To say that the gestation period of Atomic Rooster ran smoothly would be a massive over statement. Formed by The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown’s keyboard player, Vincent Crane, and drummer Carl Palmer in 1969 when Brown went AWOL from his own band and joined by Nick Graham on bass and vocals the trio recorded the debut Atomic Rooster album, Atomic Roooster (three o’s) in early 1970. By the time of its follow up, Graham and Palmer had both exited the hen house, the later to go on to form ELP. Death Walks Behind You was released later that same year and found Crane joined by John “Du” Cann on guitar and vocals and drummer Paul Hammond, for what would be the bands most successful period, which also included the In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster album (1971) as well as their UK #4 hit single ‘Devil’s Answer’. However by 1972 both Du Cann and Hammond had bailed leaving Crane to seek out a new line-up to record 1972’s Made In England. With the soulful tones of vocalist Chris Farlowe on board both Made In England and Nice ‘n’ Greasy (1973) moved Atomic Rooster away from the original psychedelic tinged hard rock into a more blues based outfit, but when they were dropped by their label Crane decided to call it a day…
… until in 1980 the Atomic Rooster was crowing once more. Reunited with writing partner Du Cann who had recently had a minor hit with ‘Don’t Be A Dummy’ (1979), which featured on a Lee Cooper jeans ad in 1978, Crane recruited drummer Preston Heyman to form a new version of the Rooster and record a self titled comeback album. The big question was, finding themselves between a (punk) rock and a hard (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) place how were these 70’s throwbacks going to fare as The Pistols, “Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle” made way for Maiden to “Run To The Hills”?
The first notable thing on Atomic Rooster (the album) is that Du Cann’s voice has matured and taken on a courser edge, moving him from his previous Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) timbre to a rasping quality more similar to Cranes previous boss (Arthur Brown) or even in places Alice Cooper. The second observation is that the Jon Lord style Hammond C3 so prevalent on In Hearing Of… is back… big time. Opener ‘They Took Control Of You, grates your ears with all of the rabid rage that Du Cann can muster with even more anger than “Dummy” and a riff the size of a multi story chicken coop setting the tone for this hybrid beast. ‘She’s My Woman’ keeps the attitude aggressive, this time around Heyman’s tribal pounding. Moving on ‘He Did it Again’ drops the punk snarl in favour of 70’s glam with bite, before ‘Where’s the Show?’ comes in with all of the “New Wave” charm of The Buzzcocks. One thing that stands out and makes the collection interesting, if a little disjointed, are the musical twists and turns on offer and this is hammered home on the paranoia inducing ‘In the Shadows’ and single ‘Do You Know Who’s Looking for You?’, the missing link between The Stranglers ‘Down In The Sewer’ and ‘Ugly’. Both aggressive but in an utterly charming way. For those harking back to the Roooster of old, they will have to wait until ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind’ for anything in the ‘Devils Answer’ mould, while instrumental ‘Watch Out!’ and original album closing space rocker ‘Lost in Space’ take the listener on that elusive early era progressive journey. Throw in the expected B-sides (‘Throw Your Life Away’/’Broken Windows’) and some near complete demos which include the rather brief ‘Moonrise’, the final track recorded by the band which really muddies the turbulent waters of an already stylistically confusing album, although the early version of ‘Play It Again’, later released as a single in the UK is a most welcome addition. Luckily to clear up the featured album’s “headless chicken” feel, the included Live At The Marquee Club 1980 second disc pulls everything together in a much more cohesive way. With Paul Hammond back behind the kit, the Death Walks Behind You line-up were back in place and sprinkling tracks from the latest studio release amongst a set of organ heavy tracks from their well received 1970 album worked really well within the live setting. Throw into the mix the atmospheric feel inside this iconic venue plus the UK Single ‘Devil’s Answer’ and in spite if the lo-fi, one mic recording Live At The Marquee Club 1980 is an essential piece of history for Roosters of all ages. Besides ‘Devil’s Answer’ other high points include the Deep Sabbath (or should that be Black Purple?) of DWBY‘s title track who’s powerful interplay helps it escapes its muddy mix, the mid section battle royale of ‘Seven Streets’ and the ever punchy ‘Tomorrow Night’, but despite some serious Fender thrashing power chords from Du Cann, Crane and his huge organ (sound) really breaks through as the overall stars of the show.
By 1982 Du Cann and Heyman were both out (again) and with Ginger Baker, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and even David Gilmour (amongst many others) spending time in the band’s ranks following 1983’s Headline News album, Crane put Atomic Rooster to rest. Unsurprisingly this Rooster had not crowed for the final time and even when Crane committing suicide in 1989 on the brink of reuniting with Du Cann (who passed away in 2011 after a heart attack) for a German tour in 2016 with the permission of Cranes widow, previous 70’s members Steve Bolton (guitar/vocals) and Pete French (vocals) put together another line-up who continue right up to date (without French). For a true reflection of the band you will probably want to start with their 1970’s releases but for fans of 80’s rock Atomic Rooster is a very worthwhile diversion.
- Reviewed By Peter Brockwell.
- Atomic Rooster (Remastered & Expanded) is released via Cherry Red Records on 30th May 2025.
- Official Website
Track List:
Disc One – Atomic Rooster (Remastered)
1. They Took Control of You
2. She’s My Woman
3. He Did it Again
4. Where’s the Show?
5. In the Shadows
6. Do You Know Who’s Looking for You?
7. Don’t Lose Your Mind
8. Watch Out!
9. I Can’t Stand It
10. Lost in Space
Bonus Tracks:
11. Throw Your Life Away (B-side of single 1980)
12. Broken Windows (recorded in 1980)
13. Do You Know Who’s Looking for You (demo 1980)
14. Don’t Lose Your Mind (demo 1980)
15. He Did It Again (demo 1980)
16. Lost in Space (demo 1980)
17. End of the Day (demo 1981)
18. Hold It Through the Night (demo 1981)
19. No Change by Me (demo 1981)
20. Play it Again (demo 1981)
21. Moonrise (last recording 1981)
Disc Two – Live at The Marquee Club 1980
1. They Took Control of You
2. Death Walks Behind You
3. Watch Out!
4. Tomorrow Night
5. Seven Streets
6. Gershatser
7. I Can’t Take No More
8. In the Shadows
9. Devil’s Answer
10. Do You Know Who’s Looking for You?
