Atomic Rooster

Atomic Rooster are a British rock group formed in 1969 by Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer after the split of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. They begin as an organ-led line-up with Nick Graham on bass and vocals, later adding guitarist John Cann, who also takes over lead vocals. The band’s sound moves through hard rock, progressive rock, new wave and related styles, but they are best known for a hard progressive rock approach built around Crane’s keyboards.

Early 1970s

The band sign to B & C Records and record their debut album, Atomic Roooster, released in 1970, with the single “Friday the 13th”. In 1970 Palmer leaves to join Emerson, Lake & Palmer and is replaced first by Ric Parnell and then Paul Hammond. The next album, Death Walks Behind You, is released in 1970 and later gains commercial success after the single “Tomorrow Night” reaches No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart. “Devil’s Answer” follows in 1971 and reaches No. 4 in the UK, while the album reaches No. 12.

The group then releases In Hearing of Atomic Rooster, which reaches No. 18 in the UK Albums Chart. Around this time Crane brings in Pete French as lead vocalist. John Cann and Paul Hammond then leave to form Bullet, later known as Hard Stuff. French sings most of the album’s lead vocals, with Crane singing “Black Snake”. The line-up tours internationally, including dates in Italy, North America and Canada, and appears at a major benefit concert at The Oval in September 1971.

Later 1970s and 1980s activity

After French departs, Chris Farlowe joins in 1972. The band releases Made in England and the single “Stand by Me” on Dawn Records, with a shift towards soul influences. Steve Bolton leaves in late 1972 and is replaced by John Goodsall, credited as Johnny Mandala. Nice 'n' Greasy follows in 1973 and includes “Save Me”, a reworking of “Friday the 13th”. As commercial success falls away, the label drops the band and the line-up breaks up. A final single, “Tell Your Story, Sing Your Song”, appears in 1974 under the name Vincent Crane’s Atomic Rooster, and the group effectively ends in 1975.

During the break, Crane works on theatre and radio music and records again with Arthur Brown on “Chisholm In My Bosom” and “Faster Than the Speed of Light”. Cann, Hammond and John Gustafson record as Hard Stuff, until a car accident involving Cann and Hammond ends the group. Cann later works as a session guitarist and issues solo material, including “The World’s Not Big Enough” and a later minor hit version of “Don’t Be a Dummy”. Hammond also works with short-lived groups and recording projects.

Crane reforms Atomic Rooster in 1980 with John Cann, now known as John Du Cann. The new line-up records a self-titled album for EMI and tours, with drummers including Preston Heyman, Ginger Baker and the returning Paul Hammond, plus bassists Mick Hawksworth and John McCoy. Further singles follow in the early 1980s, but commercial success remains limited. Crane then reshapes the band for Headline News in 1983, an album that features contributions from David Gilmour, Bernie Tormé and John Mizarolli and uses a more electronic and synthesiser-based sound. The material is largely Crane’s own, and the album is sometimes treated as close to a solo project. After touring in Europe, the band ends again in late 1983.

Later reunions

Crane later works with Katmandu and joins Dexys Midnight Runners, playing piano on Don’t Stand Me Down. Plans for another reunion do not happen before Crane’s death in 1989. Du Cann and Hammond later help manage reissues and archival releases from the catalogue. The band reforms again in 2016 with authorisation from Crane’s widow, initially featuring Pete French and Steve Bolton alongside Christian Madden, Shug Millidge and Bo Walsh. Adrian Gautrey later replaces Madden, and Paul Everett later appears on drums. French leaves during a 2023 European tour, after which Gautrey takes over lead vocals. The group releases the single “No More” / “Rebel Devil”, followed by the studio album Circle the Sun in 2025 on Cherry Red Records.