Arthur Brown

Born: 1944 in Whitby, Yorkshire, England

One of the most electrifying one-shot artists of the '60s, British singer Arthur Brown briefly set the charts alight in 1968, as well as thrilling audiences with his theatrical performances, which saw him wearing helmets of fire and outlandish costumes. His debut album was surely one of the most left-field commercial successes of the late '60s, if not of rock history. In addition to topping the British charts (and reaching number two in the U.S.) with his brilliantly demonic single "Fire," the self-proclaimed god of hellfire actually scored a Top Ten LP with his 1968 debut. Unveiling Brown's demented, fire-obsessed lyrical visions and swooping, theatrical vocals, it showcased his band's manic, agitated psychedelic sound, which was anchored by incendiary drumming, Pete Townshend's production, and an organist who could be best described as Jimmy Smith on acid. Brown's original band broke up in early 1969; in the early '70s he released several albums with Kingdom Come, which saw him pursuing a maddeningly obscure and less exciting brand of art rock. He recorded off and on after, with an additional flash of fame springing from his role as a priest in the film Tommy.

Discography:

Album
2003 Tarot Rata
2003 Journey [Bonus Tracks]
2003 Vampire Suite
2002 Tantric Lover
1997 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown [Touchwood]
1995 Order from Chaos: Live 1993
1995 Jam
1991 Brown, Black & Blue
1988 Strangelands
1982 Requiem
1980 Faster Than the Speed of Light
1978 Chisholm in My Bosom
1976 Lost Ears (Puddletown Express)
1974 Dance
1973 Kingdom Come
1972 Galactic Zoo Dossier
1972 The Journey
1968 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown [Track]
1968 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown [Polydor]