LITTLE ANGELS was a band poised to break big, armed with a neat line in melodic songs, a keenly projected image and fortuitous timing. Although the band soon elevated themselves to major status in their homeland, even scoring a number 1 album with 'Jam', the rest of the world remained resolutely aloof. Although LITTLE ANGELS undoubtedly benefited from a sustained and quite huge marketing campaign, the sheer cost of such an enterprise would ultimately prove their undoing.

Starting out life in Scarborough, first as ZEUS then as MR. THRUD with original drummer Gary Simpson, a change of name was suggested by their label boss and manager Kevin Nixon. The newly named act debuted in London as support to TESLA at the Marquee club and received good reviews from the press. Interest was sufficient for the band to gain more valuable support slots, including GUNS N' ROSES and CHROME MOLLY. At this point the band had acquired the services of drummer Charlie Charlesworth who, in turn, made way for Dave Hopper.

Signing to Kevin Nixon's Powerstation label, the LITTLE ANGELS recorded a seven track mini album entitled 'Too Posh To Mosh'. As the group's following grew in Britain original copies of this record would quickly change hands for quite inflated sums of money. With the popularity of the EP and the group's reputation as a live act growing by the day Dave Hopper was replaced on drums by ex-HOLOSADE man Michael Lee. LITTLE ANGELS signed to Polydor, although it would transpire that the reasoning for the label picking up on the band was that the powers that be at the time tended to view the Yorkshire lads as a 90s version of THE WHO rather than a thoroughbred Hard Rock outfit.

Nevertheless, the group debuted with the 'Don't Pray For Me' album in 1989 although the group would quickly begin to expand their sound as Polydor now sought hits. A brass section, named THE BIG BAD HORNS and featuring among their ranks former SYAR and MAINEEXE guitarist Grant Kirkhope, was frequently used. A British tour had MARSHALL LAW as special guests.

Throughout their time with Polydor the label invested massively in heavy promotion and a barrage of single releases, but could not succeed in breaking the band beyond a core following and outside of Britain. America in particular seemed oblivious, where LITTLE ANGELS supported WHITE LION: whilst in Europe a short support tour with SAXON proved fruitless.

The February 1991 album was originally scheduled to be titled 'Spitfire', but this was thought to be too gung-ho by their record company in view of the then current Gulf War and its title was changed to 'Young Gods'. Strangely, Polydor then chose to release the morbidly titled 'Boneyard' as the first single. UK touring in March saw support from KATMANDU. Then came a parting of ways with drummer Michael Lee as he was sacked when it was discovered that he had auditioned for THE CULT. Still, Lee landed on his feet and got the job he was after, completing a world tour with THE CULT before joining ROBERT PLANT's band then PAGE/PLANT.

LITTLE ANGELS drafted in Mark Richardson to fill Lee's position, debuting with the band performing on the 'Jim'll Fix It' TV show in December 1991. Richardson had previously played with a fellow Scarborough outfit being looked at by Kevin Nixon.

A 1992 side project from Jepson and LAWNMOWER DETH men Pete Lee and Chris Parkes resulted in the SIX YARD BOX album. The track 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men', released as a single, was a cover of the early STATUS QUO hit.

The group's third album 'Jam', found the LITTLE ANGELS tending to move in a Poppier direction that no doubt pleased the record label, especially when it debuted in the British charts holding the prized top spot. Initial copies of the album came complete with a six track live EP and it was hoped that the record would be the one to propel the quintet to similar success in Europe and America. Indeed, the band was at its peak during 1993, opening up on both VAN HALEN and BON JOVI's European tours and playing a hugely successful tour of City Halls and major concert venues in the UK. Success outside home shores still eluded them in the long run and rumours that Polydor were to drop the band in early 1994 were denied, but eventually the story rang true.

LITTLE ANGELS' farewell tour ended with a sold out, emotional 'last hurrah' at the Royal Albert Hall on the 2nd of July. It was to have been marked with the release of the single 'All Roads Lead To You', but despite promo copies reaching radio stations the release was suspended. The track later featured on a remixed re-issue of the 'Too Posh To Mosh' album alongside equally new songs 'I Want Love' and 'Forbidden Fruit'.

Following the break up of the band the Dickinson brothers and Richardson teamed up with bassist Nicky Boyes and vocalist Dave Gooding (previously the guitarist with Irish act NO SWEAT) to form the 60s retro, heavily drug culture influenced B.L.O.W. The new act debuted in August 1994, making their live opening in a small wine bar in Godalming, Surrey. However, Mark Richardson later quit the band and talked himself into a job with SKUNK ANANSIE after meeting the band's singer, Skin, at the Kerrang! Awards ceremony in 1995. He subsequently joined FEEDER.

The LITTLE ANGELS member most expected to truly succeed outside of the confines of the group strangely went into self-imposed exile. Despite recording a solo album, using the band name TOBY JEPSON AND THE WHOLE TRUTH, Toby Jepson grew increasingly disillusioned with the music industry. The album was, contrary to popular belief, released by the Cottage Industry label but wasn't particularly widely available. A scheduled British tour was cancelled at the eleventh hour with little explanation. Jepson has since relocated back to Scarborough from the Guildford base LITTLE ANGELS had worked from in recent years.

In later years Jepson has been compiled new material for a more Pop orientated comeback working with ex-MARSHALL LAW bassist Roger Davies. Notably, THUNDER's January 2006 UK tour saw support from former LITTLE ANGELS frontman TOBY JEPSON. That same month found ex-LITTLE ANGELS drummer Michael Lee touring with JEFF MARTIN, former lead singer of Canadian Rockers THE TEA PARTY.

Former drummer Michael Lee died on 24th November 2008. He was just 39 years old. 

2008 found Toby Jepson fronting a reformed FASTWAY. By the following year he had joined Scottish act GUN. French labelBad Reputation re-issued the LITTLE ANGELS album 'Young Gods', adding five bonus tracks, in 2009.

Garry Sharpe-Young