CORACKO was the band formed by ex-WARLOCK members bassist Frank Rittel and guitarist Peter Szigeti and the quartet debuted with the 'New Virus Spreads' album on Polydor in 1992 putting in their live debut at Köln's Popkomm festival. The band opened for Canadians SVENGALI in Europe the following year.

Management problems necessitated a name switch to STONEWASHED and a further album 'Way Of Thorns', which featured ex-VENGEANCE singer Leon Geowie on lead vocals, was released. The band's title problems were not over though and due to legal action mounted by a South German act of the same name STONEWASHED duly became WAY OF THORNS.