Break out the spandex and striped pants because we are diving into the 1980s. It’s odd how some locations have songs that are played over and over and in other states or cities…hardly played at all. This was played in Nashville at the time like it was a top-ten hit so its chart placement surprised me…much lower than I thought it would be.
Growing up, I would go to my dad’s place in Nashville and hang out with my cousin Mark. He liked harder music and I learned a lot about the harder and heavy metal bands through him like Krokus. He loved this band and went to see them often, usually opening up for a bigger band. This song was played a lot here on our largest rock station and I went out and bought the single.
A funny story about Mark…he works as a cabinet maker and around 10 years ago or so he ended up working with the actual drummer (Jeff Klaven) of Krokus. He was the drummer they had at their peak and during this time. He had been out of the band for a long time but he would get Mark into concerts and take him backstage. Mark met the Scorpions on their tour bus through him. Krokus has released 18 studio albums so they have not been idle.
This song was released in 1984 along with another song off the album…a cover of The Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz. Midnite Maniac peaked at #71 on the Billboard Charts. The riff in this song is a winner. That is what attracted me to it because it keeps climbing and climbing and is incredibly catchy. The album peaked at #36 on the Billboard Album Charts and #83 in Canada.
Krokus was formed in 1974 in Switzerland and they started out as a progressive rock band but after seeing ACDC in the late seventies, they switched to more hard rock. Their breakthrough album was Headhunter released in 1983 which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Album Charts, #31 in Canada, and #35 in New Zealand.
Their name Krokus is German for crocus, a flower common throughout Europe.
One note about this album. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance co-wrote “Boys Night Out” for The Blitz album (with lead singer Marc Storace and guitarist Fernando von Arb).
Midnite Maniac
Did you read it in the paper‘Bout the danger comin’ your wayShe’ll tear you up at midnightKiller on the loose get out of her way
Sex machine terrorizing’ dreamLock the door tonightShe’s got it all she can walk through a wallBetter run for your life
And in the light of dayIn hidin’ she will stayWatch out at midnightFeel her shadow on your face
Midnight maniac she’s a killer at largeMidnight maniac lock your doorA) Cause she can’t be farB) She knows where you are
Did you hear it on the radioCrimes of passion makin’ the newsIt happened after midnightIn your neighborhood could’ve been you
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Krokus! Caught em on The Blitz tour opening for Sammy Hagar on his V.O.A Tour. Midnite Maniac was a great track. Blitz was recorded in Vancouver with Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Rock and Mike Fraser. A few years back it was fun jogging Frasers memory about this album as it was one of the first albums I owned that I heard the name of those guys involved with the production.
Cool story about your pal and Klaven.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never got to see them live but I heard all of their albums through Mark. This was a huge song in Nashville… and their version of Ballroom Blitz also.
Thanks for reading dude
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey no worries Max. This judgey metalhead loves this stuff lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
I was a big fan also. The lead singer Marc Storace sounds like Bon Scott.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes he does
LikeLike
I like their cover of BTO’s song Stayed Awake All Night. I did not even know it was a cover until years later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know it was a cover either.
LikeLike
I have heard this Krokus song before, but I didn’t know anything about this group. The chorus cane back to me and they do have a bice rocking sound.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That guitar riff has stuck with me through the years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I grew up near Solothurn and knew Chris von Rohr and Tommy Kiefer well in my youth. Musically I found the the group in the beginning interesting, but then they became too commercial for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is cool that you knew them. Yea this was very commercial. They were much different in the beginning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m well familiar with the name Krokus but don’t know their music. “Midnite Maniac” has a great riff, a good melody and decent vocals – the kind of hard rock I generally enjoy. Their cover of “Ballroom Blitz”, which I’m currently listening to, isn’t bad either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea I was going to say that cover is a quality cover. Here they were played so much… like I said I bought the single but it didn’t chart really high
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean. I never heard this before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the name but not the song. I had no idea they were from Switzerland. Good trivia bit! Double was the only act originating there that I knew.
LikeLiked by 1 person
First time hearing this one. Sounds like a lot of those big hair bands from that time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was…this one caught hold with me because of that guitar riff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I loved the guitar in it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, the 80s hair bands… I never got into Krokus, leaning more into Quiet Riot.
I vaguely remember hearing this song. I also remember a buddy of mine, Sheree, wearing a Krokus t-shirt that had a severed hand on it and “Eat the Rich” at the top.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked Eat The Rich as well. Yea hanging with Mark got me into them and this song was played big time in Nashvillle…I mean all of the time…hell I thought I was at least a top 20 hit.
LikeLiked by 1 person