Photos from British Steel III, Camden Underworld London 26th April 2008 have been added here

Photos from Bang Your Head Festival 2007, Balingen, Germany are here

Photos from Headbangers Open Air Festival Metal Garden, Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany, July 15th 2006 are here

There are more pictures from Headbangers Open Air, Germany, 15.07.2006 on the sweet website

Praying Mantis – Astoria – 4 November 2005

On 4th November 2005 Praying Mantis played their first show for nearly 5
years in a show celebrating, somewhat incorrectly, the 25th anniversary of the
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. During the five years since the last gig the
band had reduced down to a nucleus of 3 and released "The
Journey Goes On". With the band being down to a basic trio it wasn't easy to
get a band together to play live. It was therefore fantastic that this show came
off. Not only that but it seems to have been a catalyst for renewed enthusiasm
within the band.

The Gods 2000 in the Press

From Fireworks
Magazine Issue 3 – Available from
FireworksMag@aol.com. (This issue also has an Interview I took from all 5
members of the band)

Praying Mantis – The Gods 2000 , Maximes, Wigan, 4^th Nov 2000 by
Dave Cockett

Having just witnessed a truly blistering set from Norway’s Street Legal, I
can’t say that I really envied Praying Mantis the task of going on next. A far
slicker, much more polished animal (at least on CD) than the brash young
upstarts who proceeded them, Praying Mantis have been treading the boards in one
form or another for over twenty now, so I guess they ought to know a thing or
two.

More Pics from Gods 2000 and Warm Up Dates

The Gods 2000 and Warm Up Dates

As usual here are my personal observations on the gigs. I would like to include Your views to so please send them to me.

Praying Mantis – 31 October 2000 – The Cartoon, Croydon

With the English transport system in a complete mess it was great to leave
reality and watch Mantis playing again.

Well a form of Mantis, sadly Tino didn't make the gig tonight in his place
was Fester Munster. Strangely he plays rather like Tino and had Tino's
distinctive laugh.

Adventures Of A Groupie At Wacken 2000

For cost reasons I caught an earlier flight than the other bands. I
therefore had a 9hr wait before the others arrived and I decided to take a bus
to Lubeck. Unfortunately there were next to no facilities at the airport so
there was nowhere to leave my suitcase. I therefore planned to get back a couple
of hours before the others arrived but I was too concerned with time and fatigue
and got back with 3.5 hrs to spare and discover I had been told the time of
arrival wrong by two hours. Bother. Time dragged somewhat. Still eventually the
plane arrived and it was interesting to see how many got their instruments on
board and how many went in the depressurised and cold hull. Out of Mantis it was
only Leon that couldn't get his keyboard on.

Wacken 2000 and Warm Up Dates

Dean Swift, Dean Cross Street,
London – 31 July 2000

It's been 7 months since Mantis last played live together. This time it was
at the Dean Swift pub again in preparation for the Wacken Festival. Being
Dennis's local the crowd was very enthusiastic and very full.

Since this was basically warm up practise the band played the Wacken set
twice. Well almost. One song was missing from the 2nd set. Instead we got Lovers
To The Grave done without Tony.

These remaining Dean Swift photos kindly
donated by Eileen Handley