Still Crowing
Atomic Rooster – Backstage, Kinross, 21st February 2026
Atomic Rooster – Backstage, Kinross, 21st February 2026
That Atomic Rooster were making their second appearance in Kinross in just under a year tells you these reformed Roosters – classic era guitarist and vocalist Steve "Boltz" Bolton, Adrian Gautrey (Hammond, keys, lead vocals), Shug Millidge (bass) and Paul Everett (drums) – have inherited, and are carrying on, a legacy that’s still revered by the fans, most of whom were born, rather fittingly, in the Atomic Age.
But it’s not just about keeping the spirit of the original Vincent Crane led band alive.
Last year the Bolton-Gautrey-Millidge-Everett quartet released Circle The Sun, the first album of all-new material under the Atomic Rooster name in more than 40 years.
A love letter to the band’s original dark, psychedelic-prog sound with a few contemporary twists, the quality of Circle The Sun is borne out by the fact seven of its ten tracks feature in the current set-list.
Kicking off with a spirited take of the introductory section of classic 'Rooster instrumental 'Gershatzer,' the band then jumped forward five and a half decades to the present and 'Fly Or Die,' the opening song from Circle The Sun.
Nodding to the gothic darkness of 70s era Atomic Rooster, 'Fly Or Die' carried the added interest of an eastern-tinged solo from Steve Bolton who, make no mistake, still has the six-string chops.
The current album’s title track, a dark-blues boogie featuring Bolton on lead vocals, followed before the Nice 'N' Greasy rock-blues of 'Save Me' had Adrian Gautrey’s Hammond fingers flying, while Shug Millidge and Paul Everett locked in on the driving rhythm.
Indeed, while Steve Bolton and Adrian Gautrey are the front men and identifiable sound of Atomic Rooster, Millidge & Everett make for the perfect, dovetailing (and at times truly grooving), rhythm section, heard to fine and powerful effect on the romping Instrumental 'Vug,' from Atomic Rooster’s second, and archetypal album, Death Walks Behind You.
Another Death number, 'I Can’t Take No More,' was no less impacting, as was the downtempo, blues-brooding 'Black Snake,' the first of five numbers lifted from 1971 album In Hearing Of.
The song, which featured a great, rangy vocal from Adrian Gautrey, was a highlight of the show.
The band then returned to the present for a Circle The Sun three-in-a-row of the Steve Bolton led 'Rebel Devil,' the staccato sharp 'Walk With Me' (both featured some great Hammond soloing from Adrian Gautrey) and the unsettling eeriness of 'No More.'
But it’s not just about keeping the spirit of the original Vincent Crane led band alive.
Last year the Bolton-Gautrey-Millidge-Everett quartet released Circle The Sun, the first album of all-new material under the Atomic Rooster name in more than 40 years.
A love letter to the band’s original dark, psychedelic-prog sound with a few contemporary twists, the quality of Circle The Sun is borne out by the fact seven of its ten tracks feature in the current set-list.
Kicking off with a spirited take of the introductory section of classic 'Rooster instrumental 'Gershatzer,' the band then jumped forward five and a half decades to the present and 'Fly Or Die,' the opening song from Circle The Sun.
Nodding to the gothic darkness of 70s era Atomic Rooster, 'Fly Or Die' carried the added interest of an eastern-tinged solo from Steve Bolton who, make no mistake, still has the six-string chops.
The current album’s title track, a dark-blues boogie featuring Bolton on lead vocals, followed before the Nice 'N' Greasy rock-blues of 'Save Me' had Adrian Gautrey’s Hammond fingers flying, while Shug Millidge and Paul Everett locked in on the driving rhythm.
Indeed, while Steve Bolton and Adrian Gautrey are the front men and identifiable sound of Atomic Rooster, Millidge & Everett make for the perfect, dovetailing (and at times truly grooving), rhythm section, heard to fine and powerful effect on the romping Instrumental 'Vug,' from Atomic Rooster’s second, and archetypal album, Death Walks Behind You.
Another Death number, 'I Can’t Take No More,' was no less impacting, as was the downtempo, blues-brooding 'Black Snake,' the first of five numbers lifted from 1971 album In Hearing Of.
The song, which featured a great, rangy vocal from Adrian Gautrey, was a highlight of the show.
The band then returned to the present for a Circle The Sun three-in-a-row of the Steve Bolton led 'Rebel Devil,' the staccato sharp 'Walk With Me' (both featured some great Hammond soloing from Adrian Gautrey) and the unsettling eeriness of 'No More.'
Debut album deeper cut 'Banstead,' which has become somewhat poignant, was dedicated to Vincent Crane (Adrian Gautrey’s strong upper vocal register added to the almost Hymnal sequences of this number).
