In June 1971, just before they began configuring their line-up once

In June 1971, just before they began configuring their line-up once again, the single “Devil’s Answer” hit No. 4 in the UK. Atomic Rooster began recording In Hearing of Atomic Rooster ( UK No. 18). Crane felt the band needed a singer who could “project” to an audience and asked Leaf Hound vocalist Pete French to audition for the band. Not long after French came into the studio, Cann began to feel increasingly marginalised, having been relieved of vocal duties and especially after hearing how much Crane had mixed out most of his guitar work on the album. He promptly left the band. Paul Hammond followed him to form Bullet, later renamed Hard Stuff . French recorded all the vocals on the album (save for “Black Snake”, sung by Crane), and the album was released in August 1971.