Although known in North America as ANGEL CITY, due to assumptions by their record company of confusion with Glam pompsters ANGEL, the band could not be further removed from their near American namesakes, THE ANGELS dealt in raw Hard Boogie Rock honed on the infamous Australian club circuit. Although not given the recognition they deserve outside of their home country THE ANGELS remain one of Australia's biggest acts. The band have had numerous top tens, held the number one position in both the singles and album charts and every domestic release has been declared platinum status.

THE ANGELS were founded in Adelaide during November 1970 as MOONSHINE JUG & STRING BAND. In this guise the band comprised of the renowned Belfast born Bernard 'Doc' Neeson, a former army sergeant sometimes called 'Doc Talbot', on vocals, brothers John and Rick Brewster on guitar, guitarist Craig Holden, banjo player Bob Petchell and bassist Pete Thorpe. Not exactly a traditional Rock band at this point live shows often included harps, banjos, violins and even tea chests! MOONSHINE JUG & STRING BAND issued a four track EP 'Keep You On The Move' and a single 'That's All Right With Me' / 'She Belongs To Me'.

By 1974 the band, now fully electric and with drummer Charlie King (a.k.a. Peter Christopolous) on drums, renamed themselves THE KEYSTONE ANGELS to support AC/DC and the veteran Rock n' Roller CHUCK BERRY on his Australian tour. Now a hardened Rock act THE KEYSTONE ANGELS issued the 'Keep On Dancing' / 'Good Day Rock n' Roll' single on Sphere Records.

By 1975 the act was now going under the simplified THE ANGELS banner and were part of the Vanda / Young production stable responsible for AC/DC, HEAVEN, ROSE TATTOO, etc. The band evolved to include Neeson, the Brewsters, former MOUNT LOFTY RANGERS, (alongside Bon Scott), HEADBAND and RED ANGEL PANIC bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham 'Buzz' Throckman Bidstrup.

They bowed in with the April 1976 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?' single. THE ANGELS debut 1977 album, for which the band re-recorded the single tracks, followed a nationwide support tour to AC/DC and was an enormous seller in Australia. THE ANGELS fourth single 'Take A Long Line' gave them their first national chart placing.

THE ANGELS second album, 'Face To Face' produced by Mark Opitz, reached number 16 in the charts. It stayed on the charts for an incredible 80 weeks. The band were by now a huge concert draw and their brand of high charged Rock fitted neatly in with the prevalent Punk ethic. In 1978 THE ANGELS supported DAVID BOWIE on his tour, releasing 'The Tour EP' to coincide.

'No Exit' gave the band another hit single with 'Shadow Boxer'. By now the band was having such an impact that the lyrics to Neeson's 'Dawn Is Breaking' became part of the national curriculum in schools poetry classes.

1980's 'The Dark Room' proved to be a more sombre effort but nonetheless gave the band their first domestic number 1 single in 'No Secrets'. For the international release Epic changed the track listing deleting 'Alexander' and 'I'm Scared' and replacing them with re-recorded versions of 'Ivory Stairs' and 'Straight Jacket'.

To round off the decade the band put in an outdoor gig in Sydney, which attracted over 100'000 people. Unfortunately the night ended in a riot and Sydney's mayor declared from the stage that the city would never hold an event of it's type again.

ANGELS domestic status prompted attention from international labels. THE ANGELS, newly renamed ANGEL CITY outside of Australia, signed to Epic Records and concentrated their attentions on America heralding their assault with the 1980 'Face To Face' compilation album. The record featured the band's third recording of 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again'.

As ANGEL CITY their first American tour came supporting CHEAP TRICK and TED NUGENT. A Further tour followed guesting for THE KINKS but the two bands fell out and ANGEL CITY were dumped. The band's impact had already been made though and a succession of major American acts were heavily influenced. GREAT WHITE covered 'Face The Day' for an American hit single (they later covered I Can't Shake It') whilst in their early days MÖTLEY CRÜE would cover 'Take A Long Line' and GUNS N' ROSES were known to perform 'Marseilles' live. Punk act THE MELVINS also covered 'I Can't Shake It'.

