MySpace Layouts MySpace Layouts
MySpace Codes
MySpace Backgrounds
COMING SOON - THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE LEGACY OF ANGEL
___________________________________________________________
A NGEL is recognized as being one of the most influential seventies Hard Rock bands. ANGEL was unfortunate enough to have constantly lived in the deep shadow of their more esteemed label mates KISS, despite developing from a gargantuan Pomp Rock dream into an androgynous looking, slick Pop Metal product. In the early Seventies, Mickie Jones, a Washington DC native teamed up with Punky Meadows to form DADDY WARBUCKS (said to be taken from the character in the hit musical 'Annie'), which was shortened soon after to the much easier to remember handle of BUX. The line-up also featured ex-CHERRY PEOPLE drummer Rocky Issac, James Newton on guitar and the gravel throated Ralph Morman on vocals. BUX soon became one of DC's biggest drawing attractions on the local club scene and competed heavily with the still buoyant THE CHERRY PEOPLE, attracting the attention of the mighty Capitol label to whom they signed and recorded an album, 'We Come To Play' in 1973. The album would remain unreleased until 1976, however, long after Meadows and Jones had quit the band, clearly unhappy at Capitol's lack of faith in BUX and seemingly irritated by their management and Ralph Morman's alleged alcoholism. The vocalist would, in later years, team up with wayward AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry to sing on the first JOE PERRY PROJECT album, fronting the Malibu club band CHAMELEON and, in the late Eighties, find himself fronting veteran English Blues Rockers SAVOY BROWN. Intent on putting a much more substantial package together, Meadows teamed up with Giuffria once more and, with Jones in tow, set to work looking for a suitable vocalist and drummer to complete this new dream team. Since his previous liaison with Meadows, Giuffria had also had dealings with Capitol Records through his tenure with DAVID AND THE GIANTS. Rumours have always persisted that Giuffria recorded an album and a few singles with this outfit and that the band had also featured the legendary Tommy Aldridge on drums, but the skinbasher claims to have never worked with Giuffria until much, much later in his illustrious career. Of the first vocalists Jones and Co auditioned for their new project was Boston born Frank Dimino, but he is often reported to have turned down the chance to join this fledgling new group on the basis that they only had three half-assed songs. Another candidate at this juncture was Eric Saeger of DESTONY. Continuing the search for a frontman following Dimino's rebuff, the trio found themselves in a bar one night to check out someone's recommendation they chance upon an extremely impressive drummer who wiped the floor with the guy they were rehearsing with at the time. And, as irony would have it, Mickie and Punky knew him! Barry Brandt had never played with Meadows previously (although he had played drums for THE CHERRY PEOPLE following Punky's departure), but had been a part of Jones' pre-BUX mob MAX. Proof just how incestuous the DC club circuit was at the time, MAX had also boasted the talents of Frank Dimino who, upon discovering Brandt's recruitment, quickly pledged allegiance to the cause. Initially utilizing SWEET MAMA FROM HEAVEN as their handle, the enterprising quintet soon adopted ANGEL as a band name, inspired by the JIMI HENDRIX number of the same title.-Dave Reynolds
*Layout By Sue Richman & Mickie Jones
Mickie Jones/2007
A NGEL In Japan
Barry Brandt, Mickie Jones, Frank DiMino
Press Conference Tokyo, Japan
Angel/Japan
The poster that inspired the Frank Zappa song, "Punky's Whips"
Punky Meadows/Mickie Jones "On Earth As It Is In Heaven" Photo shoot
Photo shoot at Griffith Observatory Hollywood Hills, California (Published in Japan)
Barry Brandt at home in Laurel Canyon, LA CA
Frank DiMino/Mickie Jones
Shibuya, Japan - One of the most beautiful cities in all the world