How and when did Crocus form?

It is hard to answer this really, in some form Crocus has been around since Lewis and I played together in a shed when we were fourteen but on the other hand Crocus has only really been what it is now for about a year. We were a three piece, then Lewis joined with whom I had played with for years then for a two years it was that steady four, including Greg Milne (now of Ravachol) and Tom Holliman. However as we were in the early stages of writing our recently released album half our band: Tom and Greg left. So, fuelled by a strong desire for not wanting to end, we became a 3 piece once more after quickly asking our old friend Jake to play drums and after a few shows, a lot of practice and a small tour we asked Aidan to join on vocals, finished writing the album and with two tours, a whole bunch of one of shows, a 10 day stint in the studio, the final years of three uni courses, and 12 months later, we are here, we have just released our album, finally and we are looking forward to touring again.

Who chose the name? Were you aware of the Swedish band Krokus at the time?

A dude called Peter Scott, who played guitar for about three months in Crocus was flicking through a gardening magazine at a band practice and saw the name, this is the story I have heard. Peter now plays in a band called Ex Lovers and none of us have heard from him in years as he sort of cut himself off. This is how I believe the name originated, but it developed for us into much more than that, Crocus is a good strong name, that whether fully realized or not upon conception now holds many important metaphorical weights that matter to us as a band, such as its resilience, strength and determination in hard times and tough conditions in any given habitat. But to answer your question more directly we were not aware of the Swedish band and, perhaps somewhat more naively we were also not aware of the American screamo band Orchid until about a year into our bands life.

Who influences Crocus? How would you describe your sound?

Throughout the bands history influences have chopped, changed and always been fluid and this has never been truer than it is for us as a group of four friends today. We all just play and enjoy playing because Crocus allows us to bring anything to the table creatively, we are a predominantly heavy band, yes and as a result get pigeon holed as such, but our back-catalogue is scattered with jazz and blues orientated break downs, licks and sections. We are also, while all having some common ground all into a lot of different music. The practice of Crocus is open to anything and this is perhaps why our practices mainly consist us shouting ideas at each other.

Crocus has released an E.P and a split with Lavotchkin. Do you feel you have progressed/changed musically since then? Do you think it will be reflected on the new album? 

Of course, we have half a new band. It is still Lewis and I on Bass and Guitar, so I hope and know that a listener will always hear that. But yes, we have a classically trained and primarily tech metal and jazz loving drummer now and a completely different vocalist, we still sound like Crocus, but heavier, tighter and more intelligent.

The album was recorded in April ‘11 and won’t be out until early 2012. Why has it taken so long to be released?

This is a touchy question; we honestly thought that the record would be released in the summer following the April you speak of in the question. There are a few answers, all of which were relatively out of our control. Jason, our producer had a huge work load on at the time and took several months to get around to mixing and mastering our record and the second problem was money, we had none and our recording bill was well over £1000 and as it was unfair to ask Jason to mix and master before we had paid him, the whole project was put on hold even more so than just by Jason’s’ work load. However we eventually sorted both problems and sent the masters to Holy Roar in late September and the rest of the delay has just been normal record preparation/artwork pressing and PR time.

Your previous vocalist Greg now plays guitar in Ravachol. Did he ever contribute guitar parts to Crocus? Did his departure have a great impact on the band?

Greg’s departure had a huge impact on the band. Although we are all friends now and stoked to be so, the power of hindsight tells me that Greg left because everything became to intense and we were all pulling in mildly different directions, that fuelled and exacerbated by passion seemed greater than they perhaps where. Although devastating and necessary in equal measures at first, Greg, Lewis and I are all now in bands, (us with Aidan and Jake and Greg in Ravachol) where we are completely fulfilled and once more, even though it took nearly a year, we are all good friends again. Greg did in some ways contribute to guitar, but in the same way that in those days we all contributed to everyone’s part in the bands writing process. Which, again with the power of hindsight was perhaps contributed to Tom and Greg leaving.

What is your current situation with drummers? Recently you have had Tom Pitts (Throats, Holland) on drums. Is he joining the band? 

Jake is our drummer. Jake plays as much as he can and as many of our shows/tours as he can and we practice as Zac/Aidan/Lewis and Jake. However Jake has a very strict Job that only allows him X amount of days off a year. Tom is an old friend who has said he will play for us when our need for him and his availability to do so coincide as he loves Crocus and love to have a part in it. Tom, when he is free does what Jake cant. 

What upcoming shows/tours do you have planned for the new year?

We are hitting the road for just under three weeks in February to promote our album, both UK and EU shows. After that we have some weekends and then some exciting stuff planned for the summer.

Any other future plans for Crocus?

A Split 7” with our buddies Hospitals. Another album as soon as we have toured this one and we have been asked to tour in Cuba in 2012 as well as Italy. STOKED.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks to everyone for their patience, we hope it is realized its all just annoying factors and delays such as money. Thanks to anyone who has/does positively influence our band and, see you on the road in 2012.

Check out Crocus here: http://facebook.com/CROCUS.BAND

New Crocus track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WHRutkLuoM