Praying Mantis Interview – March 2003

Praying Mantis released "The Journey Goes On" in Japan in March and it has
just come out on Frontiers/Now And Then in the UK. It is three years since
"Nowhere To Hide" came out so Jon Hinchliffe went down to the Mixing studio to
see what has been happening with the band. Present are Tino Troy (Lead Guitar,
Backing vocals and Keyboards), Chris Troy (Bass Guitar, Vocals and keyboards)
and Dennis Stratton (Lead Guitar, Backing vocals)

JH – What is the current line up of Praying Mantis?

This interview was originally on http://www.ontherocks.de/Interviews/Interview35/Interview68/body_interview68.html

PRAYING MANTIS – Chris Troy – The Journey Goes On

Your last album “Nowhere To Hide” was released three years ago. Why did it take so long with the new record?

Greek Fan Club Interview with Chris Troy

Here is an Interview George Arvanitakis carried out with
Chris Troy by E-mail for the Greek Praying Mantis Fan Club.

GA – Hello Chris. I am so happy to have the opportunity to do this
interview with you. How are things going ?

CT – Hi, George, I am glad that at last the new album is very soon to be
released as it seems such a long time since we actually finished the recording.

GA – Can you give us some information about the “Nowhere To Hide” CD?

Steve Carroll Interview – 4 November 1999

In a good patch off interviewing I managed to catch up with Steve Carroll
and discuss his days in Mantis and career in general. After the interview had
stopped I commented to Steve that there were never any Quotes in the Magazines
from him. His reply was that he was first and foremost a musician and since
others in the band didn't mind doing interviews he preferred to leave it to
them. Steve was clearly uncomfortable about the prospect of being interviewed so
I am especially grateful to him for allowing me to cover such a lot with him.
Thanks Steve.

Dave Potts Interview – August 1999

Back in August 1999 I took this interview with Dave Potts. I took a long
time to write up but I personally found it fascinating. Thanks Dave.

When I was going over it with Dave he said he thought you might find it
hard to follow as reading back he had that trouble. I would therefore welcome
any comments on the subject. Especially tips on how to improve it's readability.
It is very difficult to judge the level of knowledge the average person reading
this page needs. If you give up before getting to the bottom. I would love to
know why. Just e-mail Me and I will
try and improve it for future interviews.

Colin Peel Interview

This Interview was carried out by Jon Hinchliffe in late July 99.

My love of music had grown to a point where I was desperate to be in a
band. My life was going nowhere in a bleak and black Glasgow at that time.

Anyway, as a result of a drunken party conversation, I squared up to an
electric microphone for the first time when I was seventeen.

Corny as it sounds, within moments my life changed. Suddenly I had a love, a
goal, and a future. My mates just laughed, but I'd found my way out so I didn't
care.

Interview with Rodney Matthews

I have just had a phone call with Rodney Matthews about what he could
remember about the drawings he did for Praying Mantis.

He first remembered that he did the “Praying Mantis” single cover and the
“Cheated” one. And he remembered being annoyed that he never got the artwork back from Bob Keene.

He confirmed the fireball on “Time Tells No Lies” was because of fireball management. I mentioned
that I thought the Wizard had something to do with Neal Kaye but he was
convinced the Wizard was just a Wizard and not represent any ones by looks.

Tony O’Hora on Horakane’s “Eternal Infinity”

Interviewed By Jon Hinchliffe on 2nd April 1999. I welcome any comments or
criticisms of my interviews. If you have any additional questions you feel I
have missed let me know.

JH – When was “Eternal Infinity” recorded?

TO – Some of the songs actually made it from the demo stages so it
probably started being recorded 18 months ago really. I was just adding to it
all the time whenever I got time.

JH – So was it done at your Studio?

TO – Yes.

Dennis Stratton Interview – Oct 1999

On 27 October 1999 Dennis Stratton kindly agreed to allow me to interview
him about his whole career at a pub on the River Thames in London. I don’t think
he realised the extent of the Questions so I am grateful for his patience. I am
still in the progress of typing this up but I thought I would release another
section. Dennis’s Career to the end of Maiden.

JH – A Simple question to start with. Let me know when you get fed up! Did
you have trials for West Ham Football Club (Soccer)?

Interview With Tony O’Hora from Ho-No-O August 1998

This interview was kindly translated for me by Yoko without me even asking so I am extremely pleased to have received it. Thanks Yoko.

Int: The band members of PRAYING MANTIS are very experienced musicians, and you are the youngest in PRAYING MANTIS. How long have you been into rock music?

Tony O’Hora(TO): When I was 13 or 14 years old when I lived in Canada. Fortunately I lived in the place close to the border between Canada and US, half mile from Detroit. I used to go to Detroit to see concerts 3 or 4 times in a week. It was really wonderful for rock fans because it was “Detroit Rock City”.