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Atomic Kitten: Girl Band Created by Kraftwerk
16 Mar
Summary
- OMD member created Atomic Kitten as a vehicle for songs.
- Kerry Katona's spoken verse took 39 takes due to surgery.
- Whole Again hit No. 1 despite industry skepticism.
Andy McCluskey, a member of the band OMD, has shared the surprising origin story of the popular 1990s girl group Atomic Kitten. He explained that in 1996, OMD faced challenges with radio play and distribution for their song "Walking on the Milky Way" due to their synth-pop image. To overcome this, McCluskey, with the help of Karl Bartos from Kraftwerk, decided to form a girl band as a new platform for his songwriting.
McCluskey detailed the recruitment of the band's members, noting Kerry Katona's unique audition and Natasha Hamilton's powerful singing voice. He also described the transformation of the song "Whole Again" from an electronic ballad to a modern gospel-influenced track by co-creator Stuart Kershaw. The recording process for "Whole Again" was intensive, with Kerry Katona's spoken verse requiring 39 takes over several months due to her recovery from a tonsillectomy.
The song "Whole Again" achieved number one status, a success McCluskey was not fully prepared for given the intensity of modern pop promotion. He recounted an incident where Kerry Katona had a breakdown before a television appearance, leading to Jenny Frost being called in last minute to perform the song live. The song's theme of heartbreak and loss resonated universally, even finding an unexpected audience with England football fans.
McCluskey also shared his personal journey as an outsider joining the established duo of Kerry and Liz, initially facing criticism for being too cocky before the three became like sisters. He reflected on the soulfulness present in Atomic Kitten's music, influenced by his own background in funk and soul. The band had to fight for "Whole Again" to be released, as they were not taken seriously by the industry.
Despite industry resistance, "Whole Again" gained immense traction, outselling established acts like U2. The band's triumph at number one was a lifelong dream come true for McCluskey, who recalled a particularly memorable performance at the Queen's Golden Jubilee with an all-star band and a massive audience.
