Vincent Crane
Encyclopedia
Vincent Crane was a self-taught pianist
, who studied theory and composition at Trinity College of Music
, and graduated in 1964. He was best known as the organist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
and Atomic Rooster
.
, Berkshire
, he was influenced by Graham Bond
, and in 1967 teamed up with Arthur Brown
in The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Their eponymous debut album, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1968) contained the song "Fire
", a chart-topping hit single in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, with Crane's organ on the leads.
During the tour of the USA, the band began to splinter, when Crane and drummer
Carl Palmer
(later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
) left to form Atomic Rooster
in late 1969. Atomic Rooster enjoyed success in 1971 with two hit singles, "Tomorrow Night", and "Devil's Answer".
Crane was plagued by manic depression, resulting in numerous outpatient and inpatient mental health
treatment facilities and hospital admissions. Crane is associated with the Hammond Organ
which was central to The Crazy World of Arthur Brown album, as well as to Atomic Rooster's music.
He collaborated with other musicians on a number of albums, including Rory Gallagher
(Rory Gallagher
, 1971), Arthur Brown
(Faster Than The Speed Of Light, 1979), Peter Green
, Richard Wahnfried and Dexys Midnight Runners
(Don't Stand Me Down
, 1985). In 1983 he was part of the one-off blues
outfit, Katmandu
, with Ray Dorset
and Green, who recorded the album A Case for the Blues
.
Crane died of an overdose
of painkiller
s after a lifetime of struggling with manic depression, in 1989, at the age of 45.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, who studied theory and composition at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
, and graduated in 1964. He was best known as the organist for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is a psychedelic rock album by Arthur Brown and his band The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, released in 1968. Considered a classic of the late-1960s psychedelic scene and a significant influence on progressive rock, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown includes covers of...
and 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 Vincent Rodney Cheesman in ReadingReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, he was influenced by Graham Bond
Graham Bond
Graham John Clifton Bond was an English musician, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s....
, and in 1967 teamed up with Arthur Brown
Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
in The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Their eponymous debut album, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1968) contained the song "Fire
Fire (Arthur Brown song)
"Fire" is a 1968 song by Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker. Performed by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, it was released as a single and on the band's debut album, also called The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The single made #1 in the UK and Canada. In October, it made #2...
", a chart-topping hit single in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, with Crane's organ on the leads.
During the tour of the USA, the band began to splinter, when Crane and drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
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...
(later of 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...
) left to form 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...
in late 1969. Atomic Rooster enjoyed success in 1971 with two hit singles, "Tomorrow Night", and "Devil's Answer".
Crane was plagued by manic depression, resulting in numerous outpatient and inpatient mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
treatment facilities and hospital admissions. Crane is associated with the Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
which was central to The Crazy World of Arthur Brown album, as well as to Atomic Rooster's music.
He collaborated with other musicians on a number of albums, including Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
(Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher (album)
Rory Gallagher is the first solo album by Irish blues rock musician Rory Gallagher, released in 1971. It marked the departure from Taste, the first band which Gallagher founded, and the start of his solo career...
, 1971), Arthur Brown
Arthur Brown (musician)
Arthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
(Faster Than The Speed Of Light, 1979), Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
, Richard Wahnfried and Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
(Don't Stand Me Down
Don't Stand Me Down
Don't Stand Me Down is the third studio album by Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985 .-Recording:In an interview with HitQuarters saxophonist Nick Gatfield described the recording as a "long drawn out painful process"...
, 1985). In 1983 he was part of the one-off blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
outfit, Katmandu
Katmandu (band)
Katmandu were a shortlived British blues band, formed in 1983, featuring Peter Green, Ray Dorset and Vincent Crane. After releasing one album, the group split the following year.-Formation:...
, with Ray Dorset
Ray Dorset
Ray Dorset is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and founder of Mungo Jerry...
and Green, who recorded the album A Case for the Blues
A Case for the Blues
-Credits:*Peter Green – vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums*Ray Dorset – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica*Vincent Crane – keyboards*Len Surtees – bass guitar*Greg Terry-Short – drums*Jeff Whittaker – vocals, percussion, drums...
.
Crane died of an overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
of painkiller
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
s after a lifetime of struggling with manic depression, in 1989, at the age of 45.
External links
- Atomic Rooster and Vincent Crane site, maintained by his widow Jeannie Crane and dedicated to his memory