Paris Angels were an English seven piece band, hailing from Guide Bridge, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England, associated with the Madchester scene of 1989 -1991. Their music fused indie guitars with electronic dance music. The band comprised Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff (later of Black Grape and the reformed Happy Mondays), Rikki Turner, Steven Taji, Scott Carey, Mark Adj, Jane Gill and Simon Worrall.
The band first signed a recording contract with Sheer Joy Records. There they were introduced to producer Michael Johnson; the product was their most well known song "Perfume (All on You)", a synthesis of 1960s jangle and disco. It was 'single of the week' in the NME and stayed in the Top 10 of the UK Indie Charts in the summer of 1990. This was closely followed by "Scope" and "I Understand"; the latter of which was the single of the week in the final edition of Sounds.
On the back of their early success, the band signed to Virgin Records and released new single "Fade" and re-released "Perfume" to back up Paris Angels only album, Sundew, to favourable reviews from NME, Vox and Melody Maker.
Paris Angels recruited long-time collaborator Simon Crompton to produce their next album for Virgin, however with the sale of Virgin to EMI, Paris Angels were removed from its roster. The completed album was never released. They were one of the last bands to leave during this cull along with Public Image Ltd and Definition of Sound. Left with no recording contract, and with singer Jane Gill pregnant, the band called it a day.
Wagstaff returned with Black Grape and the Happy Mondays. Rikki Turner played in St. Jack Steven. Taji went on to record with The Rude Club. Bassist Scott Carey recorded with Chelsea-based band The Shave and hosted The Evening Session and Transmission on Manchester radio station 96.2 The Revolution. Drummer Simon Worrall died on 2 November 2011. In 2013 the band reformed to play live, and signed a deal with Stereokill Recordings to finally issue their second album, recorded in 1992. After the deal fell through, the group instead made the album available as a free download on Bandcamp.
Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff died in March 2025.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first started playing the group's music during the Madchester Scene in 1990 and on his 21 June 1990 programme, read out a letter from a listener saying that whenever he plays a track from the Paris Angels, the England football team score. He indeed did play the Paris Angels track on that show, which was the day when England played against West Germany in the semi final of the European Football Championships. Despite England scoring, they were knocked out by the Germans in the penalty shoot outs.
Peel mentioned on his 27 September 1990 show that his son William enjoyed listening to the Paris Angels when the family are on holiday.
In 1997, the band, Velocette, covered the Paris Angels' track, Perfume, for their Peel session.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1990 Festive Fifty: All On You (Perfume) #06
Sessions[]
Paris Angels BBC Sessions
1. Recorded: 1990-08-26. First Broadcast: 27 September 1990. Repeated: 02 December 1990
- Scope / Smile / Stay
2. Recorded: 1991-09-10. First Broadcast: 27 October 1991
- Slippery Man / Chaos / Breathless / Gbf
Other Shows Played[]
- 01 May 1990: Stay (compilation album - Home)
- 02 June 1990 (BFBS): 'Stay (Compilation LP-Home)' (Sheer Joy)
- 21 June 1990: Perfume (Version) (12") Sheer Joy
- 26 June 1990: All On You (Perfume) (12") Sheer Joy
- 03 July 1990: Don't Fake Mine (v/a LP - Hit The North) Bop
- 04 July 1990: All On You (Perfume) (12") Sheer Joy
- 10 July 1990: Perfume (Version) (12") Sheer Joy
- 11 July 1990: All On You (Perfume) (12") Sheer Joy
- 14 July 1990 (BFBS): 'All On You (Perfume) (12")' (Sheer Joy)
- 03 August 1990 (BFBS): 'All On You (Perfume) (12")' (Sheer Joy)
- 07 October 1990: 'Scope (12")' (Sheer Joy)
- 20 October 1990 (BFBS): 'Scope (12")' (Sheer Joy)
- 28 October 1990: Give Me More...Scope (12" - Scope) Sheer Joy
- 30 December 1990: (JP: 'If our William had voted in the Festive Fifty, I think he'd have voted for this.') 'All On You (Perfume) (12 inch)' (Sheer Joy) FF #06 (JP: 'A record to be proud of, that, I think. Never fails to give satisfaction.')
- 1991
- 23 February 1991: I Understand (Maxi: I Understand) Sheer Joy
- 13 April 1991: Oh Yes (7") Sheer Joy
- 03 August 1991: Perfume (Loved Up) (7") Virgin
- 16 August 1991 (BFBS): Perfume (12") Virgin
- 06 October 1991: All On You (Perfume) (12" - Perfume) Virgin
- 1994
- 22 January 1994 (BFBS): All On You (Perfume) (12" - Perfume) Sheer Joy