Internal Messenger / Space Plucks / Galatic Zoo / Metal Monster / Simple Man / Night Of The Pigs / Sunrise

Trouble / Brains / Galatic Zoo 2 / Space Plucks 2 / Galatic Zoo 3 / Creep / Creation / Gypsy Escape / No Time

Before Marilyn Manson, before Alice Cooper, there was The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, an R&B act whose hit song ‘Fire’ set both the UK and US charts alight back in 1968. Considered one of the prime movers behind the British progressive underground, Brown’s flamboyant stage act – flaming helmet, outlandish costumes, bizarre facial make-up and crazy, incendiary vocals – appropriately suited the band’s manic, psychedelic sound. When that band broke up in early 1969, Brown slowly abandoned his R&B roots. He then resurfaced in 1971 and was back to his theatrical excesses (including his own on-stage crucifixion) with a new band called Arthur Brown Kingdom Come; this band was rockier, more adventurous and a decidedly more progressive outfit. Kingdom Come’s performance at the very first Glastonbury Fayre in 1971 was one of the undoubted highlights of that years festival, which also included performances by Pink Fairies, Family, Gong, Traffic, Fairport Convention, Terry Reid and David Bowie. See some wonderful photographs of the first Glastonbury Fayre event HERE .

Through the course of three LP’s, the band saw a string of musicians incessantly going through the revolving doors of Brown’s ministry. Not having much commercial success, however, Kingdom Come split up in 1973. Brown went on to cut three solo albums and then disappeared somewhere in Texas to become a carpenter.

All three Arthur Brown Kingdom Come LP’s are a kind of collision between psychedelia and new wave, bearing a space-rock and typical Zappa-esque tomfoolery. They feature Brown’s incredible vocals (that can range from Tom Jones’ croonery to sheer maniacal screams). Somewhat like a bridge between the psychedelic and early progressive eras, their first album ‘Galactic Zoo Dossier’ impresses with its aggressive guitar play and wild, killer organ. This is the set that the band performed at Glastonbury Fayre. Simply called ‘Kingdom Come’, the band’s second effort is a bit more disjointed, slightly lacking the punch and energy of the first. With ‘Journey’, we have the band’s most accomplished work, featuring new musicians, plenty of mellotron and synths – a highly entertaining space prog rock album altogether.

If you delight in both failed genius and early 70’s hippy zaniness, then do give this band a listen. You’ll probably find plenty of words to describe their music, but ‘boring’ isn’t be one of them… 

Kind regards to Phil Ritchie who also likes a bit of Kingdom Come but does NOT have a birthday today…

Happy birthday to Chris Low…

Happy birthday to Lou…

Happy birthday to Sean…

Hoping you are all having a lovely day…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 11:28 am and is filed under Links & Downloads. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.