Atomic Rooster

All former members
Vincent Crane - John Du Cann - Paul Hammond - Carl Palmer - Chris Farlowe - Steve Bolton - Ric Parnell - Johnny Mandala - Pete French - Nick Graham - Preston Heyman - Bernie Torme

Atomic Rooster came to life in 1969

In summer 1969, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown had to cease touring in the middle of their second U.S tour because of keyboardist Vincent Crane's struggle with manic depression. When he recovered, he and drummer Carl Palmer took the step to leave Arthur Brown and return to England, the return date being Friday 13th, 1969, which was the year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. After the influence from a member of U.S. band, Rhinoceros, Crane and Palmer adopted the name Atomic Rooster, and not long after they recruited Nick Graham to bass and vocals. They followed with what had emerged as the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown-formula of vocals, organ, bass, and drums.
Concert poster

They soon undertook live dates around London, their first headlining, with opener Deep Purple. They eventually struck a deal with B & C Records and began recording their debut album in December 1969. Their first LP, Atomic Roooster was released in February 1970, along with a single, "Friday the 13th". By March, Crane felt it was best if they add a guitarist, and recruited John Du Cann from rock band Andromeda. However, just as Du Cann joined, Graham left. Du Cann (who played guitar and sung for Andromeda) took over vocal duties, whilst Crane overdubbed the bass lines on his Hammond Organ with a combination of left hand and foot pedals. Atomic Rooster resumed gigging until the end of June, when Carl Palmer announced his departure to Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Ric Parnell filled the drum spot until August, when the young Paul Hammond was recruited from Farm to the drum spot. They then recorded their second album, Death Walks Behind You, released in September 1970. Originally it was not commercially successful, as with the first album, but by February 1971, the single, "Tomorrow Night" reached 11th place in the U.K. charts, with the album picked up at #12. Atomic Rooster eventually made an appearance on the Top of the Pops, and toured to support their music.

In June 1971, just before they began configuring their line-up once again, Atomic Rooster saw considerable popularity, and singer Pete French was brought in at the end of June. They began recording the In "Hearing of Atomic Rooster" LP. The sound was augmented to Death Walks Behind You though, since French's vocals were much more bluesy, and the music followed suit. Both Du Cann and Hammond were unhappy with this, and left after the album was released to form Daemon with John Gustafson and Hard Stuff, respectively. This line-up never played any concerts, and replacements were brought in, Steve Bolton on guitar and Ric Parnell on drums once again, now permanently. This line-up went on tour, including a benefit gig in September, supporting The Who. At the end of the year, French moved on to form Cactus. Crane then found Chris Farlowe, at that time in Colosseum, to take his place of French. They went on tour and recorded another album during Spring 1972. They released the album Made In England along with the single "Stand By Me", now on Dawn. They were more into soul at this point, and all the progressive and heavy rock leanings from the other releases had receded. The single did not chart, and the album just barely caught any attention, but touring followed through.

Steve Bolton left at the end of 1972, and was replaced by John Goodsall, under the name Johnny Mandala. They released the album Nice 'n' Greasy in 1973 with the single "Save Me", and a re-working of "Friday the 13th". This time, it was in a complete funk groove. After nearly two years without any hits, Dawn called time on the Rooster. After a tour, Farlowe, Mandala and Parnell left just after the single "Tell Your Story, Sing Your Song" was released in March 1974 as "Vincent Cranes Atomic Rooster" on Decca. All gigs were played by Crane along with members of blues-band Sam Apple Pie. A final concert was played in February 1975, a benefit gig for the RSPCA. Afterwards, Crane disbanded Atomic Rooster.

Disbanded

Steve Bolton left at the end of 1972, and was replaced by John Goodsall, under the name Johnny Mandala. They released the album Nice 'n' Greasy in 1973 with the single "Save Me", and a re-working of "Friday the 13th". This time, it was in a complete funk groove. After nearly two years without any hits, Dawn called time on the Rooster. After a tour, Farlowe, Mandala and Parnell left just after the single "Tell Your Story, Sing Your Song" was released in March 1974 as "Vincent Cranes Atomic Rooster" on Decca. All gigs were played by Crane along with members of blues-band Sam Apple Pie. A final concert was played in February 1975, a benefit gig for the RSPCA. Afterwards, Crane disbanded Atomic Rooster.

