Berlin-based hard rock outfit KARO put out their only album release “Heavy Birthday“ in 1988. Praised by critics and fans alike their melodic but somehow rough style was met by great songwriting and musical talent. It has since been an open secret that KARO recorded more than thirty songs between 1987 and 1989 of which only ten ended up on their debut. Whereas Robert „Karo“ Straub played keyboard in Morgenrot and Lutz Salzwedel (v) fronted Karusell, both having German lyrics, Salzwedel later on put out several records under the name of Dan Lucas and recently won The Voice Of Germany Senior, it was the talent of Erich Holstein (g) that literally ignited the band KARO. Soon after recordings in Berlin and Frankfurt with producers Peter Hauke and Andy Lunn took place.
Recordings in London followed. Especially working on the songs “One Of A Kind“, “Sister Sister“ and “Wanna Be Loved“ in London with producer Tony Platt, who then already had worked with AC/DC, was quite an experience for the band and obviously brought attention, too. The idea of going there for production was to give the band more of an international sound. KARO right away played support shows for Meat Loaf but was dropped by the label in 1989.
The idea to put out “Heavy Birthday II & III“ as a double-decker CD was born. All tracks featured on any Karo release have been recorded within those three years of activity. With Holstein and Bosien having passed away already, this is the ultimate legacy of KARO. „This way KARO comes full circle“, says „Karo“ Straub.