Steve Bolton then dedicated the slithering, shape-shifting 'All In Satan’s Name' (the first of three songs from 1972’s Made In England, on which Bolton played a significant part), to another ex and sadly late Rooster member, drummer Ric Parnell.
The funkier 'People You Can't Trust' featured a tasty keys solo from Adrian Gautrey before the wacky rock and weird roll of 'Space Cowboy' took the musically left of centre stage.
"This was probably the first song I ever wrote... I had no idea what I was doing!" remarked Steve Bolton with a chuckle, before introducing one of his most recent compositions, the moodier 'Rooster rock of 'First Impression,' which featured some nifty six-string work and some great splashes of Hammond.
Adrian Gautrey’s impressive Hammond play, along with his hollering blues vocal, were to the fore on another Circle The Sun song, 'Blow That Mind,' which mixed old-school Atomic Rooster with a driving, rock-blues rhythm.
For the run-in, the 21st century Atomic Rooster kept it in the 70s, starting with the triple salvo of slow build ballad 'Decision/Indecision' (an Adrian Gautrey showcase and highlight), dark prog tour-de-force 'Death Walks Behind You' and raucous instrumental 'A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down,' which featured some great six-string call and Hammond answer.
Hit singles 'Devil's Answer' and 'Tomorrow Night' naturally received the biggest cheers of the evening, but the thunderous 'Head In The Sky' and final song of the night, the grooving 'Breakthrough,' were their equal in weight and musical stature.
Given only Steve Bolton features from Atomic Rooster’s classic, early 70s period, there’s the almost obligatory argument of "official tribute?" "band or brand?" or whether the name even applies.
But the 21st century reality is there is no argument. This is classic rock relived for countless late 60s, 70s and 80s groups who have become line-up changed Legacy Acts, retaining the spirit of the original band/s and, in a few cases, honouring that legacy with new, sounds-like material (take another bow, Circle The Sun).
Such is the case with Steve Bolton who, with the blessing of Vincent Crane’s widow, reformed Atomic Rooster in 2016. Ten years on from that reformation the Rooster is still crowing, (very) loudly and proudly.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credits: Andy Small
Circle The Sun UK Spring Tour - Remaining Dates:
February
27th - Hull, Wrecking Ball
March
1st - Liverpool, Cavern Club
12th - Derby, The Flowerpot
25th - Sheffield, Greystones
28th - Crumlin, The Patriot
Steve Bolton then dedicated the slithering, shape-shifting 'All In Satan’s Name' (the first of three songs from 1972’s Made In England, on which Bolton played a significant part), to another ex and sadly late Rooster member, drummer Ric Parnell.
The funkier 'People You Can't Trust' featured a tasty keys solo from Adrian Gautrey before the wacky rock and weird roll of 'Space Cowboy' took the musically left of centre stage.
"This was probably the first song I ever wrote... I had no idea what I was doing!" remarked Steve Bolton with a chuckle, before introducing one of his most recent compositions, the moodier 'Rooster rock of 'First Impression,' which featured some nifty six-string work and some great splashes of Hammond.
Adrian Gautrey’s impressive Hammond play, along with his hollering blues vocal, were to the fore on another Circle The Sun song, 'Blow That Mind,' which mixed old-school Atomic Rooster with a driving, rock-blues rhythm.
For the run-in, the 21st century Atomic Rooster kept it in the 70s, starting with the triple salvo of slow build ballad 'Decision/Indecision' (an Adrian Gautrey showcase and highlight), dark prog tour-de-force 'Death Walks Behind You' and raucous instrumental 'A Spoonful of Bromide Helps the Pulse Rate Go Down,' which featured some great six-string call and Hammond answer.
Hit singles 'Devil's Answer' and 'Tomorrow Night' naturally received the biggest cheers of the evening, but the thunderous 'Head In The Sky' and final song of the night, the grooving 'Breakthrough,' were their equal in weight and musical stature.
Given only Steve Bolton features from Atomic Rooster’s classic, early 70s period, there’s the almost obligatory argument of "official tribute?" "band or brand?" or whether the name even applies.
But the 21st century reality is there is no argument. This is classic rock relived for countless late 60s, 70s and 80s groups who have become line-up changed Legacy Acts, retaining the spirit of the original band/s and, in a few cases, honouring that legacy with new, sounds-like material (take another bow, Circle The Sun).
Such is the case with Steve Bolton who, with the blessing of Vincent Crane’s widow, reformed Atomic Rooster in 2016. Ten years on from that reformation the Rooster is still crowing, (very) loudly and proudly.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credits: Andy Small
Circle The Sun UK Spring Tour - Remaining Dates:
February
27th - Hull, Wrecking Ball
March
1st - Liverpool, Cavern Club
12th - Derby, The Flowerpot
25th - Sheffield, Greystones
28th - Crumlin, The Patriot