England
NWOBHM
Last update/review:
May 10, 2024
Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis first appeared on the legendary
Metal For Muthas compilation in 1980, and their song,
"Captured City" was possibly the best song on that album.
Their style was more melodic than most NWOBHM bands, owing to
their harmonized vocals.
By 1981 they had released their debut album,
Time Tells No Lies ,
but despite good reviews, the band seemed to vanish soon afterward.
In reality they had mutated, first hooking up with
Iron Maiden
drummer Clive Burr and going by the name of Clive Burr's Escape,
and later (circa 1984) as Stratus.
Finally, in 1990, the Troy brothers played a live set
in Tokyo with two
other former
Iron Maiden members in tow, these being
guitarist Dennis Stratton and vocalist Paul Di'Anno.
The concert is released as a new Praying Mantis album, and the
band is back in action, with Stratton staying on as permanent
guitarist.
The band continues on, with several lineup changes surrounding
the core of Stratton and the two Troys.
Current Members
John Cuijpers
vocals
Tino Troy
guitars/vocals
Andy Burgess
guitars/vocals
Chris Troy
bass/vocals
Hans in't Zandt
drums
Former Members/Guests
Paul Di'Anno (guest)
vocals (ex-Iron Maiden , ex-Killers ) RIP: October 21, 2024, age 66
Colin Peel
vocals
Mark Thompson-Smith
vocals
Gary Barden
vocals (ex-Michael Schenker Group , ex-Statetrooper )
Tony O'Hora
vocals
Bernie Shaw
vocals (Uriah Heep )
Tom Jackson
vocals
John Sloman
vocals (ex-Uriah Heep )
Doogie White
vocals (ex-Alcatrazz , ex-Yngwie Malmsteen , Michael Schenker Group , ex-Rata Blanca , ex-Rainbow , ex-Tank (Tucker/Evans version) )
Mike Freeland
vocals (More )
Steve Carroll
guitars/vocals
Dennis Stratton
guitars/vocals (ex-Iron Maiden )
Don Garbett
keyboards
Jon Bavin
keyboards
Dave Potts
drums
Bruce Bisland
drums (ex-Statetrooper , Tank , ex-Weapon UK , ex-Wildfire )
Clive Burr
drums (ex-Elixir , ex-Iron Maiden , ex-Trust ) RIP: March 12, 2013, multiple sclerosis
Martin Johnson
drums
Benjamin Reid
drums
Discography
Studio
Live
Compilation
Time Tells No Lies
1981
Arista
Cheated
All Day and all of the night
Running For Tomorrow
Rich City Kids
Lovers To The Grave
Panic In The Streets
Beads of Ebony
Flirting With Suicide
Children Of The Earth
30 Pieces Of Silver*
Flirting With Suicide (Live)
Panic In The Streets (Live)
Tino Troy
Steve Carroll
Chris Troy
Dave Potts
Live At Last
LIVE
1990
Panic In The Streets
Dangerous Game
Children Of The Earth
Lovers To The Grave
Flirting With Suicide
Hot Tonight
Running For Tomorrow
Wrathchild
Murders In The Rue Morgue
Remember Tomorrow
Phantom Of The Opera
Iron Maiden
Cheated
Running Free
Paul Di'Anno
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
Predator In Disguise
1991
Canyon Intl.
Can't See The Angels
She's Hot
Can't Wait Forever
This Time Girl
Time Slipping Away
Listen To What Your Heart Says
Still Want You
The Horn
Battle Royal
Only You
Borderline
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
A Cry For The New World
1993
Canyon Intl.
Rise Up Again
A Cry For The New World
A Moment In Life
Letting Go
One Chance
Dangerous
Fight To Be Free
Open Your Heart
Dream On
Journeyman
The Final Eclipse
Colin Peel
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
Only The Children Cry
EP
1993
Canyon Intl.
Only The Children Cry
Who's Life Is It Anyway
A Moment In Life
Turn The Tables
Mark Thompson-Smith
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
To The Power Of Ten
1995
Canyon Intl.
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
Bring On The Night
Ball Of Confusion
Welcome To My Hollywood
Another Time, Another Place
To The Power Of Ten
Little Angel
Victory
Only The Children Cry
Night And Day
Angry Man
Gary Barden
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
Captured Alive In Tokyo City
LIVE
1996
Canyon Intl.
Gary Barden
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Clive Burr
Forever In Time
1998
Canyon Intl.
Wasted Years
The Messiah
Best Years
Blood Of An Angel
Valley Of The Kings
Changes
Man Behind The Mask
Remember My Name
The Day The Sun Turned Cold
Forever In Time
Tony O'Hora
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
Demorabilia
DEMO RE-RELEASE
1999
Canyon Intl.
Bernie Shaw
Tom Jackson
Tino Troy
Steve Carroll
Chris Troy
Don Garbett
Jon Bavin
Dave Potts
Clive Burr
Nowhere To Hide
2000
Pony Canyon
Nowhere To Hide
Cruel Winter
The Clocktower
Can't Stop The Fire
Future Of The World
Whenever I'm Lost
You'll Never Know
River Of Hope
Naked
S.O.S
Tony O'Hora
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Bruce Bisland
The Journey Goes On
2003
Pony Canyon
Tonight
The Escape
The Journey Goes On
Silent War
Beast Within
Hold On For Love
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Lost World
The Voice
Naked (re-recorded version)
John Sloman
Doogie White
Tino Troy
Dennis Stratton
Chris Troy
Martin Johnson
The Best Of Praying Mantis
COMPILATION
2004
Pony Canyon
Cheated
Can't See The Angels
A Cry For The New World
Letting Go
Journeyman
Only The Children Cry
Turn The Tables
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
Best Years
Forever In Time
Nowhere To Hide
Naked
Captured City
A Moment In Life
Sanctuary
2009
In Time
Restless heart
Tears in the rain
So high
Turn the tide/Lonely Way Home
Touch the rainbow
Threshold of a dream
Playing god
Broken Chains (Japanese release Only)
Highway
Sanctuary
Mike Freeland
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Benjamin Reid
Metalmorphosis
EP
2011
Children of The Earth
Praying Mantis
Lovers to the Grave
Panic in the Streets
Captured City
Mike Freeland
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Benjamin Reid
Legacy
2015
Frontiers
Fight For Your Honour
The One
Believable
Tokyo
Better Man
All I See
Eyes Of A Child
The Runner
Against The World
Fallen Angel
Second Time Around
John Cuijpers
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Hans in't Zandt
Gravity
2018
Frontiers
John Cuijpers
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Hans in't Zandt
Katharsis
2022
Cry for the Nations
Closer to Heaven
Ain't No Rock 'n' Roll in Heaven
Non Omnis Moriar
Long Time Coming
Sacrifice
Wheels in Motion
Masquerade
Find Our Way Back Home
Don't Call Us Now
The Devil Never Changes
John Cuijpers
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Hans in't Zandt
Defiance
2024
Frontiers
John Cuijpers
Tino Troy
Andy Burgess
Chris Troy
Hans in't Zandt