Praying Mantis (band)

Praying Mantis are a band that was, together with groups such as Iron Maiden in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal ( NWOBHM ). With other known bands of this time, the band played at major festivals and stood with his 1981's debut album Time Tells No Lies just before a worldwide breakthrough. Due to contractual problems but the second album was not published until ten years later - at a time dominated the other sounds than the typical British traditional heavy metal style of the band, the music world.

  • 2.1 Studio albums
  • 2.2 Live albums
  • 2.3 compilations
  • 2.4 Singles
  • 2.5 On samplers
  • 2.6 other projects

History

The beginnings (1972-1975)

In 1972 Tino Troy (born Constantino Neophytou ) his first guitar at school. The Englishman later found on the college some colleagues as a rehearsal room. With his college friends Tino decided in 1973 to form a band. For this, however, lacked a bass player. So Tino asked his brother Chris (born Chris Takis Neophytou ), who learned classical Spanish guitar, whether he wants to play in his band bass. Chris, who until then had never seen a bass, this was a quick learner. He was the instrument of Tino, who had his home-built guitar converted into a bass because he had bought a Gibson SG guitar.

The father of the singer and guitarist Pete Moore worked as a janitor at a school. So could provide a coal cellar for the samples available to this the band on weekends. After the piano player Chris Hudson and drummer Gary Trotter came shortly afterwards added, the choice fell on the band name " Junction ". Junction began with cover versions of the status quo and later Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash.

After a while the band was no longer satisfied with the drumming of Gary Trotter. Chris Hudson took over the role of the drummer, so the piano was omitted. Since Chris playing learned very quickly the band could already half a year later to complete a first appearance in the hometown of London.

1975 heard Tino Troy at a college Stan Cunningham sing. Within a week, Stan was part of the band. Stan brought their own texts with the band and a few days later, the band already had some of his own compositions. At the time, Junction -named them in Praying Mantis, the first cast was.

The first years (1975-1981)

After praying mantis had mostly played at private parties, they had 1975 in a London pub, its first real gig. Shortly afterwards, however, they were abandoned by their singer Stan Cunningham. This moved back to Wales because he had finished all of his courses at the College. A new singer was initially not wanted, all four remaining band members shared the vocals on.

Soon after, the band recruited Jeff Crook as a manager. This gave them many more performances and a recording session in the First Light 8 Track Studios. There she took 1977 Demo Captured City on. Included are on the classics Captured City, Johnny Cool and Lovers to the Grave.

The end of 1978, a friend told Tino from the HM Soundhouse in Kingsbury. There, the band asked the DJ Neal Kay whether he would play their demo. Kay took the demos to take home to listen to it yourself. The following week he played all three songs.

Beginning of 1980 appeared the compilation Metal for Muthas, where many aspiring metal bands were involved. In addition to two songs by Iron Maiden, and a new recording of Captured City of Praying Mantis was heard. The members of the band had now changed slightly. Dave Potts was the new drummer and Rob Angelo now played second guitar in the band. Together with the Troy brothers, they contested the first Praying Mantis Tour: The Metal for Muthas Tour in 1980.

Successful completion of tour it was only a matter of time until Praying Mantis had the opportunity to record their first album. Steve Carroll, meanwhile, had replaced Rob Angelo and was already involved in the songwriting of the LP Time Tells No Lies. Mid-1981 the debut and the reactions of metal fans were the most consistently positive. Praying Mantis were close to a breakthrough. However, already showed small accidents during the recording Time Tells No Lies that the band was not always under a lucky star. So should be included originally a book written by Russ Ballard song. This had the title I Surrender. However, during the recording, the band received the news that the band Rainbow simultaneously recorded this piece and use it as their next single had planned.

This should not be the only problem. Shortly after the release of their debut, there were problems with the management, the trend of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal went over and Praying Mantis did not get the chance to record a second album. The big bands like Def Leppard and Iron Maiden had prevailed, Praying Mantis disappeared shortly before the big breakthrough into oblivion.

