Angel was discovered by
Kiss bass player
Gene Simmons performing at a nightclub and was eventually signed to the same label as Kiss,
Casablanca. Angel's image of dressing in all white was a deliberate contrast to Kiss, who wore black. Angel sported an
androgynous image and elaborate stage sets.
Frank Zappa wrote a satirical song about Punky Meadows, with Punky's approval, titled "Punky's Whips". Angel never achieved mass commercial success but acquired a following as a
cult band. This lineup would hold for the following two albums,
Helluva Band (1976) and
On Earth as It Is in Heaven (1977), after which Jones was replaced by Felix Robinson. The band's 1999 release
In the Beginning also features guest appearances by original guitarist
Punky Meadows, as well as Robinson. In 2000 came the release of
Angel: The Collection, making it the most extensive Angel greatest hits compilation, including 16 songs. In 2006, two compilations of career-spanning singles were released. "Better Days" from the
White Hot (1977) album was notably replaced with "The Winter Song". It had only been previously released on a rare 7" single. Bassist Mickie Jones (born Donald Eugene Jones on December 17, 1952, later changed to Michael David Jones in 1967), died in
San Dimas, California on September 5, 2009, at the age of 56, after a long battle with liver cancer. Jones performed on four Angel albums (
Angel,
Helluva Band,
On Earth as It Is in Heaven and
An Anthology). He toured extensively with the band in the United States for several years. Before Angel, he played in the rock group
BUX, which included guitarist
Punky Meadows (Angel) and singer Ralph Morman (
Joe Perry Project, and
Savoy Brown).
BUX released one album on
Capitol Records,
We Came to Play in 1976 (recorded in 1973). Both Jones and Meadows were asked to join the
New York Dolls but declined. After leaving Angel, he formed the Los Angeles band
EMPIRE and was the lead singer. Empire included drummer
Steve Riley (
L.A. Guns). Over the years, he became interested in film production and would later work in the film industry. Singer Frank DiMino now resides in
Las Vegas, Nevada. He appeared on the
Sin City Sinners Christmas album, singing lead vocals on the holiday classic "
Winter Wonderland". In 2015 he released his solo album "Old Habits Die Hard", with Punky guesting on the song 'Never Again'.
Punky Meadows issued his first-ever solo album in 2016,
Fallen Angel. Felix Robinson plays bass on the album. The deluxe edition had two bonus songs, one of which, 'Lost and Lonely', had Frank DiMino on vocals. Later Angel members Danny Farrow and Charlie Calv participate on this album as well. In 2018, Meadows and DiMino toured together under the moniker 'Punky Meadows and Frank DiMino of Angel', performing a set of classic Angel songs and solo cuts. They are backed by a band featuring Danny Farrow on rhythm guitar, Charlie Calv on keyboards, Steve Ojane on bass and Billy Orrico on drums. In 2019, with the same lineup, the band reverted back to the name "Angel"—returning to wearing all white—and released a new album,
Risen. The band returned with new music on the 2023 album
Once Upon a Time. Bassist Steve Ojane left the band at the end of 2023. Felix Robinson rejoined the band for select dates in 2024. Tommy Caradonna is announced as the new bass player. == Logo ==