All Saints (group)

The All Saints are a British/Canadian girl group. Founded in 1993 as All Saints 1.9.7.5, the group consisted of founding members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis, and sisters Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton. They became one of the most successful British pop groups of the 1990s, with nine Top 10 singles, five number ones, two platinum albums, two gold albums and record sales in excess of 10 million worldwide.

Formation

Both Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis started their career by singing backing vocals at Sarm West Studios, the ZTT recording studios near All Saints Road, London. In 1993 Blatt, Lewis and the original third member Simone Rainford, were signed to ZTT Records, and music manager Ron Tom decided the trio should become a group.

All Saints 1.9.7.5 were originally launched as a trio in the vein of girl group Eternal. In 1994, All Saints 1.9.7.5. performed for their first time at the Touch Magazine stage at the Notting Hill Carnival. They released two singles together, but they were not successful. Additionally, Rainford and Blatt had conflicting visions of the band's musical direction which caused tensions in the band.

By 1994 the complicated recording sessions delivered the girlbands first single, "Silver Shadow" and the three girls performed throughout the UK. In the summer of 1995, Rainford left the band and ZTT Records dropped the remaining duo from their label. Regardless,...
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