Early 1981 found Bidstrup leaving to join GANGGAJANG and later THE PARTY BOYS. The drum stool was taken by New Zealander and ex SPACE WALTZ / CITIZEN BAND man Brent Eccles. The band's standing back home remained undiminished as the 'Into The Heat' single reached number 14 on the charts. The follow up 'Never So Live' EP also charted as did 'Talk about You'. The album 'Night Attack' saw the band moving into much heavier musical territory. The album release internationally was pushed back into 1982 and besides the different cover to accommodate the ANGEL CITY logo the record had the track listing reshuffled with 'Back On You' added.

In 1982 American Jim Hilbun took Bailey's position in time for their next American tour. THE ANGELS next brace of albums, 1983's 'Watch The Red' went top ten. This was despite many thinking that with 'Watch The Red' the band had completely gone off the rails, Neeson even used one track to give vent to a continuous rant comparing politicians, poets and authors to zoo animals!

1985 found THE ANGELS signed to the MCA label outside of Australia for the conceptual Ashley Howe produced 'Two Minute Warning' record. Typically the international version featured a revised track listing with 'Run For The Shelter' removed in favour of a re-recorded 'Be With You'. A radio promotion record '2 Pack' features album tracks; interviews and studio outtakes also saw the light of day in America.

With such heady success it came as a shock to fans when John Brewster left in February 1986 to join THE PARTY BOYS then THE BOMBERS with former STATUS QUO bassist Alan Lancaster. His place was filled by former YOUNG LIONS / FINCH / SKYHOOKS guitarist Bob Spencer.

The new look band soldiered on with another top ten album in 1986 'The Howling' produced by Steve Brown. Quite incredibly this record was rejected by MCA in America although the band had the last laugh when it reached the number 3 position in Australia. THE ANGELS demonstrated their resilience on tour when Neeson shattered a kneecap. The man performed the rest of the dates sitting centre stage in a barber's chair!

The band's first live album 'Liveline' was to give them their biggest record yet, just missing out on the number one slot. The first single 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again' broke the Australian charts before being banned due to the crowds chants of 'Get Fucked, Fuck Off!' THE ANGELS responded by printing T-shirts of the offending slogan. For the ensuing tour the band drafted in the temporary services of Jimi Hocking as Spencer had sustained a broken wrist. THE ANGELS undertook their most ambitious Australian tour to date. Dubbed the 'Now, Then And Everything In Between' tour the band performed in every state of the country.

'Liveline' did not see an American release, instead an edited version titled 'Live From Angel City' was issued. Another odd release was the Australian issue 'Finger On The Trigger' single, this being the only single track never to make it onto an album. Although credited with different titles the two B-sides are in fact the same song. The only difference being one is radio friendly with the chant 'You cunt' edited out!

1989 found the band recording for Chrysalis Records, their first effort being 'Beyond Salvation' recorded with ZZ TOP producer Terry Manning in Memphis. Ever eager to play live the band, with Manning on guitar, performed knockabout gigs dubbed THE COW DEMONS and DANCING RICHARD & THE DICKS. Midway through recording ex STRAWBERRY BLONDE bassist James Morling replaced Hilbun. The album gave them their first number one posting in Australia spawning three hit singles in the process and easily attaining platinum status. The 'Dogs Are Talking' single not only gave the band a gold record but the band decided on using the B-side as a showcase for upcoming Australian talent. Bands included were Suze DeMarchi's BABY ANIMALS, DESERT CATS and THE HURRICANES.

note is that the American version of the album has a completely different track listing with only 3 tracks from the Australian version included. The remainders are all re-recordings of older songs. Strangely two of the new tracks 'Let The Night Roll On' and 'Rhythm Rude Girl' are included fully on the American version whilst are edits on the domestic release.

Touring Australia in support of 'Beyond Salvation' THE ANGELS repaid the favour to CHEAP TRICK with BABY ANIMALS also on the bill. With the band's star ascending Epic re-released 'Face To Face' in America and independent label Metal Blade reissued 'Two Minute Warning' with a different cover.

