History & Biography Grim Reaper, based in Droitwich near Birmingham, first came to the public's attention through 1981's Heavy Metal Heroes sampler of Heavy Metal Records where they appeared with the song The Reaper. Guitarist Bowcott was the founder and would retain the rights to the monicker in the future as well. He carried a scythe-shaped guitar. The roots of the band went as far back as 1979 though. Paul ‘Woofer’ DeMercado fronted the band at this time, while the drumming was handled by Angel Jacques. The band's Bleed 'Em Dry demo was a successful tape at this point. The demo was the result of the band winning a local contest. The Grim Reaper demo followed in 1982. Steve Grimmett of Medusa was recruited here in 1982. A 7" EP called Can't Take Anymore through Heavy Metal Records was cancelled. Keyboardist Andy Thomas joined the act in April 1983, but did not stay long.
New vocalist Grimmett also found some time to sing for label-mates, Chateaux. Grim Reaper lucked out after the anthemic nature of its debut attracted RCA enough to release it in the USA with a major push - the album sold 200,000 copies. Nick moved to the USA. The band was managed by a Walter O’Brien who also managed Pantera.
The band sold many units, toured America with Exciter and Santers and was supported by MTV. The second album afforded the band to play Texas Jam where Deep Purple headlined. Still the formula grew thin and the band was history by the time Grimmett made the mistake of accepting Onslaught's offer to fill the vacant vocal position in that thrash outfit. The third album had landed directly on RCA following the band's acrimonious departure from Ebony. In fact, the label was suing the band and had tied up the group’s affairs and activities. The third album was promoted via a 7" EP featuring the songs Rock Me Till I Die, Night Of The Vampire (the album’s original title) and Rock You To Hell. Wanklin was also ejected soon after Rock You To Hell was released. All the same, the band toured the USA once again and was filmed for MTV. Sadly, the footage was eventually destroyed in a fire that was to gut MTV archives.
Grim Reaper was billed for, and played at, Wacken 2001 festival in Germany. Grimmett would later remark that he had signed on as Lionsheart, but the promoter had billed it as an appearance by Grim Reaper! The same thing almost happened in 2006. A line-up of Steve Grimmett, Ian Nash, Ritchie Walker and Pete Newdeck was announced to play at Keep It True VI on April 8th in Germany and the band asked that it not be called a reunion. Grimmett formed The Steve Grimmett Band in 2007. Former guitarist Nick Bowcott joined Belladonna on the ex-Anthrax singer’s US shows in early 2008. Steve Grice, former drummer and founding member of UK’s Onslaught, launched Onslaught The Sanity Days in 2011. Also in the band was Onslaught’s 2007 guitarist Alan Jordan, 1985-1986 bassist Jase Stallard and ex-Grim Reaper/Solo singer Steve Grimmett, who sang for Onslaught on 1989’s In Search Of Sanity. Grimmett was heavily criticized alongside the In Search... album upon that record’s release. Grice was booted/ushered out in April. Steve Grimmett was still forging ahead with Grim Reaper. Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper would perform in the USA for the first time since 1987 on April 5th, 2014 at the Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse festival at Reggies bar in Chicago, Illinois. Western Canada's open air metal festival Farmageddon announced the line-up for its 2015 edition in Ryley (80 KMs East of Edmonton) from June 11 to 14. That year's line-up featured headliners Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper from the UK, American bands Pallbearer and Incantation plus Canadians Into Eternity and Archspire along with many support bands from Western Canada. The band appeared at the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2015 with original guitarist Nick Bowcott back in the line-up. Nick had been working for Jackson guitars. The band was writing new music.
Singer Steve Grimmett of (now) Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper had his right leg amputated in the middle due to an aggressively expanding infection, which could have infected his body. He was in Ecuador to start 2017 in the midst of a tour and had performed his latest show mostly immobile. Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper released a new album on October 11th 2019. It was called At The Gates. Steve Grimmett died in his sleep unexpectedly in the summer of 2022. However, he had had his right leg amputated in 2017. To remember singer Steve Grimmett, who had died a year before, guitarist Nick Bowcott and Tim "Ripper" Owens banded together with others including Steve's son and daughter, Russ and Sami Grimmett, on backing vocals for a version of See You In Hell in 2023.
The catchy heavy metal of the band remains popular to this day. Grim Reaper’s Steve Grimmett was to be remembered at the Wings Of Angels Festival in Swindon, England on November 23rd 2024. His family was to attend and there would be a Grim Reaper cover act. Former Grim Reaper members Nick Bowcott, Dave Wanklin and Mark Simon, and Jag Panzer singer Harry Conklin, were coming together for first time in over 30 Years to perform. Steve's wife Millie was an organizer.
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