Balaam and the Angel

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Balaam and the Angel

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| alias =

| origin = Cannock, Staffordshire, 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 = [http://www.balaamandtheangel.com/ 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+kingdom/balaam+and+the+angel1|title=MusicMight :: Artists :: BALAAM AND THE ANGEL|date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224202643/http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/united+kingdom/balaam+and+the+angel1|accessdate=2020-06-08|archive-date=24 February 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/295035|title=Balaam And The Angel|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}}

Career

As children in Motherwell, Scotland, the Morris brothers worked in the entertainment industry as part of a cabaret act.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|pages=82/3}} They moved south to Cannock, Staffordshire, England, where they formed Balaam and the Angel.Moore, Christie (2006) The Unultimate Rockopedia, AuthorHouse, {{ISBN|1-4259-6474-5}}, p. 27-8

Initially the band self-released a series of EPs and an album entitled Sun Family{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Balaam-And-The-Angel-Sun-Family/master/235876|title=Balaam And The Angel - Sun Family|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Balaam-The-Angel-The-Greatest-Story-Ever-Told/master/262173|title=Balaam & The Angel - The Greatest Story Ever Told|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}} It peaked at No. 67 in the UK Albums Chart in August 1986.{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |edition=19th |location=London |page=40}} They toured in the United States with The Mission, Kiss and label mate Iggy Pop.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

A second guitarist and the first non-sibling, Ian McKean of Twenty Flight Rockers,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZIjT8PgJMEC&q=%22Balaam+and+the+Angel%22&pg=PA325|title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002|first=Andy|last=Gregory|date=18 October 2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9781857431612|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzyzAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Balaam+and+the+Angel%22|title=International Who's who in Music: Popular music. Vol. two|date=18 October 1996|publisher=Melrose Press|isbn=9780948875076|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRQ5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22Ian+McKean+guitar%22|title=The Great Scots Musicography: The Complete Guide to Scotland's Music Makers|first=Martin Charles|last=Strong|date=18 October 2002|publisher=Birlinn, Limited|isbn=9781841830414|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mjwilsonphotography.com/the-long-and-winding-road-the-music-of-mark-ferrick-and-thirteen/|title=The Long and Winding Road: The Music of Mark Ferrick and Thirteen|date=20 November 2013}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Balaam-The-Angel-Live-Free-Or-Die/master/232589|title=Balaam & The Angel* - Live Free Or Die|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}} This was soon followed up in similar style when they recorded Days of Madness,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Balaam-And-The-Angel-Days-Of-Madness/master/253799|title=Balaam And The Angel - Days Of Madness|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}} before leaving Virgin Records. Their song "I'll Show You Something Special" appeared on the soundtrack for the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/soundtrack|title=Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) |website=IMDb.com|accessdate=18 October 2019}}

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

Members

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

=Albums=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Release date

! 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

=Compilation albums=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Release date

! Title

1987

|Young Virgins (featuring "Light of the World")

2002

|Sun Family

=EPs=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Release date

! Title

1984

|World of Light

1985

|Love Me

2024

|Forces of Evil

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Release date

! Title

1985

|"Day and Night"

1986

|"She Knows" - UK No. 70{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |edition=19th |location=London |page=40}}

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)"