| Balaam and the Angel | |
| Origin: | Birmingham, England |
| Genre: | Rock, gothic rock, glam metal, hard rock |
| Years Active: | 1983–1989, 1991–present |
| Label: | Virgin |
| Associated Acts: | Thirteen, Twenty Flight Rockers, Airrace, The Runner Brothers |
| Website: | Balaam and the Angel Official website |
| Current Members: | Mark Morris Jim Morris Des Morris Chris P Notes |
| Past Members: | Ian McKean Dom Roche |
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. This caught the attention of Virgin Records, who signed them and released their debut album, The Greatest Story Ever Told.[6] 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.
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. 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. 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 1984 | World of Light |
| 1985 | Love Me |
| Date of release | Single Title |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Day and Night |
| 1986 | She Knows UK No. 70[15] |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Young Virgins (featuring "Light of the World".) |
| 2002 | Sun Family |