Damage (British group)

History

Damage started when Rahsaan "Ras" Bromfield and Noel Simpson, both students at the Barbara Speake Stage School in Acton, London, began rapping and dancing during school assemblies. They later added Jade Jones after overhearing him hit a high note. Andrez Harriott, who attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, joined following a performance with Jones in the musical Carmen Jones. Coreé Richards came on board after being heard singing at a bus stop.

In early 1995, the group sent a demo tape of their cover of the Jackson 5 track "Anything" to Jazz Summers at Big Life Records. They soon broke into the UK Singles Chart, with their second single "Love II Love" peaking at number 12 and the follow-up "Forever" reaching number 6 during the Christmas season. "Forever" also marked the first collaboration between songwriters Steve Mac and Wayne Hector, and it caught the attention of Simon Cowell, which eventually led to Mac becoming Cowell's chief songwriter-producer.

The debut album, also titled Forever, came out in 1997, supported by two more top 10 singles: "Love Guaranteed" and a cover of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," which climbed to number 3. The five members then toured extensively while sorting out a new record deal after Big Life folded. Jones stayed in the public eye due to his long-term relationship with Spice Girls member Emma Bunton.

In 2000, Damage signed with Cooltempo Records and dropped the first single from their second album, "Ghetto Romance." Produced by the duo Tim & Bob, it peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "Rumours," arrived on 30 August and blended R&B with 2-step. The CD2 version included UK garage remixes of "Rumours" and "Ghetto Romance," handled by Ed Case & Carl H and Groove Chronicles, respectively. The second album was originally scheduled for release on 25 September 2000, after "Rumours," but the date was pushed back to allow for new recordings, which led to a revised track list. That initial list included the songs "Feelin' Me," "Midnight Caller," and an outro called "Before We Leave."