese audience of all ages makes it all the more exciting and emotional for me. I will be performing some popular Krokus numbers and a cover by a 'Rock Giant', so be ready to join me and sing your socks off!
KROKUS' 40TH ANNIVERSARY
2015 marks the 40th anniversary for Krokus. We celebrated with two concerts on the Monsters Of Rock cruise whilst sailing through the Caribbean with one stop in the Bahamas. Our cruise liner was packed with rock fans from all over the world. From Miami we then embarked on a long-overdue US tour, which was sensational especially because of how our fans reacted during this sold-out tour. We closed with two nights at the Whisky A-Go-Go. Back in Europe we played some big festivals ending with Barcelona and Madrid. The band will be meeting up again in Autumn to discuss future plans.
Rockestra will be held on Saturday, September 12. Doors open at 7pm, with an opening performance from Strummin' Live followed by the main event. General standing area tickets cost €15 and are available online at www.ooii.com.mt. This year, in collaboration with Hard Rock Malta, official Rockestra t-shirts are also available. All proceeds go to the Malta Community Chest Fund.