Atomic Kitten

Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten in 2005. From left: Liz McClarnon, Jenny Frost, and Natasha Hamilton
Atomic Kitten in 2005. From left: Liz McClarnon, Jenny Frost, and Natasha Hamilton
Background information
OriginLiverpool, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1998–2006
  • 2008
  • 2012–2024
Labels
Spinoff ofOMD
Past members
WebsiteOfficial Website

Atomic Kitten were an English girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998, whose original lineup comprised Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon, and Natasha Hamilton. The group was founded by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, who served as principal songwriters during Atomic Kitten's early years. The group's debut album Right Now was released in October 2000 and charted at number 39 in the United Kingdom. After five top ten singles, original member Katona quit – four weeks before "Whole Again" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart – and was replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost. "Whole Again" became the group's most successful single, staying at number one for four weeks in the UK and six weeks in Germany, and reaching number one in many other territories; in Britain, it was the 13th-best-selling single of the 2000s.[1] The group re-released their debut album, with some tracks re-recorded with Frost's vocals: it peaked at number one in the UK and was certified double platinum after selling over 600,000 copies.

Between 2002 and 2004, the group released a further two studio albums, Feels So Good (which also went double platinum in the UK) and Ladies Night, along with a greatest hits album, before announcing a break following their 2004 tour.[2][3] To date the group have had three UK number-one singles: "Whole Again", the fourth-best-selling song of all time by a girl group in the UK; "Eternal Flame", a song originally recorded by the Bangles; and "The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)", a song originally recorded by the Paragons.[2] They have sold over 10 million records worldwide.[4]

After making sporadic appearances from 2005 to 2008, it was announced that McClarnon, Hamilton, and Katona would reunite for the ITV2 series The Big Reunion, alongside five other pop groups of their time: B*Witched, Five, Liberty X, Honeyz and 911.[5] Frost was unable to take part in the comeback because of her pregnancy.[6] Katona left the group for a second time in December 2017. Frost returned in 2021 for a brief stint before leaving again a few months later. Hamilton announced her departure from the group in October 2024 to concentrate on solo projects.

  1. ^ "Official Charts announces The Noughties definitive chart books". Official Charts Company. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b "UK Charts > Atomic Kitten". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  3. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Nothing going on but the Rent for Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton". Lancashire Evening Post. Johnston Press. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Big Reunion was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton: 'Jenny Frost could return'". Digital Spy. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.