Fatal Charm

Fatal Charm (originally known as The Fatal Charm) were a new wave group formed in the Nottingham area in 1978. Originally an all male three-piece then four-piece group, they were joined in 1980 by vocalist Sarah Simmonds. Gaining favourable critical reception for both recorded and live work, the group were also allocated prestigious live support slots with in-vogue bands such as Ultravox and OMD. However, despite national radio play from the likes of Kid Jensen and Janice Long, a string of singles failed to gain any mainstream commercial success. A long overdue debut album Endangered Species eventually surfaced in 1985 although again failed to make any notable impact. Further releases on various labels and with various line-ups continued during the 80s.

The 1990s saw the group re-emerge under the new name of State Of Grace producing music for the rave and post-rave generation, again gaining critical acclaim. They signed to 3rd Stone in the UK, going on to obtain a deal with RCA in the US.

A Fatal Charm retrospective compilation album entitled Out Of My Head, bringing together recordings from between 1979-1981 with new production, was issued in 1996. Founder member Paul Arnall and Sarah Simmonds continue to write, record and perform live. (Read more on Wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Peel was an early supporter of the band prior to the arrival of Simmonds, giving airplay to their debut single Paris b/w Glitterbit in late 1979. Their contribution the Dead Good records compilation album East (1980) was also featured. The addition of Simmonds' vocals gave their sound wider appeal and were subsequently featured on Radio 1 by colleagues Jensen, Skinner, Peebles and Long, for whom they also recorded sessions. Peel did however give the re-recorded version of Paris featuring Simmonds on vocals (released in 1981, produced by Midge Ure) some airplay.

Peel is also known to have played Camden, the debut single by State of Grace, in 1992, although does not seem to have been aware of the connection with the group he had been featuring over ten years earlier.

Sessions

 * none

Shows played

 * Fatal Charm
 * 15 November 1979: Glitterbit (7" b-side Paris) Company CR005
 * 27 November 1979‎: Paris (7") Company CR005
 * 04 March 1980 : Spend the Night Alone (VV AA LP East) Dead Good GOOD 1
 * 29 April 1981: Paris (7" Christine/Paris) FATAL 1
 * 21 May 1981: Paris (7" Christine/Paris) FATAL 1
 * 25 May 1981: Paris (7" Christine/Paris) FATAL 1
 * State of Grace
 * 20 March 1992: Camden (single) Cheree CHEREE 24CD
 * 29 March 1992 (BFBS): Camden (single) Cheree CHEREE 24CD