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Balaam and the Angel | |
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Origin | Birmingham, England |
Genres | Rock, gothic rock, glam metal, hard rock |
Years active | 1983–1989, 1991–present |
Labels | Virgin |
Members | Mark Morris Jim Morris Des Morris Chris P Notes |
Past members | Ian McKean Dom Roche |
Website | Balaam and the Angel Official website |
Balaam and the Angel are a Scottish rock band founded by Mark, James (Jim), and Desmond (Des) Morris in Cannock, England in 1984.[1][2]
As children in Motherwell, Scotland, the Morris brothers worked in the entertainment industry as part of a cabaret act.[3] They moved south to Cannock, Staffordshire, England, where they formed Balaam and the Angel.[4]
Initially the band self-released a series of EPs and an album entitled Sun Family[5] via their own Chapter 22 label and played some tour dates opening for The Cult.[4] This caught the attention of Virgin Records, who signed them and released their debut album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.[6][4] It peaked at No. 67 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1986.[7] They toured in the United States with The Mission, Kiss and label mate Iggy Pop.[citation needed]
A second guitarist and the first non-sibling, Ian McKean of Twenty Flight Rockers,[8][9][10][11] was added to the band in 1988.[4] 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.[12] This was soon followed up in similar style when they recorded Days of Madness,[13] before leaving Virgin Records.[4] Their song "I'll Show You Something Special" appeared on the soundtrack for the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.[14]
Their presence was largely ignored by the time that their 1993 album, Prime Time, had failed to interest record buyers.[3]
Date of release | Album Title |
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1985 | Sun Family |
1987 | The Greatest Story Ever Told |
1988 | Live Free or Die |
1989 | Days of Madness |
1991 | No More Innocence |
1993 | Prime Time |
2019 | That's Not the Real World |
Date of release | EP Title |
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1984 | World of Light |
1985 | Love Me |
Date of release | Single Title |
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1985 | Day and Night |
1986 | She Knows UK No. 70[7] |
1986 | Slow Down |
1986 | Light Of The World |
1986 | New Kind of Love (Australia only) |
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 |
Date of release | Compilation Title |
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1987 | Young Virgins (featuring "Light of the World".) |
2002 | Sun Family |