The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown | |
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Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active |
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Labels | |
Spinoffs | Atomic Rooster |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | thegodofhellfire |
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown are an English
Their song "
In the late 1960s, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown's popularity was such that the group shared bills with
Following the success of the single "Fire", the press would often refer to Brown as "The God of Hellfire",[7] in reference to the opening shouted line of the song, a moniker that exists to this day.[8]
History
Brown quickly earned a reputation for his outlandish performances, including the use of a burning metal helmet, which led to occasional mishaps. During an early appearance at the Windsor Festival in 1967, Brown wore a colander on his head soaked in methanol. The fuel poured over his head by accident caught fire; two bystanders doused the flames by pouring beer on Brown's head, preventing any serious injury.[9] The flaming head then became an Arthur Brown signature. On occasion he also stripped naked while performing, most notably in Italy, where, after setting his hair on fire, he was arrested and deported.[10] He was also notable for the extreme make-up he wore onstage, which would later be reflected in the stage acts of Alice Cooper,[11] Peter Gabriel,[12] George Clinton,[13] and Bruce Dickinson[14] among others.
By 1968, the debut album,
Theaker was replaced because of his
The new lineup practically dissolved on the band's US tour in June 1969. Crane and Palmer left to form Atomic Rooster, Greenwood, known as Sean Nicholas during his time in the band, went on to Khan[16] where he performed under the name Nick Greenwood. Theaker went to join Love and then Rustic Hinge, and Arthur Brown eventually joined Kingdom Come.
The band re-formed in 2000 and released Tantric Lover.[17]
In 2013, as the result of a successful pledge campaign on PledgeMusic, the band released the album Zim Zam Zim, recorded in Brown's yurt in Lewes.[18]
Musical style
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2022) |
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown's music encompasses psychedelic soul,[19][20][21] British rhythm and blues,[20] pop,[20] and psychedelic rock.[22]
Mike Knoop, writing for Classic Rock magazine, said that Brown's singing style recalls "Eric Burdon, Bob Calvert, Ian Gillan, Tim Curry, Brian Connolly, and a smidgen of King Diamond all coming out of one person."[20] Brian Carr, another Classic Rock writer, compared the debut album's music to that of Alice Cooper and Frank Zappa.[20]
Members
- Current members
- Arthur Brown – lead vocals (1967–1970, 2000–present)
- Jim Mortimore – bass, backing vocals, guitars, electronics (2000–present)
- Samuel Walker – drums, backing vocals, percussion (2000–present)
- Dan Smith - guitar, Hammond MX-1 organ, electronics, vocals (2019–present)
- Additional personnel
- Andy Clark - content creator and visual show
- Robin O’Keefe - visuals, camera work, musician
- Angel Fallon - dance and choreography
- Claire Waller - manager, costumes, makeup and creative direction
- Former members
- Sean Nicholas Greenwood – bass guitar (1967–1970)
- Vincent Crane – Hammond organ, piano (1967–1969; died 1989)
- Drachen Theaker – drums (1967–1968; died 1992)
- Carl Palmer – drums (1968–1969)
- Jeff Cutler – drums (1969–1970)
- Dick Heninghem – organ, piano (1969)
- Pete Solley– organ, piano (1969–1970)
- Z-Star – guitar, keytar, keybass, percussion, vocals (2000–2019)
- Lucie Rejchrtova – keyboards, synthesizers (2000–2019)
- Malcolm Dick – projection (2000–2019)
Timeline
Discography
- Studio albums
- 1968: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (#2 UK, #6 Can., #7 US)
- 1988: Strangelands (rejected second album recorded in 1969)
- 2000: Tantric Lover (CD, UK, Voiceprint Records)[17]
- 2003: Vampire Suite (CD, UK, Track Records)[23]
- 2013: Zim Zam Zim (released as the result of a pledge campaign)
- 2019: Gypsy Voodoo
- Live albums
- 1993: Order From Chaos
- 2011: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Live At High Voltage (vinyl only release, limited edition of 1000, recorded at the High Voltage Festival)
Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Release | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK | US | BEL | SWI | GER | NETH | AUS | CAN | |||
1967 | "Devil's Grip" b/w "Give Him a Flower" |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Track 604008 UK |
1968 | "Fire" b/w "Rest Cure" |
1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | Track 604022 UK Atlantic 2556 US Polydor 541.012 Can |
"Nightmare" b/w "Music Man" (aka "What's Happening") |
56 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | 68 [28] |
Track 604026 UK Polydor 541.022 Can | |
"I Put a Spell on You" b/w "Nightmare" |
— | 111 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Track 2582 US |
- Music Videos
Year | Song | Director |
---|---|---|
2016 | "The Formless Depths" | John Byron Hanby IV[29] |
References
- ^ "Pizza Express Live".
- ^ ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "Official UK Singles Top 100 – 16th February 2013 | Official UK Top 40 | music charts | Official Singles Chart". Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ "RPM Top 50 Albums - November 2, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ "Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ Richie Unterberger (2014). "Urban Spacemen & Wayfaring Strangers [Revised & Expanded Ebook Edition]: Overlooked Innovators & Eccentric Visionaries of '60s Rock". BookBaby
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers, p. 46.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers, p. 46.
- ^ Peisner, David (February 2007). "Rock Stars Who've Caught Fire Onstage!". Blender Magazine Online. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ISBN 0-946719-77-2.
- ^ Marshall 2005, pp. 85 and 153.
- ^ Marshall 2005, p. 175.
- ^ Marshall 2005, p. 172.
- ^ Marshall 2005, p. 103.
- ISBN 0-7535-0149-X, page 77
- ^ "Nicholas Greenwood". Prog Archives. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Arthur Brown – Tantric Lover CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ Whyte, Woodrow (29 August 2014). "The Life of Arthur Brown and 'Zim Zam Zim'". Drowned in Sound.
- ^ "Arthur Brown: Fire: The Arthur Brown Story". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown: Album of the Week Club Review". Classic Rock. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown". Austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ISBN 978-1846090912.
- ^ "Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Vampire Suite CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown". Discogs.
- ^ "CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
- ^ "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com.
- ^ "The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown - Fire - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 23, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ "Music Videos". Retrieved 7 August 2017.
Bibliography
Marshall, Polly. The God of Hellfire, the Crazy Life and Times of Arthur Brown. SAF Publishing, 2005.
External links
- The Crazy World of Arthur Brown discography at Discogs
- The Crazy World of Arthur Brown at IMDb