BIOGRAPHY – Heartbreak Angels

The rock industry in the late 1980s became awash with so many glam punk bands that there were countless ones who were lost amongst the herd. One such group was Heartbreak Angels, an obscure band that seemed to have musically been inspired by the likes of Hanoi Rocks, although sadly their image would suggest a more second-rate glam band. Vocalist Robbie Jay Dee (who now performs under the name Robbie Tart and briefly worked with The Vibrators a few years back) seemed to model his singing on deceased punk legend Stiv Bators (of The Lords of the New Church) and the band themselves barely resembled the image they had portrayed on the sleeve of their double-A side Shoot Me Down/Desperado.

As was common with glam rock bands of the era, the members of Heartbreak Angels would perform under dubious stage names, which would include Scratch ‘n’ Sniff (the guitarist and bassist, respectively), guitarist Heathy Blues Baby and drummer Paul L’Amour. The hair styles of the band (specifically the aforementioned duo of Scratch ‘n’ Sniff) would recall some of the other glam bands of the era (such as Shotgun Messiah and TigerTailz), yet their music would owe more of a debt to punk than metal. Shoot Me Down would be their most Hanoi Rocks track, whilst also resembling British-based blues rock band The Dogs D’Amour, who would also occasionally flirt with punk. Starting as an acoustic track, Desperado was perhaps their most accessible song although, as with Crimes of Passion, the acoustic guitar soon gives way for their brand of punk pop.