Praying Mantis - News & Site Updates

6th June 2008 - The British Steel Festival gig was a big success for the band and fans alike and this has had a big effect in getting the band more gigs. The band have the following dates currently scheduled:

September is currently allocated for recording the new album. Those of you lucky enough to catch Praying Mantis on Total Rock Radio will have heard two demo tracks for the album.

21st January 2008 - The new material is continuing to be developed. Hopefully the first airing of some of it will be at British Steel Festival III - Camden Underworld, London, Saturday, 26th April - Doors 4:30 - £12.50 adv. The current lineup is Witchfynde, PRAYING MANTIS, Elixir, Lyadrive, Redline. Tickets can be bought from Ticketweb

4th December 2007 - Writing continues for the new album and it is looking likely that Mantis will be playing Headbangers Open Air Festival again. Also that same weekend the band are currently in discussion about playing a festival in Portuagal. I will give more details when things are confirmed.

Dennis Stration is going to be playing in Italy sometime over 7-8 December. Full details can be found on http://www.eddies.it/. A Brief summary is: The second Eddie's National Convention, which will take place in Trezzo, near Milan, on December 7, and Prato, near Florence, on December 8. Both nights will see Dennis Stratton playing Iron Maiden numbers plus selected memorable rock songs, with The Clairvoyants and Mike DeJager (Al Atkins, The Denial). There will also be contests, stands, instruments, meet and greets and other stuff.

19th July 2007 - Praying Mantis are now a full band again and are writing and rehearsing songs for the next album with great enthusiasm. As can be seen, promotional shots have been taken and two interviews have been added to the website. Pictures from last years Headbangers Open Air Festival and this years Bang Your Head festival have also been added.

It is approaching holiday season so a timescale can't be give but it is hoped to put a video clip or two from Bang Your Head on the myspace page and open a shop selling Mantis T-shirts and promo pictures.

8th May 2007 - We hope some of you made it to the Paddy's gig below as Mantis performed 3 songs: Rise Up Again, Lettin Go and Cry For The New World. The band decided to drop the keyboards and bring back a 2nd guitar. The line up for this gig and the next two gigs is: Chris and Tino Troy, Andy Burgess (guitar), Mike Freeland (vocals), Benji Reid (drums)

UK GIG! - Praying Mantis will be performing at Riga Music Bar on 20 June 2007 between 8.30 and 11. Entry is £6. Riga Live Music is located in Westcliff-on-Sea, just outside Southend-on-Sea, and is within easy walking distance of Southend town centre.

Mark Thompson Smith who was vocalist with Mantis for the Only The Children Cry EP has started singing again after a time out of the music business and he has a band called Faywray.

Mantis fans might be interested in the following. It is worth noting the Paddy's have a myspace site should you ever want to catch them playing

This is also a bash to celebrate the April birthdays of Rosanna (Tino's daughter) on the 19th, Benjy (our drummer) on the 21st, our good friend Debbie and of course, our very own, Tino, both on the 28th.

Come along and help us drink The John Bull dry!!

9 November 2006 - I have created a myspace page for Praying Mantis. It is only basic but added some extra functionality. Find it at http://www.myspace.com/prayingmantisrock.

Praying mantis are confirm for an appearance at the Bang Your Head festival in Stuttgart, Germany on either the 22nd or 23rd June.

18 September 2006 - Chris reports that Mantis have been demoing tracks for the next album and things are going well.

There seems to be a lot of speculation and silly rumours as to when and why I left Praying Mantis. I would like to take this opportunity to put the record straight.
On returning to the UK in May 2004 after playing at the Metal Fests in Florida and New York, I was told by the Mantis office that Pony Canyon would be releasing a ‘Best of Praying Mantis’. This was due to the ongoing recession in Japan and this was affecting our Recording Contract with the Record Company. I was also told that we may not record again with Pony Canyon.

Throughout the following year, Tino, Chris and I did not discuss the situation regarding the record company and only spoke once or twice. I was asked by Al Atkins if I would be interested in a new project called DENIAL. I explained to Al that I would not get involved in any project while still a member of Mantis. Tino, Chris or I have never discussed leaving the Band and I have never stated that I had left the Band.

After nearly 18 months I was told that Mantis would be playing at the Astoria Theatre in London. The Band knew about this gig two months before but didn’t contact me until 10 days before the show and in my opinion, did not think this was enough time to rehearse and perform the songs as well as I know we can and have done in the past. I did not think we could do the show to its best with no rehearsals.

I apologise to all the Mantis fans who went to the show and I wish Tino and Chris all the very best for the future and in whatever they decide to do. I have had 15 great years with Mantis and thank all of you in Japan and around the world for making it happen. I hope this clears up the matter once and for all.

