Balaam and the Angel

Scottish rock band

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Balaam and the Angel

Origin| Cannock, Staffordshire, 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]

## Career

[edit]

As children in Motherwell, Scotland, the Morris brothers worked in the entertainment industry as part of a cabaret act.[2] They moved south to Cannock, Staffordshire, England, where they formed Balaam and the Angel.[3]

Initially the band self-released a series of EPs and an album entitled Sun Family 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.[3] It peaked at No. 67 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1986.[4] 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,[5][6][7][8] 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. This was soon followed up in similar style when they recorded Days of Madness, before leaving Virgin Records.[3] Their song "I'll Show You Something Special" appeared on the soundtrack for the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Their presence was largely ignored by the time that their 1993 album, Prime Time, had failed to interest record buyers.[2]

## Members

[edit]

* Mark Morris - vocals, bass (1983–1989, 1991–present)
* Jim Morris - guitar, keyboards (1983–1989, 1991–present)
* Des Morris - drums (1983–1989, 1991–present)
* Karen Morris - keyboards (2019–present)
* Chris P Notes (Chris Williams) - keyboards (1994–2019)
* Ian McKean - guitar (1988–1989, 1991–1994)

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

Release date  | Title

|

1985  | Sun Family
1986  | 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

### Compilation albums

[edit]

Release date  | Title

|

1987  | Young Virgins (featuring "Light of the World")
2002  | Sun Family

### EPs

[edit]

Release date  | Title

|

1984  | World of Light
1985  | Love Me
2024  | Forces of Evil

### Singles

[edit]

Release date  | Title

|

1985  | "Day and Night"
1986  | "She Knows" - UK No. 70[4]
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"

## See also

[edit]

* Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "MusicMight :: Artists :: BALAAM AND THE ANGEL". 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
2. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 82/3. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
3. ^ a b c d e Moore, Christie (2006) The Unultimate Rockopedia, AuthorHouse, ISBN 1-4259-6474-5, p. 27-8
4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 40\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
5. ^ Gregory, Andy (18 October 2002). The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Psychology Press. ISBN 9781857431612 – via Google Books.
6. ^ International Who's who in Music: Popular music. Vol. two. Melrose Press. 18 October 1996. ISBN 9780948875076 – via Google Books.
7. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (18 October 2002). The Great Scots Musicography: The Complete Guide to Scotland's Music Makers. Birlinn, Limited. ISBN 9781841830414 – via Google Books.
8. ^ "The Long and Winding Road: The Music of Mark Ferrick and Thirteen". 20 November 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Balaam and the Angel official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Artists|

* MusicBrainz