All about this artist
Biography:
Led by the striking figure of singer Andrez Harriott, Damage was one of several British urban R&B outfits who capitalized on Mark Morrison's international breakthrough during the mid-90s. The quintet was formed at school at the beginning of the decade, when Harriott, Jade Jones, Coreé Richards, Rahsaan J Bromfield and Noel Simpson were all teenagers.
They sent a demo tape of a cover version of a Jackson Five song to Jazz Summers of Big Life Records in early 1995. Although Summers was impressed by the quality of their singing and harmonies, he waited 18 months before issuing their first record.
"Anything", composed by US songwriter Terri Robinson and featuring Little Caesar (of Junior M. A. F. I. A. ), was released in July 1996. Although it charted outside the Top 50, the record received excellent reviews (including Single Of The Week in Blues & Soul magazine).
Encouraged by the response, Big Life set about establishing the quintet's name with a series of showcases and public appearances. Thereafter, they made quick inroads into the charts. Their second single, "Love II Love", reached number 12, while the follow-up, "Forever", was a number 6 hit during the lucrative Christmas period.
Damage also supported teen sensations Boyzone at their Wembley Stadium performance. Their self-titled debut album followed in spring 1997, along with two further UK Top 10 singles - "Love Guaranteed" and a cover version of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight", the latter reaching number 3.
The quintet subsequently embarked on an extensive touring schedule, while negotiating a new recording contract following the collapse of Big Life. Jones remained in the media spotlight through his long-term romance with Emma Bunton of the Spice Girls.
Damage returned to the UK music scene in spring 2001 with their Cooltempo Records' debut, the classy, mature Since You've Been Gone.