1975-1979

In the meantime, Vincent Crane would put together the music for a number of plays and musicals in England between 1976 and 1977, including two of Peter Green's radio broadcasts. In 1978, Crane teamed up with Arthur Brown once again, and in 1979 they released the album Faster Than The Speed of Light. Crane and Brown would even perform a classic rendition of Frankie Vaughans "Green Door", dressed in top hat and tails.

John Du Cann dropped the "Du" from his name when he, Paul Hammond and John Gustafson released two albums as Hard Stuff between 1972 and 1973. Hard Stuff ended when Hammond suffered injuries in a car accident, and they split. Afterwards, Cann would fill in the guitar spot in Thin Lizzy for a tour in Germany during 1974, before going off the road to write music for ads and jingles in England. In 1977, he recorded a solo album with members of Status Quo and Gillan, before learning his record company was not going to release it. In 1979, he had a minor hit with his rendition of "Don't Be A Dummy", used in a Levi Jeans ad. Also in 1977 Paul Hammond played drums with T.H.E. a three piece featuring Pete Newnham (Cockney Rebel/Window) guitar/vocals, and Mike Marchant (Third ear band) bass/vocals. A single was released that year on B&C records 'Rudi' c/w 'Outside my window' listed by Pete Newnham, which has become a collectors item, now,together with two other unreleased tracks (Johnny the snark and Play with fire) is now re released on cd and vinyl on 'Bored Teenagers #5' on 'bin liner recordsDetour records

Reformed 1980-1983

During 1980, Crane contacted Cann and after some discussion, got an Atomic Rooster reformation under way, with Cann reverting to his full surname again, as per the earlier incarnation of the band. They got respected session drummer Preston Heyman in the drum seat and an album was released, along with one 7/12" single on EMI Records. Atomic Rooster is highly regarded among fans.[citation needed] A tour followed, however in October Heyman left and Paul Hammond was once again in the drum seat after two weeks with Ginger Baker. They continued touring and released two singles in 1981 and 1982, however before their performance at the Reading Festival, Du Cann appeared absent without official leave. John McCoy stepped in on bass.

With Du Cann gone, Crane set about a new form of Atomic Rooster. Paul Hammond stayed with the Rooster and played drums for the following album which began recording in late 1982. Several guitarists played on the album, including Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Bernie Torme of Gillan and John Mizarolli. Crane added vocals to the album along with his wife adding backing vocals. A tour of Germany and Italy went underway with Bernie Torme on guitar, and Crane singing. Mizarolli played guitar for several U.K. dates. Headline News was released in June 1983, and was a completely different flavour to anything they had ever done. It was more updated with a lot of electronics, including synthesizers, and completely written by Crane, leading some to perceive it as a Vincent Crane solo album.

Crane called time on the Rooster once again at the end of 1983. In 1984, he went on to the project Katmandu with Peter Green, Ray Dorset and Jeff Whittaker, and they recorded the album A Case For The Blues. In 1985, he joined Dexys Midnight Runners, playing piano for their album Don't Stand Me Down and two singles, one becoming the theme song from the TV series Brush Strokes.

Dexy's Midnight Runners disbanded in 1987 and Crane intended to reform Atomic Rooster with Du Cann once again. A German tour was planned in 1989. However, Crane's mental ill-health intervened, and he died when he overdosed on painkillers on 14 February 1989. In 1992, Paul Hammond died in a car accident. Of the band that recorded Death Walks Behind You, only Du Cann is still alive. More recently, he struck a deal with Angel Air Records and has overseen the release and re-release of much of his and Atomic Rooster's material, including live recordings, compilations, compilations of unreleased material and album reissues with extra material.

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