Paul Hammond (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Hammond was an English
rock
drummer
, best known for his time with the progressive rock
band Atomic Rooster
.
, Buckinghamshire
, Hammond began playing drums aged 12, and joined his first band, The Farm, after winning a competition in the Melody Maker
music newspaper. When Atomic Rooster drummer Carl Palmer
left the group to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer
in August 1970, Hammond was recruited to replace him, joining vocalist / guitarist John Du Cann
and keyboard player Vincent Crane
. The band subsequently recorded the Death Walks Behind You
album in September of that year, followed by the hit singles "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer". After the recording of In Hearing of Atomic Rooster
in the summer of 1971, Hammond left the band along with Du Cann.
Hammond and Du Cann joined forces with singer Al Shaw and bass guitarist John Gustafson
to form Daemon, later changing the name to Bullet, and then Hard Stuff
. Hammond recorded two albums with Hard Stuff before the band split up in 1973. He later suffered serious leg injuries in a car accident in Belgium, and spent two years recovering.
In 1977, Hammond joined The Intellektuals, an art punk
band from London, led by Jack Hues
and Nick Feldman
. After the group split in 1978, Hues and Feldman formed Wang Chung
. Hammond then worked on Du Cann's solo album, and in 1980 he rejoined Atomic Rooster, which now once again consisted of Hammond, Du Cann and Crane. After Du Cann had left again, and the band recorded the unsuccessful Headline News
album in 1983, they disbanded for good.
Hammond died in 1992 from an accidental drug overdose.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, best known for his time with the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
.
Career
Born in MarlowMarlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, Hammond began playing drums aged 12, and joined his first band, The Farm, after winning a competition in the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
music newspaper. When Atomic Rooster drummer Carl Palmer
Carl Palmer
Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
left the group to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
in August 1970, Hammond was recruited to replace him, joining vocalist / guitarist John Du Cann
John Du Cann
John William Cann , later known by his stage name John Du Cann, was a British guitarist primarily known through his work in the 1970s band, Atomic Rooster...
and keyboard player Vincent Crane
Vincent Crane
Vincent Crane was a self-taught pianist, who studied theory and composition at Trinity College of Music, and graduated in 1964...
. The band subsequently recorded the Death Walks Behind You
Death Walks Behind You
Death Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was their first album to receive US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and...
album in September of that year, followed by the hit singles "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer". After the recording of In Hearing of Atomic Rooster
In Hearing of Atomic Rooster
In Hearing of is the third album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. Although not included on the album, "The Devil's Answer" single was released just prior to it, becoming the band's highest chart success at number 4 in the UK...
in the summer of 1971, Hammond left the band along with Du Cann.
Hammond and Du Cann joined forces with singer Al Shaw and bass guitarist John Gustafson
John Gustafson (musician)
John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson is an influential bass player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career...
to form Daemon, later changing the name to Bullet, and then Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff was an English hard rock group, which included John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, formerly of Atomic Rooster...
. Hammond recorded two albums with Hard Stuff before the band split up in 1973. He later suffered serious leg injuries in a car accident in Belgium, and spent two years recovering.
In 1977, Hammond joined The Intellektuals, an art punk
Art punk
Art punk or avant punk refers to punk rock of an experimental bent, or with connections to art school, the art world, or the avant garde....
band from London, led by Jack Hues
Jack Hues
Jack Hues is an English musician, who is best known for forming the 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung...
and Nick Feldman
Nick Feldman
Nick Feldman is an English musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Feldman also was a member of the duo, Promised Land, which featured Jon Moss from Culture Club, was a founding investor in Interactive Ideas...
. After the group split in 1978, Hues and Feldman formed Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
. Hammond then worked on Du Cann's solo album, and in 1980 he rejoined Atomic Rooster, which now once again consisted of Hammond, Du Cann and Crane. After Du Cann had left again, and the band recorded the unsuccessful Headline News
Headline News (album)
Headline News is the seventh and last studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.It has been released on CD several times: firstly in 1994 on Voiceprint, secondly in 1997 on Blueprint and in 2002 on Eagle. In 2004 it was repackaged by Dutch label MCP as Future Shock...
album in 1983, they disbanded for good.
Hammond died in 1992 from an accidental drug overdose.
Atomic Rooster
- Death Walks Behind YouDeath Walks Behind YouDeath Walks Behind You is the second studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. It was their first album to receive US release, albeit in a different sleeve. It is commonly thought of as the archetypal Atomic Rooster album, recorded by the 'classic' line-up of Vincent Crane, John Du Cann and...
(1970) - In Hearing of Atomic RoosterIn Hearing of Atomic RoosterIn Hearing of is the third album by British rock band Atomic Rooster. Although not included on the album, "The Devil's Answer" single was released just prior to it, becoming the band's highest chart success at number 4 in the UK...
(1971) - Headline NewsHeadline News (album)Headline News is the seventh and last studio album by British rock band Atomic Rooster.It has been released on CD several times: firstly in 1994 on Voiceprint, secondly in 1997 on Blueprint and in 2002 on Eagle. In 2004 it was repackaged by Dutch label MCP as Future Shock...
(1983)
Hard Stuff
- BulletproofBulletproof (Hard Stuff album)Bulletproof is the first album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band. It was released on Purple Records, the Deep Purple-related record label.It also featured vocalist Al Shaw, but he had left the band by the time of its release and was uncredited....
(1972) - Bolex DementiaBolex DementiaBolex Dementia is the second and final album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band.-Track listing:# "Sick n' Tired" – 4:04# "Mermany" – 5:58# "Jumpin' Thumpin' " – 2:55# "Dazzle Dizzy" – 3:41# "Bolex Dementia" – 3:41...
(1973)