Inactive time and other projects (1981-1990)

The brothers Troy celebrated in 1985 again made ​​a comeback when they released along with former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, and Bernie Shaw ( vocals) and Alan Nelson (keyboards) Album Throwing Shapes. The new band was called Stratus, and was founded in 1983, originated from the band Escape, but brought it only to some demo recordings.

Throwing Shapes Stratus sold mainly well in Japan. As with Praying Mantis, Stratus was denied to record a second album. This was due to the sales figures that fell short of expectations, as well as the members themselves, who saw no potential in the band. Bernie Shaw rose in 1986 when Uriah Heep, Chris Troy tried to engineer his career and his brother Tino, meantime, was active in different bands and participated in some projects.

For the Troy brothers came the key moment to reactivate their band in 1990. Due to a request from Japan, presented has been compiled a sort of " all-star group " of pioneers of NWOBHM. This is Tino and Chris Troy, Paul Di'Anno, Dennis Stratton were (former Iron Maiden and Lionheart ), and drummer Bruce Bisland ( formerly of Weapon and Wild Fire), the Tino Troy in the bands Paddy Goes To Holyhead and The Wandering Crutchlees had met.

Together, the band toured under the banner " Praying Mantis & Paul Dianno, Dennis Stratton " by Japan, to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of NWOBHM. They played this song from the first two Iron Maiden albums (Iron Maiden and Killers ) and Praying Mantis and Lionheart material. After the tour, a live album was released, entitled Live at Last.

Re-establishment (1990-2004)

After the very successful Japan tour Praying Mantis was offered a new recording contract. Paul Di ' Anno left the project to work with his band Killers. Dennis Stratton, Bruce Bisland and Chris and Tino Troy were members of the re -founded ' Praying Mantis ". 1991 appeared the second officially Praying Mantis album titled Predator in Disguise. Stylistically, the band featured on where Time Tells No Lies had stopped. Another tour of Japan followed.

Appeared in 1993 A Cry for the new World. For the album, the band recorded a new singer in their ranks: Colin Peel. This does not, however, accompanied the band on their subsequent tour of Japan. For him, Mark Thompson -Smith jumped in the published exclusively in Japan EP Only The Children Cry einsang in the same year. On this EP old song ideas were again used. A new version of Only the Children Cry was heard in 1995 on the album To the Power of Ten. Gary Barden (ex MSG and State Trooper ) acted as a singer. A concert in Tokyo from 1996 was published on Vide and on CD. When publishing once again the market orientation of the band was clear: The album Captured Alive in Tokyo City was released in Europe as a single CD in Japan, however, as a complete concert on two CDs. Praying Mantis each used different singers for their five in Zeitruam from 1990 to 1998 released studio albums. 1999 double - CD compilation Demorabilia was published, contains the recordings of the band Escape, Stratus and the Praying Mantis. Many of the songs included were known at the time already by some studio recordings.

In 2000, Nowhere to Hide, which again represented a qualitative increase, according to reviews appeared. Liked showed Chris Troy, who noted that a second album was recorded in the same occupation. The release of the album with performances in Japan, England and Germany at the Wacken Open Air was accompanied at all locations Praying Mantis opened up new audiences. A short time later rose drummer Bruce Bisland and singer Tony O ' Horaaus from the band. This was due to musical differences and time problems, as both musicians along with Andy Scott played with The Sweet.

Although the band was officially only after the separation from Dennis Stratton, Chris and Tino Troy, however, were at The Journey Goes On guest musicians, such as John Slomanverpflichtet. Was published in 2004, the compilation The Best of Praying Mantis, which should meet the only existing contracts.

Recent past (since 2005)

It was not until the end of 2005, the band was back with a new cast. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of NWOBHM, Praying Mantis played together with bands like Magnum in London. Dennis Stratton fell out due to health reasons. Nevertheless resulted from the successful performance, a new record deal.

Played in the following years Praying Mantis numerous appearances, including in Greece and in Germany on the Headbanger's Open Air in summer 2009 finally released their new studio album "Sanctuary", which received positive reviews and the performances in Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, France and Sweden moved to yourself.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles

On samplers

Listed are only relevant compilations containing tracks in most cases, which can be found on no regular publications of the band.

Other projects

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