February 21, 2024

ARTHUR BROWN - From "Fire" to Pyschadelia and Beyond. The journey of a true showman.

52 minutes

Arthur Brown burst out of obscurity in 1968 with "Fire," an

energetic fusion of blues, jazz and psychedelia with his over-the-top

vocals invoking the dangers of the dark side. “Fire” launched Arthur to fame worldwide.

He was born in North Yorkshire in 1942. After attending a grammar school Arthur studied at University where he focused on law and

philosophy. His interest in music began to overwhelm his

academic pursuits, and he formed his first band, an R&B combo called Blues and Brown. After a spell in France, where he dabbled in theatre, Arthur returned to the U.K. and worked with a number of groups in London. Not long after Brown left one -the Ramong

Sound, they changed their name to the Foundations and scored international hits with "Build Me Up Buttercup" and "Baby, Now That I've Found You." Arthur however wasn’t fussed.

He had Kit Lambert and Pete Townshend produce his self-titled debut album from which “Fire” emerged and The God of Hellfire

was born. His band, The Crazy Worldof Arthur Brown was known for its live show, which featured Arthur wearing a helmet

that spat fire. Sometimes he would take to the stage naked and as such became one of the most talked-about characters in British rock.

In the wake of the success of their debut, the band cut a second album and kept touring; for a short while Carl Palmer took over as drummer. Arthur’s next group's sound was darker and even

more esoteric than the Crazy World.

Arthur then stepped out as a solo act with 1974's Dance with Arthur Brown, a more straightforward and accessible album rooted in international rhythms. His public profile got a boost in 1975 when he was cast as the Priest in Ken Russell's film adaptation of the Who's rock opera Tommy, which was a major box office success. The following year, he made a guest appearance on Tales of

Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe, the debut album from the Alan Parsons Project. In 1979. Klaus Schulze, of Tangerine Dream invited Arthur to lend vocals to some of his work but in the early '80s, Brown left England to settle in Austin, Texas, where he earned a degree in counseling and opened a music-based practice. He also opened a house painting and carpentry business

with Jimmy Carl Black, a former member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. For the most part, Arthur had stepped away from music, though he and Jimmy Carl Black did team up again for 1988's Brown, Black & Blue, a powerful blues-rock set.

The new Crazy World returned for 2003's Vampire Suite, and Brown became a regular guest at Hawkwind concerts, appearing on their 2006 album Take Me to Your Future. 2008's The Voice of Love, released under the moniker the Amazing World of Arthur Brown, included guest appearances from Dick Taylor and Mark St.

John of the Pretty Things. A spate of archival live releases dominated Arthurs's catalogue in the 2010s as he continued to tour extensively, including dates with Carl Palmer's group ELP

Legacy and Hawkwind. Brown returned to recording with his latest edition of the Crazy World for 2014's Zim Zam Zim.

Arthur celebrated his 80th birthday in 2022 and

today is in hot demand to play concerts and festivals all over Europe.

We catch up with the iconic artist this week and he regales us with a whole host of interesting stories.

If you'd like to learn more about Arthur Brown head for his website https://www.thegodofhellfire.com/

and if you'd like to get in touch with me - comments, feedback or requests for future guests - don't hesitate to reach out through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

I hope you enjoy the story of The God of Hellfire.

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By Sandy Kaye

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