All Saints was a British/Canadian all woman pop music group, that enjoyed considerable critical and commercial success. The group comprised founding members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis, and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton. They were named after the location of ZTT Recording Studios where Mel and Shaznay worked as session singers: All Saints Road in London.
The group first got together in 1993 and started out calling themselves All Saints 1.9.7.5. Mel, Shaznay and original third member Simone Rainsford were signed to ZTT Records for whom they released three singles. But it was not until after Simone left and the Appleton sisters joined they had a hit.
In 1997 "I Know Where It's At", their debut single as a 4-piece, stormed to no.4 in the UK charts. Career highlights include the million-selling modern classic "Never Ever", which won them two BRIT Awards in 1998 - for Best Single and Best Video; and "Pure Shores", their chart-topping collaboration with William Orbit from the movie The Beach, becoming the second best-selling single of 2000 (after "Bob the Builder"). Lowlights include their universally panned film, Honest directed by ex-Eurythmics Dave Stewart.
In their five-year career, the band scored a total of five number one singles. They split acrimoniously in 2001 after much speculation and rumour. Nicole and Natalie are now in their newly reformed duo Appleton, whilst Melanie and Shaznay have also gone on to enjoy (moderate) solo success.
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