Atomic Rooster was formed by former Crazy World Of Arthur Brown members Vincent Crane (organ, piano, keyboards) and Carl Palmer (drums) and recorded their eponymous debut album in 1970 with Nick Graham (bass, vocals & flute), but the band soon splintered with Graham leaving to join Skin Alley. He was replaced by John Du Cann on guitar and vocals.
When Carl Palmer departed to join Emerson Lake And Palmer, Paul Hammond replaced him. This line-up recorded the successful hit singles “Tomorrow Night” and “Devil’s Answer” and the album “Death Walks Behind You” in 1971.
Later that year, vocalist Pete French was added to the line-up for the album “In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster.” In 1972, after the departure of John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, new guitarist Steve Bolton, drummer Ric Parnell and vocalist Chris Farlowe joined the band.
Following a further two albums, the band dissolved. In 1980 Crane, Du Cann and Hammond came together once more following the release of a new studio album. However, by 1982 this line-up also came to an end.
Between 1970 and 1981 Atomic Rooster recorded a series of wonderful sessions for BBC Radio 1 and made two “In Concert” appearances. This new 2xCD set includes all of the surviving Atomic Rooster recordings in the BBC archives, including a previously unreleased performance for The John Peel Sunday Concert from January 1971, the complete “In Concert” performance from July 1972 and the full session for The Friday Rock Show in November 1981. With the discovery of this previously unreleased material and all tracks newly remastered, “Friday The 13th” is the definitive collection of Atomic Rooster BBC recordings.
Pre-Order “Friday The 13th – The BBC Sessions 1970-1981” here: HERE
DISC ONE — The Radio 1 sessions 1970 -1981
01. Friday The 13th (Mike Harding session May 1970)
02. Seven Lonely Streets (Mike Harding session May 1970)
03. Before Tomorrow (Mike Harding session March 1971)
04. Death Walks Behind You (Mike Harding session March 1971)
05. Tomorrow Night (Mike Harding session March 1971)
06. Stand By Me (Johnny Walker session June 1972)
07. Breakthrough (Johnny Walker session June 1972)
08. Save Me (Johnny Walker session December 1972)
09. Close Your Eyes (Johnny Walker session December 1972)
10. In The Shadows (Friday Rock Show session November 1981)
11. Death Walks Behind You (Friday Rock Show session November 1981) (previously unreleased)
12. Play It Again (Friday Rock Show session November 1981)
13. Devil’s Answer (Friday Rock Show session November 1981)
DISC TWO — Atomic Rooster BBC Radio 1 In Concert 1971 & 1972
01. Sleeping for Years (John Peel Sunday Concert January 1971) (Previously unreleased)
02. V.U.G. (John Peel Sunday Concert January 1971) (Previously unreleased)
03. Tomorrow Night (John Peel Sunday Concert January 1971) (Previously unreleased)
04. Friday The 13th (John Peel Sunday Concert January 1971) (Previously unreleased)
05. Breakthrough (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)
06. Stand By Me (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)
07. People You Can’t Trust (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)
08. A Spoonful of Bromide (Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down) (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)
09. All In Satan’s Name (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)
10. Devil’s Answer (BBC Radio 1 In Concert July 1972)