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All Saints (group)

From Alfawiki
All Saints
Company typeMusical group
IndustryMusic
Founded1993 in London, United Kingdom
FounderRon Tom (manager)
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMusic albums, singles

All Saints was a British girl group originating in London in 1993. Initially established as All Saints 1.9.7.5. by music manager Ron Tom, the founding members were Melanie Blatt, Shaznay Lewis, and Simone Rainford. Following limited commercial impact and internal disagreements that led to Rainford's exit, the group expanded in 1996 by adding sisters Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton, subsequently signing with London Records under the abbreviated name.

Emerging during the 1990s surge of British girl groups, their debut album All Saints (1997) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and stands as the third highest-selling girl group album in the UK. It produced three UK chart-topping singles: "Never Ever", "Under the Bridge"/"Lady Marmalade", and "Bootie Call". The single "Never Ever" is ranked as the third best-selling girl group track in the UK. The album garnered two Brit Awards for Best British Single and Best British Video, alongside a nomination for Best British Breakthrough Act. Their sophomore effort, Saints & Sinners (2000), became their first UK number-one album and achieved multi-platinum certification, featuring UK number-one hits "Pure Shores" and "Black Coffee". Disputes within the band resulted in their disbandment in 2001.

After reuniting under Parlophone Records, All Saints released their third studio album, Studio 1 (2006), which entered the UK charts at number 40, leading to their contract termination with the label. Following a second dissolution in 2008, they regrouped in 2013 for live shows, later issuing Red Flag (2016) and Testament (2018). By January 2016, All Saints had sold twelve million records worldwide. Artists like Jessy Lanza and Charli XCX have acknowledged All Saints as an influence. The group notably impacted late-1990s British fashion trends, especially through their trademark cargo pants worn during promotional events and performances.

1993–1996: Formation and line-up changes

Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis started out working as backing vocalists at Sarm West Studios, located near All Saints Road in London. In 1993, Blatt, Lewis, and Simone Rainford signed with ZTT Records, where manager Ron Tom assembled them into a trio. They considered several names including Spice, Slinky, and Shifty before choosing All Saints 1.9.7.5., a nod to both the studio’s location and their birth year. Their initial public appearance was on the Touch Magazine stage at the Notting Hill Carnival. However, creative disagreements stalled their advancement. Their 1994 single "Silver Shadow" failed to make an impact on the charts, prompting Rainford’s departure in 1995 due to internal conflicts. After releasing one more single, Blatt and Lewis were dropped from ZTT Records.

Committed to continuing their musical journey, Blatt and Lewis sought a new member to join them. In May 1996, Blatt’s father introduced them to Nicole Appleton, whom Blatt had known from attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School. Nicole impressed them immediately with her vocal abilities when Lewis reached out to her. Nicole’s sister, Natalie Appleton, initially planned to manage but eventually became a member herself after family arrangements allowed her temporary separation from her daughter.

1996–1999: All Saints

Formed in early 1996, the newly established four-member group teamed up with producer Karl "K-Gee" Gordon and pursued a recording contract. While many record companies aimed to replicate the Spice Girls' phenomenon, they ultimately signed with London Records in November 1996, under the guidance of John Benson. Their debut album, All Saints, included production contributions from Gordon, Cameron McVey, Magnus Fiennes, and Nellee Hooper.

Their initial single, "I Know Where It's At" (released mid-1997), climbed to number four on the UK Singles Chart. The subsequent release, "Never Ever" (November 1997), achieved international acclaim, securing the top spot in both the UK and Australia. It sold 1.2 million copies within the UK alone and earned two BRIT Awards in 1998 for Best British Single and Best British Video. The album, issued in October 1997, reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and was certified five-times platinum for sales of 1.5 million units domestically. In May 1998, their double A-side "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade" became their second UK number-one single, receiving gold certification after selling 400,000 copies; that same month, the album was re-released with an updated tracklist. Later singles included the chart-topping "Bootie Call" and "War of Nerves," which earned silver certification and peaked at number seven with sales of 200,000 copies.

