Atomic Rooster are an English progressive rock band from London. Formed in 1969, the group originally included former Crazy World of Arthur Brown keyboardist Vincent Crane and drummer Carl Palmer, in addition to bassist, flautist and vocalist Nick Graham. Shortly after the release of the band's debut album Atomic Roooster, guitarist John Du Cann joined the group and took over on lead vocals, as Graham departed. Palmer left later in the year to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer, with Ric Parnell temporarily taking his place. Paul Hammond later joined in time for the recording of Death Walks Behind You. During the recording of 1971's In Hearing of Atomic Rooster, Pete French was brought in as the band's new lead vocalist. Du Cann was subsequently fired by Crane, with Hammond choosing to leave alongside him.
Du Cann and Hammond were replaced by Steve Bolton and Parnell, respectively. Chris Farlowe took over from French in early 1972, first contributing to the album Made in England. Bolton had left the group by the end of the year, with John Goodsall (under the name Johnny Mandala) taking his place for the 1973 release Nice 'n' Greasy. By early 1974, everyone but Crane had left Atomic Rooster; the keyboardist continued to tour under the name "Vincent Crane's Atomic Rooster", adding former Sam Apple Pie members Sam "Tomcat" Sampson (vocals), Andy Johnson, Denny "Pancho" Barnes (both guitars), Bob "Dog" Rennie (bass) and Lee Baxter Hayes (drums) before disbanding the group in early 1975. Following the band's breakup, Crane worked on music for plays and radio dramas, as well as collaborating with former bandmate Arthur Brown.
In mid-1980, Crane reformed Atomic Rooster with former guitarist and vocalist Du Cann. Preston Heyman performed drums on the band's self-titled comeback album. Former Cream drummer Ginger Baker joined for a brief period in September, but had left within a month to join Hawkwind. Paul Hammond had returned to the band by the end of the year, marking a reunion of the Death Walks Behind You lineup. Du Cann left in 1982, with guitars on the band's seventh album Headline News performed by new member Bernie Tormé and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. After a few months of touring, with more lineup changes, Atomic Rooster disbanded again in late 1983. Crane committed suicide in 1989, while Hammond died of an accidental drug overdose in 1992, and Du Cann died after a heart attack in 2011.
Over 30 years after the band's breakup, Atomic Rooster reformed in 2016 with the blessing of Crane's widow Jean, with former members Pete French and Steve Bolton joined by bassist Shug Millidge, keyboardist Christian Madden and drummer Bo Walsh. Madden was replaced by Adrian Gautrey in 2017, after the former joined Liam Gallagher's touring band. In late 2023, French departed the group and Gautrey took over lead vocals.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsSteve "Boltz" BoltonShug Millidge2016–presentbass guitarCircle the Sun (2025)Adrian Gautrey2017–presentPaul Everett2020–presentdrums
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsVincent Craneall Atomic Rooster releases to dateCarl Palmer1969–1970Nick GrahamAtomic Roooster (1970)John Du CannRic ParnellPaul HammondPete FrenchvocalsIn Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971)Chris Farlowe1972–1974John Goodsall (as Johnny Mandala)1972–1974 guitarNice 'n' Greasy (1973)Sam "Tomcat" Sampson1974–1975vocalsnoneAndy "Snakehip" Johnson1974–1975 guitarDenny "Pancho" Barnes1974–1975Bob "Dog" Renniebass guitarLee Baxter HayesdrumsPreston Heyman1980Atomic Rooster (1980)Ginger Baker1980 noneMick Hawksworth1982bass guitarJohn McCoy1982–1983Bernie Tormé1983 guitarJohn Mizarolli1983Headline News (1983)Christian Madden2016–2017keyboardsnoneBo Walsh2016–2020drums
Timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases1969–1970 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals Nick Graham – bass, flute, vocals, guitar Carl Palmer – drums, percussion Atomic Roooster (1970)1970 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass Carl Palmer – drums, percussion John Du Cann – guitar, vocals Devil's Answer (1998) Live and Raw 70/71 (2000)1970 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, vocals Ric Parnell – drums, percussion1970–1971 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, vocals Paul Hammond – drums, percussion Death Walks Behind You (1970) Live and Raw 70/71 (2000) Devil's Answer (1998)1971 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hammond – drums, percussion Pete French – vocals In Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971)1971 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass Pete French – vocals Steve Bolton – guitar Ric Parnell – drums, percussionnone1971–1972 Vincent Crane – keyboards, vocals, keybass Steve Bolton – guitar Ric Parnell – drums, percussion1972 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass Steve Bolton – guitar Ric Parnell – drums, percussion Chris Farlowe – vocals Made in England (1972) BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1993) Devil's Answer (1998)1972–1974 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass Ric Parnell – drums, percussion Chris Farlowe – vocals Johnny Mandala – guitar Nice 'n' Greasy (1973)1974–1975 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals Sam Sampson – vocals Andy Johnson – guitar Denny Barnes – guitar Bob Rennie – bass Lee Baxter Hayes – drumsnoneBand Inactive 1975–19801980 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, vocals Preston Heyman – drums Atomic Rooster (1980)1980 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, vocals, bass Ginger Baker – drumsnone1980–1982 Vincent Crane – keyboards, backing vocals, keybass John Du Cann – guitar, vocals Paul Hammond – drums, percussion Live at the Marquee 1980 (2002)1982 Vincent Crane – keyboards, vocals Paul Hammond – drums, percussion Mick Hawksworth – bassnone1982–1983 Vincent Crane – keyboards, vocals Paul Hammond – drums, percussion John McCoy – bass1983 Vincent Crane – keyboards, vocals, keybass Paul Hammond – drums, percussion Bernie Tormé – guitar Headline News (1983) Live in Germany 1983 (2000)1983 Vincent Crane – keyboards, vocals, keybass Paul Hammond – drums, percussion John Mizarolli – guitar Headline News (1983)Inactive 1983–20162016–2017 Pete French – vocals Steve Bolton – guitar, backing vocals Christian Madden – keyboards Shug Millidge – bass Bo Walsh – drumsnone2017–2020 Pete French – vocals Steve Bolton – guitar, backing vocals Shug Millidge – bass Bo Walsh – drums Adrian Gautrey – keyboards, backing vocals2020–2023 Pete French – vocals Steve Bolton – guitar, backing vocals Shug Millidge – bass Adrian Gautrey – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Everett – drums2023–present Steve Bolton – guitar, backing vocals Shug Millidge – bass Adrian Gautrey – keyboards, vocals Paul Everett – drums Circle the Sun (2025)
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