Little Angels
Encyclopedia
Little Angels were a hard rock
band of the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s.
in 1984, under the name Mr Thrud. The founding members were Toby Jepson
(vocalist), Mark Plunkett (bassist
), Dave Hopper (drummer
) and the brothers
Bruce John and Jimmy Dickinson (guitarist
and keyboardist
respectively). Michael Lee
joined the band
to replace Hopper around 1988/89, when the band changed their name to Little Angels and began to achieve national success.
It was at this time that the band met Kevin Nixon who would become their manager and label boss when he signed them to his York-based company Powerstation Records. Eventually out-growing the local scene the band signed to Polydor Records, allegedly a deal done backstage at the old Marquee Club on Charing Cross Road.
Lee was sacked from Little Angels during the Young Gods tour, after it was discovered he had auditioned for The Cult
behind their backs. He went on to play the full Ceremony world tour. Lee was replaced by Mark Richardson
, who filled in for him on several tour dates, before taking his place officially during the recording of the band's third album
, Jam.
"The Big Bad Horns" ("Big" Dave Kemp on saxophone
, Frank Mizen on trombone
and Grant Kirkhope
on trumpet
) had become synonymous with the 'Angels' sound over the years, contributing to a large majority of their recorded output, and appearing live with the band more often than not. However, they were keen to remain independent from the band, so appearances on stage and record
are credited to Little Angels & The Big Bad Horns.
Little Angels were successful in the UK
and cracked the U.S.
to some extent, although not enough to satisfy their record label
. Nonetheless, they had a massive profile in the UK, playing with Van Halen
(who Jepson would be approached to join in 1996) and Bon Jovi
, amongst others. In an act of extraordinary generosity Van Halen gave the band their entire back-line for free at the end of the UK tour.
Despite the seemingly disappointing record sales, they followed the announcement of their split by playing a sold-out six date UK tour culminating in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall
.
with Richardson and the former No Sweat guitarist (turned vocalist) Dave Gooding. Jepson recorded
and toured an album, Ignorance Is Bliss, under the moniker "Toby and the Whole Truth", which was intended to launch a solo
career, but illness scuppered the tour & his immediate plans. He would spend subsequent years away from the spotlight before a solo return in 2002.
When b.l.o.w.
folded, Jimmy Dickinson became a member of the synthpop group Younger Younger 28's who had some success in Japan
, and who released one album, Soap, on the V2 label. He went on to play with the One Hit Wonders, and is now working as a teacher at the Westwood School of Music in Scarborough, including a course in electronic music.
Bruce John Dickinson went on to teach at, and manage, The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford
, Surrey
. He is now the Managing Director of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music
which he set up with former Angels manager, Kevin Nixon.
Mark Richardson
joined Skunk Anansie
to replace their original drummer. When that band folded, he joined Feeder
, following the suicide of their original drummer Jon Lee. He remained with the band until the end of 2008 when he re-joined Skunk Anansie
for a greatest hits tour & album, and new material.
Mark Plunkett (bass) turned his hand to artist management. Surprisingly for many, he went on to manage first Boyzone, then Ronan Keating.
Michael Lee
worked as a jobbing drummer, often playing with Robert Plant
before his untimely death on November 24, 2008.
After a long while away from the spotlight, Jepson struck out on his own in 2001, touring the "Refresh EP" in early 2002 and onwards. Financial pressures sadly put the brakes on this solo venture, and it looked as though he would once again withdraw from the stage.
However, he made a return as a solo artist supporting Thunder
on their 2006 UK tour and has - once again - performed solo since then.
A spot as guest vocalist for Gun
, at a charity gig in Glasgow promoted by rockradio, on the January 8th 2008 resulted in him taking the role permanently. This was confirmed in April 2008.
Jepson, Plunkett & the Dickinson brothers were reunited - supposedly for the first time since the band's split - at Michael Lee's funeral in December 2008.
Toby Jepson left GUN in June 2010 due to increased responsibility in other aspects of his musical involvement.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band of the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s.
History and members
Little Angels formed in Scarborough, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1984, under the name Mr Thrud. The founding members were Toby Jepson
Toby Jepson
Toby Jepson is a singer, songwriter and was lead vocalist and guitarist in the British rock band, Little Angels between the years of 1984 and 1994...
(vocalist), Mark Plunkett (bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
), Dave Hopper (drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
) and the brothers
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
Bruce John and Jimmy Dickinson (guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
respectively). Michael Lee
Michael Lee (musician)
Michael Lee was an English drummer who toured and recorded with former Led Zeppelin musicians Robert Plant and Jimmy Page....
joined the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
to replace Hopper around 1988/89, when the band changed their name to Little Angels and began to achieve national success.
It was at this time that the band met Kevin Nixon who would become their manager and label boss when he signed them to his York-based company Powerstation Records. Eventually out-growing the local scene the band signed to Polydor Records, allegedly a deal done backstage at the old Marquee Club on Charing Cross Road.
Lee was sacked from Little Angels during the Young Gods tour, after it was discovered he had auditioned for The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
behind their backs. He went on to play the full Ceremony world tour. Lee was replaced by Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson (musician)
Mark Richardson is an English drummer, of the UK rock band Skunk Anansie and formerly of Little Angels and Feeder.-Personal life:...
, who filled in for him on several tour dates, before taking his place officially during the recording of the band's third album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Jam.
