[2] Their primary leader is singer-songwriter Charlie Angus, who entered electoral politics in 2004 as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay.
[1] The band quickly became a popular draw at folk festivals across Canada, and released their debut album, Toute la Gang, in 1989.
[8] However, Rumball was suffering from voice problems at this time and did not participate in the tour to support the album, with vocals instead being performed by Lynn Simmons and Kirsti MacLeod.
In 1995, Angus launched HighGrader, a magazine about Northern Ontario life and culture,[14] and joined CBC Radio One as a correspondent and commentator for its Sudbury station CBCS.
[15] In 1996, Grievous Angels released Waiting for the Cage, a concept album about life in Northern Ontario mining towns which also included an interactive CD-ROM feature.
During this era, Angus became involved in political activism in the campaign against the proposal to ship Toronto's garbage to the abandoned Adams Mine in Kirkland Lake.
[29] The lineup saw Angus, Jellard, and Hadley joined by new members Janet Mercier on vocals, Ian McKendry on guitar, and Nathan Mahaffy on drums.