On the international stage, All Saints attained double platinum status in Australia (140,000 copies), triple platinum in Canada (300,000 copies), and platinum certification from the RIAA in the United States for one million units sold. The album produced two singles that reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100: "I Know Where It's At" and "Never Ever". In November 1998, All Saints received the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Breakthrough Artist and performed at the ceremony despite Melanie Blatt's absence due to pregnancy.

2000–2001: Saints and Sinners and break-up

In February 2000, All Saints released "Pure Shores", a track written by Shaznay Lewis and producer William Orbit for the soundtrack of The Beach. This single became their fourth UK number-one hit and was ranked as the second highest-selling single of that year with 824,000 copies sold. The song also earned an Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work. That same year, sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton along with Blatt appeared in Honest, a film directed by former Eurythmics member Dave Stewart. Set in late 1960s London, it portrayed them as streetwise siblings involved in criminal activities; however, their acting was met with critical disapproval.

October 2000 saw the release of "Black Coffee", which became their fifth and final UK number-one single, selling 230,000 copies. This preceded their sophomore album Saints & Sinners, which debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and attained double platinum status with sales exceeding 600,000 copies. The third single from this album, "All Hooked Up", reached number seven in January 2001. By February, the group announced a hiatus aimed at resolving internal issues; Melanie Blatt later cited financial disputes and business challenges as contributing factors to their uncertain future. Shaznay Lewis disclosed that a disagreement over a jacket during a photoshoot served as a catalyst for their split.

In November 2001, London Records issued All Hits, a greatest hits compilation featuring the group's singles alongside Melanie Blatt's solo collaboration "TwentyFourSeven" with Artful Dodger. The collection peaked at number eighteen on the UK Albums Chart and achieved gold certification with sales of 100,000 units. A revised version of this compilation was distributed free with The Mail on Sunday newspaper in 2008.

2006–2008: Initial Reunion and Studio 1

On 24 January 2006, the group reunited and secured a contract with Parlophone. They commenced production on their third studio album, Studio 1. The album’s lead single, "Rock Steady", released in November 2006, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Despite this, Studio 1 entered the albums chart at number forty, performing below expectations relative to their earlier works; it was nevertheless awarded a Gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). A follow-up single, "Chick Fit", launched in February 2007, did not chart due to cancelled promotional activities and the absence of a physical release. Following these developments, All Saints and Parlophone parted ways, and their scheduled UK tour was called off. Melanie Blatt later revealed that the reunion was largely driven by financial motives rather than creative inspiration, acknowledging compromises made and unease with the band’s level of success.

In January 2008, Nicole Appleton and Melanie Blatt appeared on E4's Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, hinting at an undisclosed recording agreement. The next month, a press statement regarding the Wideboys' single featuring Shaznay Lewis suggested that All Saints were working on new material expected by late 2008. However, in September of that year, All Around the World Records refuted claims of having signed the band. By 2009, Blatt told London Lite that "All Saints are never getting back together again." Three months later, a second greatest hits compilation titled Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints was released, encompassing popular singles alongside album tracks and B-sides.

2013–2016: Second Reunion and Red Flag

On 25 May 2013, original member Simone Rainford passed away from kidney cancer at the age of 38.

In November 2013, All Saints officially reformed to join the Backstreet Boys as support for five concerts across the UK and Ireland in 2014. They also appeared at G-A-Y and V Festival. Melanie Blatt indicated that there were no immediate plans to produce new music, with the focus placed on live performances for enjoyment. On 27 January 2016, they announced their fourth studio album, Red Flag, which was released on 8 April 2016; its lead single "One Strike" was unveiled on 26 February.

On 22 February 2016, All Saints revealed plans for their first headline show in more than ten years at London's KOKO. Subsequently, on 15 March, they announced their first headlining tour in fifteen years to promote Red Flag, covering ten cities across the UK during October 2016—from Newcastle upon Tyne to Norwich. The setlist combined classic hits with new songs from the album.

Red Flag debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart. The band confirmed "This Is A War" and "One Woman Man" as follow-up singles.

On 22 October 2016, All Saints were announced as special guests supporting Take That on their UK & Ireland tour scheduled for May and June 2017.