P.S. You never know, with a few rehearsals we may get back together for a 30 year anniversary of Heavy Metal Music.

Lots of Love, Dennis Stratton.

For further information regarding Dennis, go to http://www.guitaristtv.com.

5 July 2006 - It is thought Mantis might go on stage around 8.45pm on Saturday. I would think it is wise to be there from 8pm just in case things change though.

3 July 2006 - In preparation for the Headbanger´s Open Air Festival mention below Praying Mantis are doing a warm up gig in London. They will be doing a short set before Tino and Chris do a Paddy Goes To Hollyhead set. They will be playing The John Bull, 590 Chiswick High Road, London W4 (opposite Gunnersbury tube station on the District line) on Saturday 8th July. Admission is free. The Guest vocalist for this and the German show is Mike Freeland.

14 February 2006 - I have more information on the Thessaloniki, Greece gig on March 5th. The venue is Rock Bottom Club. The support acts will be : Roxy Bitch (GR), Sleazy Stings (GR), Burning Sermons (GR) and Witchcurse (GR).

23 December 2005 - Time Tells No Lies is now available in Germany again. Oliver Klemm has done a really good job repackaging the album. I liked the previous High Vaultage release but this one contains a 20 page colour booklet with a career history by Malc Macmillan author of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Encyclopedia". The catalogue number is RB-1003. The Barcode is 4030554003031. Amazon will have the album but if you want to order it direct from High Vaultage send an e-mail to info@highvaultage.de. The sound is pretty much as it was in 1996 but a couple of minor things have been tweaked.

8 Nov 2005 - The gig happened and what a treat it was! See pictures and my personal view here. The band really gelled together as a group and they have just been offered a worldwide record deal for the next album. This will be for the first time since the 80's. The band are very interested in hearing from Promoters and fans alike about possible venues to play in the near future.

1 Nov 2005 - I have received a lot of questions about this Friday's NWOBHM gig at the Astoria, London. According to the Diamond Head website Mantis are due to take to the stage at 6.50pm. I would therefore aim to get to the gig well before then just in case of last minute changes.

For this gig Mantis have Damian Wilson guesting on vocals. He has a good pedigree having been Rick Wakeman's singer of choice for many years and also recording and touring with Arjen Lucassan on his Ayreon and Star One projects.

Leon Lawson will be back on Keyboards and on drums will be Benji Reid was in the John Lawton band

13 Apr 2005 - A GIG! Yes Mantis will be playing a show later this year. They will be playing the Astoria in London on Friday 4th November as part of a 25th anniversary of NWOBHM show. Other bands on the night are expected to be Jaguar , Bronz, Witchfynde And Diamond Head. Tickets are £15.

26 Mar 2005 - Antonio Brito pointed out on the message board that www.classicrockrevisited.com has a Paul Di'anno interview. In it he really insults Dennis Stratton in particular but also Praying Mantis. It is well worth a read if you enjoy alternative points of view!

There is no news on the Mantis front at present. I would keep an eye out as there has been mention of at least one gig towards the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

16 Oct 2004 - That good chap Tim has now sent me a cartoon he drew of the band. I have create a page in the fan section called Fan Fun for it.

You might also be interested in checking out Michael's Paddy Goes To Hollyhead site which features Tino and Chris.

9 Aug 2004 - Tim tells me www.powermetal.de is reporting "Dennis was injured while playing a concert. A loudspeaker above him was falling down so that his hand was bruised. The website wrote that Dennis will not be able to play his guitar in the near future." I have just checked with Dennis and he is fine now. It just meant he had to miss a gig in Birmingham.

Since I am doing an update I will mention Tony O'Hora is now playing with Bruce in Statetrooper as well as The Sweet. Statetrooper now has 3 ex-mantis men in them since Gary Barden is lead vocalist. Tony apparently provides backing vocals and bass.

4 March 2004 - I have updated the discography to include the new "Best of" Album.

1 March 2004 - As was kindly reported on the message board a Praying Mantis Best Of album is to be release in Japan. I am still chasing details on this.

There has been no progress on the European release of the "Captured" DVD. I believe it is still hoped for though.

Dennis Stratton is making two American festival appearance. On Sunday March 7, 2004 at Sun n' Steel 1st Annual Florida Metalfest,
Pinellas Expo Center - Pinellas Park, Fla and on Friday March 12, 2004 at March Metal Meltdown VI Cricket Club, 415 16Th Ave. Irvington, New Jersey. For full details see http://www.metalfest.com. Dennis is appearing with Jess Coxx (Tygers of Pan Tang) and Al Atkins (Judas Preist) in an N.W.O.B.H.M. ALL STAR BAND. According to the web site there will be a meet and greet at some point in the day so you can get Dennis to sign your stuff.

News/Site Updates

Last Modified On 06 Jun 2008