"The Big Bad Horns" ("Big" Dave Kemp on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, Frank Mizen on trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and Grant Kirkhope
Grant Kirkhope
Grant Kirkhope is a British video game music composer, known for writing the soundtracks for numerous games by Rare, such as Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark and Donkey Kong 64.-Biography:...
on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
) had become synonymous with the 'Angels' sound over the years, contributing to a large majority of their recorded output, and appearing live with the band more often than not. However, they were keen to remain independent from the band, so appearances on stage and record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
are credited to Little Angels & The Big Bad Horns.
Little Angels were successful in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and cracked the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to some extent, although not enough to satisfy their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Nonetheless, they had a massive profile in the UK, playing with Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
(who Jepson would be approached to join in 1996) and Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, amongst others. In an act of extraordinary generosity Van Halen gave the band their entire back-line for free at the end of the UK tour.
Despite the seemingly disappointing record sales, they followed the announcement of their split by playing a sold-out six date UK tour culminating in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
After Little Angels
After the demise of Little Angels, the Dickinson brothers would form b.l.o.w.B.l.o.w.
b.l.o.w. were a short-lived English blues rock band from the mid nineties. The band released one full album, Pigs , a "mini-album" called Man And Goat Alike and a collection of singles and live recordings.- Lineup :...
with Richardson and the former No Sweat guitarist (turned vocalist) Dave Gooding. Jepson recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and toured an album, Ignorance Is Bliss, under the moniker "Toby and the Whole Truth", which was intended to launch a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, but illness scuppered the tour & his immediate plans. He would spend subsequent years away from the spotlight before a solo return in 2002.
When b.l.o.w.
B.l.o.w.
b.l.o.w. were a short-lived English blues rock band from the mid nineties. The band released one full album, Pigs , a "mini-album" called Man And Goat Alike and a collection of singles and live recordings.- Lineup :...
folded, Jimmy Dickinson became a member of the synthpop group Younger Younger 28's who had some success in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and who released one album, Soap, on the V2 label. He went on to play with the One Hit Wonders, and is now working as a teacher at the Westwood School of Music in Scarborough, including a course in electronic music.
Bruce John Dickinson went on to teach at, and manage, The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He is now the Managing Director of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music
Brighton Institute of Modern Music
BIMM Brighton & Bristol Institutes of Modern Music in England is an independent college of popular music based in the cities of Brighton & Hove and Bristol...
which he set up with former Angels manager, Kevin Nixon.
Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson (musician)
Mark Richardson is an English drummer, of the UK rock band Skunk Anansie and formerly of Little Angels and Feeder.-Personal life:...
joined Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
to replace their original drummer. When that band folded, he joined Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
, following the suicide of their original drummer Jon Lee. He remained with the band until the end of 2008 when he re-joined Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
for a greatest hits tour & album, and new material.
Mark Plunkett (bass) turned his hand to artist management. Surprisingly for many, he went on to manage first Boyzone, then Ronan Keating.
Michael Lee
Michael Lee (musician)
Michael Lee was an English drummer who toured and recorded with former Led Zeppelin musicians Robert Plant and Jimmy Page....
worked as a jobbing drummer, often playing with Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
before his untimely death on November 24, 2008.
After a long while away from the spotlight, Jepson struck out on his own in 2001, touring the "Refresh EP" in early 2002 and onwards. Financial pressures sadly put the brakes on this solo venture, and it looked as though he would once again withdraw from the stage.
However, he made a return as a solo artist supporting Thunder
Thunder (band)
Thunder were an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when the band Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new group, namely Thunder...
on their 2006 UK tour and has - once again - performed solo since then.
A spot as guest vocalist for Gun
Gun (band)
Gun are a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, best known for their cover of Cameo's "Word Up!".-Early career:Originally called Blind Allez then for a short time, 'Phobia', GUN were formed in 1987 by Giuliano Gizzi and Cami Morlotti , with Mark Rankin , Alan Thornton and David Aitken...
, at a charity gig in Glasgow promoted by rockradio, on the January 8th 2008 resulted in him taking the role permanently. This was confirmed in April 2008.
Jepson, Plunkett & the Dickinson brothers were reunited - supposedly for the first time since the band's split - at Michael Lee's funeral in December 2008.
Toby Jepson left GUN in June 2010 due to increased responsibility in other aspects of his musical involvement.
Albums
- Too Posh To Mosh [Mini Album] (1987)
- Don't Prey for Me (1989)
- Young Gods (1991) UK #17
- JamJam (album)Jam is the third studio album by British rock band Little Angels. It peaked at number one in the UK Albums Chart in 1993. The single "Too Much Too Young" features Canadian singer Bryan Adams on back-up vocals, and also became a significant hit for the group, reaching #22 in the UK charts.- Track...
(1993) UK#1 - A Little of the Past (1994) UK#20
- Too Posh to Mosh, Too Good to Last! (1994) UK#18
Singles
- "90 In The Shade" (1988)
- "Big Bad EP" featuring "She's a Little Angel" (1989) UK #74
- "Big Bad World" (JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese only, seven track CDCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
) - "Do You Wanna Riot" (1989) UK #91
- "Don't Pray For Me" (1989) UK #93
- "Kicking up Dust" (1990) UK #46
- "Radical Your Lover" (1990) UK #34
- "She's A Little Angel" (1990) UK #21
- "Boneyard" (1991) UK #33
- "Product of the Working Class" (1991) UK #40
- "Young Gods" (1991) UK #34
- "I Ain't Gonna Cry" (1991) UK #26
- "First Cut is the Deepest" (GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
only, according to the LotP inlay) - "Too Much Too Young" (1992) UK #22
- "Womankind" (1993) UK #12
- "Soapbox" (1993) UK #33
- "Sail Away" (1993) UK #45
- "Ten Miles High" (1994) UK #18