2017–2022: Testament Release and Subsequent Hiatus

On 19 March 2017, the ensemble commenced work on their fifth studio project, collaborating with producers Karl "K-Gee" Gordon and William Orbit, both recognized for their contributions to earlier successes such as "Pure Shores" and "Black Coffee". The album title, Testament, was revealed on 29 May 2018, with a scheduled release date of 11 July 2018. Its lead single, "Love Lasts Forever", debuted on BBC Radio 2 on 31 May. To promote the album, the group embarked on a nationwide tour throughout 2018.

On 14 April 2020, All Saints delivered a rendition of "Message in a Bottle" featuring Sting, followed by the release of an official studio video on 20 April. In 2022, they made guest appearances over three nights during The Wild Dreams Tour, marking their final live performances before entering an indefinite hiatus.

Solo Endeavours

Following the initial disbandment, Melanie Blatt pursued a solo path. In September 2001, she teamed up with Artful Dodger for the track "TwentyFourSeven", which climbed to number six on the UK charts. Her subsequent singles included "I'm Leavin'" (2002) and "Do Me Wrong" (2003), the latter reaching number 18 before her departure from London Records. In 2005, Blatt issued "See Me" through Swollen Ankle Ltd as part of the Robots soundtrack, peaking at number 78. She showcased new songs live in mid-2005 prior to All Saints' reunion in 2006. Later, Blatt took on roles as judge and mentor on New Zealand's The X Factor during 2013 and 2015.

Sisters Natalie and Nicole Appleton formed the duo Appleton, securing a contract with Polydor Records. Their debut single "Fantasy" (2002) achieved a peak chart position of number two in the UK. After publishing their autobiography Together, they released "Don't Worry" and their album Everything's Eventual in 2003, which reached number nine. The final single from the album, "Everything Eventually", peaked at number 38 before their departure from Polydor.

Shaznay Lewis launched her solo career with the single "Never Felt Like This Before" in July 2004, attaining number eight on UK charts. Her album Open followed soon after, peaking at number 22. The follow-up single "You" reached number 56. Lewis took part in the Band Aid 20 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in November 2004 and collaborated with Wideboys on the top forty hit "Daddy O" in early 2008. On 17 May 2024, she released her sophomore solo album, Pages, two decades following her initial release.

Former Members

Discography

Tours

Main Performances

Supporting Appearances

Awards and nominations

|- | rowspan="10"| 1998 | rowspan="4"| "Never Ever" || Best Video at the MOBO Awards || |- | Winner of The Record of the Year || |- | Best British Single at the BRIT Awards || |- | Best British Video at the BRIT Awards || |- | rowspan=2|All Saints || Best British Breakthrough Act at the BRIT Awards || |- | Viva Comet Award for International Newcomer of the Year || |- | "Never Ever" || Best Song at the MTV Europe Music Award || |- | All Saints || Best Album at the MTV Europe Music Awards || |- | rowspan="2"| All Saints | Best Group at the MTV Europe Music Awards || |- | Best New Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards || |- | rowspan="4"| 1999 | "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" || Best British Video at the BRIT Awards || |- | "Never Ever" | Most Performed Foreign Work at the APRA Music Awards of 1999 || |- | rowspan="3"| All Saints | Best British Dance Act at the BRIT Awards || |- | Best International Newcomer at the Edison Award || |- | rowspan=2|2000 || Best Pop at the MTV Europe Music Awards || |- | rowspan="3"| "Pure Shores" | Winner of The Record of the Year || |- | rowspan="6"| 2001 | Best British Single at the BRIT Awards || |- | Best British Video at the BRIT Awards || |- | All Saints || Best British Group at the BRIT Awards || |- | rowspan=2|"Pure Shores" || Most Performed Work at the Ivor Novello Award || |- | Most Performed Foreign Work at the APRA Music Awards of 2001 || |- | rowspan="2" | All Saints || Best Pop Act at the NME Awards || |- | 2007 | Disaster of the Year at the Virgin Media Music Awards || |- | 2018 | rowspan=2|"Love Lasts Forever" | Best British Pop Single at the Popjustice £20 Music Prize || |- | rowspan=3|2019 | Single of the Year by Classic Pop Reader Award || |- | Testament | Classic Pop Reader Award for Album of the Year || |- | All Saints | Classic Pop Reader Award for Group of the Year ||

Notes


See also

External links

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