At a showcase gig at the Los Angeles Whiskey club THE ANGELS status was recognized when ROSE TATTOO's Angry Anderson and Axl, Duff and Slash from GUNS N' ROSES joined them onstage.

In 1990 THE ANGELS put in a sterling show at the earthquake relief festival in Newcastle alongside MIDNIGHT OIL, CROWDED HOUSE and SPLIT ENZ.

The band's thirteenth album 'Red Back Fever' came in 1991. The album was also issued in a limited edition embossed leather sleeve complete with a 24 page booklet of excerpts from Dr Randolph E.J. Echt's writings from his book of the same name and a bonus CD 'Left Hand Drive' comprising rare cuts and B sides. Rick Brewster made his lead vocal debut on the single B-side 'Mercury Blues'. The band got back in the road in early 1992 on their 'Alcohol & Violence Tears You Apart' tour.

1992 saw the release to radio in America of the only product to be released there under the name THE ANGELS. The 'Shelved' CD, limited to 1'000 copies, was made up of tracks from the 'Howling' sessions declined by MCA.

Lightening the mood the band recreated the MOONSHINE JUG & STRING BAND to promote the 'Rent Party' album, a collection of early 70's recordings.

In 1993 Brewster and Hilbun returned to the ranks as Morley and Spencer were ousted. Spencer responded by forging THE TEMPLE GODS with ex BB STEAL / BLACK CAT MOAN drummer Peter Heckenberg for the 1995 'Tempted' album.

THE ANGELS 1994 album, their sixteenth, was a greatest hit collection titled 'Evidence'. Two new cuts were included and released as singles 'Turn It On' and 'Don't Need Mercy'. Once again THE ANGELS got back on the road on the 'Hard Evidence' tour.

By late 1995 THE ANGELS announced they were to split. Their plans were dashed though when their farewell tour went so well a reprieve was given. During the dates the band issued a self financed single 'Call that Living'.

An acoustic 'Lounge Lizards' tour of Australia in mid 1997 had guest appearances from DADDY COOL's Ross Wilson and Angry Anderson. Their previous label Mushroom Records issued three live videos 'Live At Narara', 'Beyond Salvation Live' and 'From All Angels'. Later the same year the band signed to the independent Shock Records for another round of hit singles and the 1998 'Skin n' Bones' album.

The band tested the material by playing secret club gigs in Sydney billed as SKIN N' BONES. Unable to resist the lure of the stage THE ANGELS were back out again in 1998 on the 'All Hell Breaks Loose' tour alongside the reformed ROSE TATTOO.

By 2000 it was revealed that Doc Neeson was seriously ill, having suffered a major car accident that left him with neck and spinal injuries, and THE ANGELS schedule was put on hold. As August of 2001 came around it was learned that due to Neeson's inability to perform, the last performance had been in Darwin on New Years Eve 2000, THE ANGELS were calling it a day. Rick & John Brewster, Buzz Bidstrup and Chris Bailey announced they would persevere newly billed as BAND OF ANGELS. However, from December 2001 the classic quartet, minus Neeson, performed billed as THE ORIGINAL ANGELS BAND. Confusingly, other personnel were still active during 2003 with Doc Neeson, guitarist Jim Hilburn and ex-DRAGON keyboard player Alan Mansfield touring Australia billed as DOC NEESON'S ANGELS. 

Los Angeles Hard Rockers L.A. GUNS cut a rendition of 'Marseilles' for their 2004 album 'Rip The Covers Off'. On February 25th 2007 over 10,000 AC/DC fans gathered at Claremont Showground for a Bon Scott tribute concert. Music was provided by THE ANGELS alongside ROSE TATTOO and SCREAMING JETS. A court ruling instigated by Doc Neeson prevented the title THE ANGELS being used from 31st August 2007. However, on 18th April 2008 it was announced Neeson, along with John Brewster, Rick Brewster, Chris Bailey and Graham Bidstrup, had reformed the band as THE ANGELS. Dates in July were conducted in Australia to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 'Face To Face' album.