Balaam and the Angel

Balaam and the Angel
Origin Birmingham, England
Genres Rock, gothic rock, glam metal, hard rock
Years active 1984–1989
1991–present
Labels Virgin
Associated acts Thirteen, Twenty Flight Rockers, Airrace, The Runner Brothers
Website Balaam and the Angel Official website
Members Mark Morris
Jim Morris
Des Morris
Chris Williams
Past members Ian McKean

Balaam and the Angel are a Scottish rock band founded by Mark, James (known as Jim), and Desmond (known as Des) Morris in Cannock, England in 1984.[1][2]

Career

As children in Motherwell, the Morris brothers worked in the entertainment industry as part of a cabaret act. They moved south to England to Cannock, Staffordshire, where they formed Balaam and the Angel.[3]

Initially the band self-released a series of EP's and an album entitled Sun Family[4] via their own Chapter 22 label and played some tour dates opening for The Cult.[3] This caught the attention of Virgin Records, who signed them and released their debut album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.[5][3] It peaked at No. 67 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1986.[6] They toured in the United States with The Mission, Kiss and label mate Iggy Pop.

A second guitarist and the first non-sibling, Ian McKean of Twenty Flight Rockers,[7][8][9][10] was added to the band in 1988.[3] The band began to move away from gothic rock music styles into a sound that had more in common with hard rock. With their new-found style, they recorded the album Live Free or Die.[11] This was soon followed up in similar style when they recorded Days of Madness,[12] before being dropped by Virgin Records.[3] Their song "I'll Show You Something Special" appeared on the soundtrack for the film, Planes, Trains and Automobiles.[13]

Since 1994, Balaam have used keyboard player Chris Williams (also known as Chris P. Notes) in their live shows. Chris also plays keyboards on Jason Bonham's first band Airrace's second album, Back to the Start, released in 2011.

Members

Discography

Albums

Date of release Album Title
1985 Sun Family
1986 The Greatest Story Ever Told
1987 Live Free or Die
1989 Days of Madness
1993 Prime Time

EPs

Date of release EP Title
1984 World of Light
1985 Love Me
1985 Day and Night
1986 Light of the World
1986 She Knows UK No. 70[6]
1986 Slow Down
1991 No More Innocence

Singles

Date of release Single Title
1987 "New Kind of Love"
1987 "I'll Show You Something Special"
1987 "I Love The Things You Do to Me"
1988 "Live Free or Die (Texas Redbeard Mix)"
1989 "I Took a Little"
1990 "A Little Bit of Love"
1993 "Shame on You"

Compilation albums

Date of release Compilation Title
1987 Young Virgins (featuring "Light of the World".)
2002 Sun Family

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+kingdom/balaam+and+the+angel1
  2. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/295035-Balaam-And-The-Angel
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Moore, Christie (2006) The Unultimate Rockopedia, AuthorHouse, ISBN 1-4259-6474-5, p. 27-8
  4. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Balaam-And-The-Angel-Sun-Family/master/235876
  5. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Balaam-The-Angel-The-Greatest-Story-Ever-Told/master/262173
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 40. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ↑ The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002, page 325
  8. ↑ International Who's who in Music: Popular music. Vol. two, Volume 1, page 378
  9. ↑ The Great Scots Musicography: The Complete Guide to Scotland's Music Makers, page 227
  10. ↑ http://www.mjwilsonphotography.com/the-long-and-winding-road-the-music-of-mark-ferrick-and-thirteen/
  11. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Balaam-The-Angel-Live-Free-Or-Die/master/232589
  12. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Balaam-And-The-Angel-Days-Of-Madness/master/253799
  13. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd

External links