Post by cofi on Nov 9, 2007 11:19:39 GMT
Atomic Rooster
was an English progressive rock band, formed by ex-Crazy World of Arthur Brown members, Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer in 1969. Their only hit singles came in 1971 with "Tomorrow Night" (a UK Number 11), and "The Devil's Answer" (UK Number 4).
In 1970, Atomic Rooster (at that time consisting of Crane, Palmer and Nick Graham) released their self-titled debut album.
Between Palmer's departure (to be one third of Emerson, Lake & Palmer), and the recording of a second album, guitarist John Du Cann (Andromeda) joined them, giving a whole new dimension to the music with his distinctive guitar attack. Death Walks Behind You featured Paul Hammond on drums, and this album yielded "Tomorrow Night".
Having found success on the UK Singles Chart, the band was augmented with singer Peter French for their third effort on vinyl, In Hearing of Atomic Rooster. It showed the band at full throttle. The import version included the hit single "The Devil's Answer", although this was strangely missing from the original UK release. After this album, Cann, Hammond and French left the band. French went to join Cactus, while John Du Cann and Paul Hammond teamed up with ex-Quatermass bass player John Gustafson and founded Hard Stuff.
Crane put the band together one more time, recruiting 1960s British R&B singer and ex-Colosseum vocalist Chris Farlowe. Along with old friends John Goodsall, then known as "Johnny Mandala", and Rick Parnell (who is the son of orchestra leader Jack Parnell, and composed material on the last album, plus came up with the piano riff on "Tomorrow Night") they released Made in England.
They managed to release one more album, Nice 'n' Greasy, but the sound was somewhat diluted, although the tracks "Voodoo in You" and "Take One Toke" reminded their fans of past glories. It proved to be their last record in the 1970s.
The band ceased to exist until the early 1980s, when Crane and Du Cann teamed up once again, going through a series of drummers. During the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they almost had some presence in the charts with "Lose Your Mind" and a re-make of "Tomorrow Night".
After this stint, Crane went on to join Dexy's Midnight Runners in the mid 1980s, and also recorded A Case For The Blues as part of Katmandu, a one-off project with Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac and Ray Dorset of Mungo Jerry. Crane comitted suicide on 14 February 1989 in Reading. Hammond died of a drug overdose in 1992.
Du Cann recently licensed the release of the only existing tapes of Atomic Rooster that featured Crane, Palmer and himself: some BBC Radio 1 sessions recorded by John Peel in 1970 and 1971.
Guest Members
BILL SMITH:Bass. Played bass on one track of the Made In England album, the track being Stand By Me,'72.
DORIS TROY and LIZA STRIKE: Backing Vocals on Made In England, 72..
GINGER BAKER: Drummer Years: 81(three weeks only) <click here for more>) Last heard of: Living in Canyon Country Ca. just outside of Los Angeles. Running a polo horse breeding ranch..Gigging with The Denver Jazz Quartet To Octet.
BIG JOHN McCOY: Bassist Years: 81 Last heard of: Releasing his own material.
JOHN MIZAROLLI: Guest Guitarist Years: 83 Last heard of: Rehearsing new material with his band Mizarolli Axe Phenomenon. <click here for the John Mizarolli Home Page>
DAVE GILMOUR: Guest guitarist on Headline News Years: 83 Formerly Pink Floyd. Last heard of: working on solo projects
JEANNIE CRANE: Backing vocalist on Headline News Years: 83 Last heard of: Running smallholding in Herefordshire as well as the Vincent Crane/Atomic Rooster web site, for more information go to: Jeannie Crane's Home Page.
TAREENA CRAZE: Backing vocals on Headline News Years: 83 Last heard of: Married and living in France with 2 yr old child.
JON FIELD: Guest percussionist on Headline News Years: 83.Formerly of Jade Warrior.
