ATOMKRAFT Mainman Disputes Former Guitarist's Claims: 'This Is All So Sad'

ATOMKRAFT mainman Tony Dolan has responded to his former bandmate/guitarist Rob Matthew's claim that Rob wrote "half of the songs" in the group's early days — a fact that Matthew say he has never received proper credit for.

In an e-mail sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier today, Matthew stated, "It seems my contribution to ATOMKRAFT is being totally underrated. In fact, half of the songs written were my own. Also, I was happy to hear that ATOMKRAFT's 'Protector' was acknowledged as the fastest song to emerge from Britain during the '80s, a song which I wrote. I personally feel that I need to let it be known of my past contribution to metal and no more be undermined by my 'old friends'."

Responding to Matthew's claims, Dolan sent the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"I'd like to respond to Rob Matthew Readhead's last posting regarding ATOMKRAFT's music.

"I agree that Rob did write the track 'Protector' on the 'Queen of Death' EP [1986] and also that he wrote 'Teutonic Pain' (music only) on 'Conductors of Noize' [1987]. His contributions on 'Future Warriors' [1985] were mainly on the track 'Starchild' along with myself. The ATOMKRAFT publishing is a mess and all members are credited with songs they had no part of in most cases!

"I must take issue with Rob's statement that he wrote half the catalogue! This is indeed not true. He wrote of all songs released three and the rest were written by myself with his contributory riffs in places over my existing songs and along with contributions by Ian Davison Swift [vocals], who wrote lyrics for 'Conductors of Noize' in parts but not wholly!

"This saddens me. ATOMKRAFT was a concern long before Rob and 'Total Metal' was a track long before Rob.

"I want to take nothing away from him and his contribution to ATOMKRAFT. I liked Rob and working with him was always a pleasure but his statement, whilst pained, is just not true. He was part — and a big part — of ATOMKRAFT then and will always be so, but false claims to take issue is not the way to enamour yourself to anyone. You were there, Rob, and are on the anthology — it's there to see and hear, and the credits are there, true or false. You are credited, so do your new thing and prove to yourself and anyone your value then!

"OH and read the ATOMKRAFT history if you are really unsure what happened! I suppose Swifty will be next to add to this bollocks, then perhaps Ged Cook? LOL!!!

"Sorry to any real fans, but this is all so sad!"

For more information on ATOMKRAFT, visit www.tonydolan.net.