Atomic Kitten

Atomic Kitten is a British pop girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998. The group’s line-up changes form a major part of its history: it begins with Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton, later includes Jenny Frost after Katona leaves, and also features Heidi Range among its members. The group is active from 1998 to 2024 and is associated with europop, pop and teen pop.

Formation and early work

The group is founded by Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, both members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, who also act as the principal songwriters in the early years. Atomic Kitten’s debut album, Right Now, is released in 2000 and reaches number 39 on the UK Albums Chart. The original line-up then scores five top ten singles before Katona leaves the group shortly before Whole Again reaches number one in the UK.

Breakthrough and chart success

Whole Again becomes the group’s most successful single, spending four weeks at number one in the UK and six weeks at number one in Germany, and reaching number one in several other territories. In the UK, it becomes the 13th best-selling single of the 2000s. After Katona’s departure, Frost replaces her and the debut album is reissued with Frost’s vocals on some tracks. That version reaches number one in the UK and is certified double platinum, with sales of more than 600,000 copies.

Albums and later activity

Between 2002 and 2004, Atomic Kitten releases two further studio albums, Feels So Good and Ladies Night, as well as a greatest hits album. Feels So Good also achieves double platinum status in the UK. The group records three UK number-one singles in total: Whole Again, Eternal Flame and The Tide Is High (The Get the Feeling). Eternal Flame is a cover of a song by the Bangles, while The Tide Is High (The Get the Feeling) is based on a song originally recorded by the Paragons. Atomic Kitten sells more than 10 million records worldwide.

Reunions and later membership changes

After sporadic appearances between 2005 and 2008, McClarnon, Hamilton and Katona reunite for the ITV2 series The Big Reunion, alongside B*Witched, Five, Liberty X, Honeyz and 911. Frost does not take part because of pregnancy. Katona leaves the group again in December 2017, Frost returns briefly in 2021, and Hamilton leaves in October 2024 to focus on solo projects.