Grim Reaper (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, England |
| Founder | Nick Bowcott |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Fate | Disbanded following the death of lead vocalist Steve Grimmett |
| Headquarters | Droitwich, Worcestershire , England |
Key people | Steve Grimmett (lead vocals) |
| Products | Heavy metal music, albums, singles, live performances |
Number of employees | 4 (final lineup) |
| Website | www |
Grim Reaper was a British heavy metal group originating from the new wave of British heavy metal movement, established in 1979 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, by guitarist Nick Bowcott. Vocalist Steve Grimmett served as the band's longest-standing member, active from 1982 to 1988 and then again from 2006 until his passing in 2022. The band is primarily recognized for the title tracks of their initial three albums: See You in Hell (1983), Fear No Evil (1985), and Rock You to Hell (1987). These songs experienced a resurgence in popularity during the 1990s, partly due to being featured on the show Beavis and Butt-Head. After disbanding in 1988, they reunited in 2006 under the moniker Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper because of legal complications concerning the original band name. Under this new name, they released two albums: Walking in the Shadows (2016) and At the Gates (2019). The group ultimately dissolved following Grimmett’s death in 2022.
Formation and early period (1979–1983)
Originating from Worcestershire, the founding members included vocalist Paul de Mercado. Their initial demo, titled Bleed 'Em Dry, contained enough material for a full-length album. After gaining traction regionally, they attracted the interest of Heavy Metal Records, which featured a re-recorded version of "The Reaper" on their 1981 compilation Heavy Metal Heroes. Subsequent lineup changes led Nick Bowcott to bring in Dave Wanklin on bass, Lee Harris on drums, and Steve Grimmett as lead singer. This lineup triumphed in a 1982 Battle of the Bands contest, earning studio time to produce new demos. Through Grimmett’s connection with Ebony Records, Grim Reaper secured a contract with that label. Their debut album, See You in Hell, was released in 1983 and distributed internationally via RCA Records.
Rise to prominence, legal issues, and dissolution (1985–1988)
Grim Reaper gained recognition for Bowcott’s guitar skills combined with Steve Grimmett’s signature head voice vocal style. Their extensive world tour included opening for Texxas Jam before an audience exceeding 20,000. The follow-up album in 1985, Fear No Evil, demonstrated enhanced production quality and achieved moderate success across both the United States and Europe.
However, legal conflicts with Ebony Records caused a nearly two-year delay for their third release, Rock You to Hell. Issued through RCA Records in 1987, this album faced challenges as melodic heavy metal declined amid the rise of thrash metal and speed metal. Despite support from a major label and a well-received video for its title track, the band struggled to regain earlier momentum. Plans for a fourth album, reportedly named Nothing Whatsoever to Do with Hell, were abandoned due to ongoing legal battles with Ebony Records, leading to Grim Reaper’s breakup in 1988.
Post-breakup activities (1988–2006)
Following Grim Reaper’s split, Steve Grimmett took on vocal duties for bands such as Onslaught and Lionsheart, while also participating in various tribute projects. Meanwhile, Nick Bowcott shifted focus toward freelance music journalism and contributed regularly to magazines like Circus and Guitar World. Additionally, he collaborated with the US branch of Marshall Amplification and performed with Barfly, which recorded an album produced by Jack Ponti and mixed by Michael Wagener for RCA Records.
Reunion and Grimmett's Passing (2006–2022)
In 2006, Eddie Trunk revealed on Metal Mania that Grim Reaper had reunited. The "original" members, excluding Nick Bowcott, took the stage at Keep It True VI in Lauda-Königshofen on 8 April 2006. They later performed at London's MetalBrew festival on 18 July 2009 and were slated to appear at Play it Loud IV in Bologna, Italy, in September 2009. Although the festival was cancelled, the band still played a one-day show alongside other artists due to strong fan interest.
Grim Reaper participated in the British Steel festival held in Bologna in November 2010, sharing the lineup with fellow NWoBHM bands Diamond Head, Girlschool, Demon, and Angelwitch. Additionally, they performed at Birmingham's Academy with Jameson Raid.
The group continued touring across the UK and Europe, including a November 2011 tour through Greece and Cyprus, which coincided with the release of the Limited Edition live album Live in Europe 2011. In 2012, their festival appearances included Sweden’s Muskelrock and headlining Germany’s Sword Brothers festival. The band followed these with further European festival dates and tours in the United States. In 2013, Grim Reaper co-headlined Belgium’s Heavy Sound Festival alongside Tokyo Blade.
April 2014 marked Grim Reaper's first US performance since 1987, featuring original guitarist Nick Bowcott and introducing songs from their forthcoming album From Hell.
In 2016, Steve Grimmett’s iteration of Grim Reaper unveiled their first studio album since 1987.
On 17 January 2017, Grimmett was admitted to hospital after a concert in Guayaquil, Ecuador. After undergoing surgery to address an infection in his right leg, part of the limb was amputated on 18 January. Despite this setback, the band continued performing, including a headline appearance at Hard Rock Hell’s NWOBHM Christmas event in Sheffield that December.
On 25 July 2019, Grim Reaper announced plans for a new album featuring original compositions. At The Gates was released on 11 October 2019, followed by an album launch show at London’s Boston Music Rooms.
By January 2022, Grimmett confirmed that work on another new album was underway. In March of that year, the band issued their first live album titled Reaping the Whirlwind.
Steve Grimmett passed away on 15 August 2022 at the age of 62.
Musical style
Following their rise to mainstream recognition, Grim Reaper became known for "capturing every element of cheesiness in heavy metal," characterized by "exaggerated catchy hooks paired with sharp-edged lyrics."
In popular culture
- A reworked version of Grim Reaper’s 1985 track "Fear No Evil" was featured as the video for Weezer’s song "We Are All on Drugs."
- Tracks such as "See You in Hell," "Fear No Evil," and "Rock You to Hell" were included in episodes of Beavis and Butt-Head, where both the songs and videos were subjects of satire.
- The song "Lust for Freedom" was used as the title track for a 1987 women’s prison film sharing the same name.
Members
Final lineup
- Steve Grimmett — lead vocals
- Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals
- Julian Hill — bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mark Pullin — drums
Former members
Studio albums
- See You in Hell (1983)
- Fear No Evil (1985)
- Rock You to Hell (1987)
- Walking in the Shadows (2016)
- At the Gates (2019)
Singles
- "The Show Must Go On" (single version) paired with "Dead On Arrival" (1984)
Compilation Albums
- Heavy Metal Heroes (1981) includes "The Reaper" performed by an earlier formation featuring Paul DeMacardo (vocals), Nick Bowcott (guitar), and Adrian Jacques (drums and bass)
- See You in Hell/Fear No Evil (1999)
- Best of Grim Reaper (1999)
Live Albums
- Reaping the Whirlwind (2022)