1980’s Fan club letters

1980’s Fan club letters

“TRIUMPH TOUR” AUTUMN 1980

Praying Mantis set off on yet another trip around Britain with a Canadian Band
‘Triumph’ at the beginning of November 1980. A tour with more problems than can
usually be expected, but also with more ‘Triumph’s’ than previous tours
undertaken by Mantis.

The tour introduces Steve Carroll to the band’s fans and also a completely
re-arranged set including numbers from the new album, ‘Time Tell No Lies” which
is due for release on February 20th.

The first date on the tour at Southampton, Gaumont Theatre on November 6th
was the usual round of teething troubles, no sound-checks and tuning problems,
but the only band to come off badly, were ‘Triumph’ themselves. Guitarist, Rick
Emmett, unfortunately took sick during the first number of their set and left
the stage, came back and left the stage again, so a 20 minute bass drum solo
followed causing rather an empty anti-climax to the whole gig. However, the band
were eventually on stage and complete so the evening finished off reasonably
well.

Mantis themselves had problems the next day when their equipment truck
overturned on the road to Bristol. With the help of Dedringer (third on the bill
that night) and a lot of good luck, the road crew and gear arrived safely on
time at Colston Hall. This was the real beginning to the tour. All three bands
played great sets and the audience really showed their appreciation.

Mantis played a blinder and although the set was cut at the last moment to 30
minutes, the fans showed enthusiasm by calling for and encore to which Mantis
were only able to say thanks, as their time was well up.

The rest of the tour went off really well with Mantis being received better than
ever before, illustrating to us all that the changes in line and material were
definitely working and we were well and truly on the right lines.

The tour was great fun both on and off stage and at a certain hotel (best left
unnamed) antics like buckets of water being thrown and fire extinguishers being
let off occasioned a visit by the local constabulary who, after getting reports
of riots and other guests getting heart attacks, came out into a very cold and
snowy night to find Dave and Tino hiding in bed together, fully clothed, and me
hiding behind the door of the same room with hair dripping wet, stating I’d just
washed it, (at four in the morning? Well why not?) They seemed to find it
surprising (obviously they’ve never been on tour before). They then told us to
go to bed and tried soothing the only heart case in the hotel by telling the
manager’s wife that we would pay for the broken door.

The two real climaxes of the tour were Glasgow and London. At Glasgow Mantis had
to be hauled off the front of the stage area when the whole of the audience
realised that Mantis were signing autographs and Triumph had to start their set
15 minutes late.

The Hammersmith Odeon, London had to be the best end of a tour yet for Mantis
with a great reception from their home crowd. Everybody seemed to get a great
buzz from the fact that at long last Mantis had actually appeared on the Odeon
stage.

We all hope that you get as much pleasure from the album as we did making it and
we’ll see you all again, live, really soon.

CHRIS TROY

Next month we hope to get Tino to write something about the time the band have
spent in the studio.

I would like to say thanks to you all for being so patient and many apologies
for taking so long in writing.

The band have spent most of this month rehearsing and hoping to get a few live
gigs together. Probably for late February to coincide with the album “Time Tells
No Lies”.

We will certainly keep you in touch and will inform you of the dates when they
are confirmed.

Well, thanks again and till then……………..

Sandra

Fan Club Promo Photo

FEBRUARY 1981 NEWSLETTER

Firstly, we’d like to thank the quickly growing army of Mantis fans around the
world who sent their much appreciated comments on the band and it’s material,
it’s really great to know so many people feel as strongly about Mantis as we do.

“Cheated” the four track single we recently released was a great success and
reached number 65 in the charts with only Rock Show air play and is still
selling well by word of mouth.

By now I suppose you are all aware of the battle between Mantis and Rainbow with
the single “I Surrender”. Mantis uncovered the song while going the rounds of
music publishers arid listening to songs for their next release. They found this
track, a release date was set, and then found out Rainbow had decided to release
it. Being the larger band with more resources they got it!

Still, that’s rock ‘n’ roll, although the press and radio made a lot of it
Mantis and Rainbow are still on speaking terms and it also spurred Steve and
Tino into writing a great song “Cheated”. We would also like to see Mantis’
version of “I surrender” released sooner or later.

Now for some good news … we are rush releasing another single, for 6 March.
It’s the Kinks classic “All Day & All Of The Night”, the B side will be Tino’s
“Beads Of Ebony” a vivid description of the eyes of a baby seal and the terrible
fate in store for him.

Due to pressing problems, the album release date is now March 20, and this their
debut album “Time Tells No Lies” has certainly been well worth waiting for.

Do keep your eyes on the music press, as the boys have been busy lately doing a
few interviews with various papers. Record Mirror last week had half page on the
band, and new paper called ‘Trax’ has done a feature on the album and is due out
soon. Sounds , as you all have probably seen by now had front page of Steve (of
which we had an apology for – see below) plus full page feature inside.

You will be glad to hear the band are back on the road, tour dates as follows,
to coincide with the releases :-

Feb:

27 GUILDFORD University

Mar:

2 HARDSTOFT Shoulder Of Mutton

3 LONDON Marquee Club

4 GLASGOW Apollo (GAMMA TOUR)

5 NEWCASTLE City Hall ” ”

6 MANCHESTER Free Trade Hall ” ”

7 BIRMINGHAM Odeon ” ”

8 HAMMERSMITH Odeon ” ”

Watch the press for any amendments and comments on the tour….till next time!

Sorry the Following Sounds apology is only partially readable on my photocopy. I
suspect it is from Feb 21st 1981:-

Mantis man in ‘Nude pix’ Row

CRIMES OF THE FLESH: And to, the unheard of has happened. A band has actually
complained at being exposed to the world on the front cover of this Mag.

We therefore Apologies to Praying Mantis’s Steve Carroll for exposing his
glorious bod as the ???? is about his ???? who shouldn’t ??? except that the
???? fame and glory about to ?? the Mantis as a result of the excellent Ross
“Wayne ???” Halfin. ???? Men shot. A ridiculous overnight.

Besides which the lads should remember that a number of far more gruesome and
tasteless lumps of lard have faces the Sounds opening page (Whaddya mean? –
Richie “the wig” Blackmore.)

I have decided to Show the cover but censored slightly. According to Tino on 7th
Sept 1997 Ross Halfin took the shot as Steve was getting up hence the “You
Bastard!” look on his face.

A Personal reply to a Fan, 18th March 1981

Thanks again for your letter, Very interesting! I enclose some goodies for you,
plus what you ordered, I shall send the sweat shirt separately as it would bend
the l2″ if I squeezed it in as we11. Also along with the sweat shirt I shall
enclose a list of the bands likes and dislikes. It’s a good idea, we haven’t
organised this yet. But the bands birthdays are as

DAVE POTTS……..3rd March (they played the Marquee)

STEVE CARROLL…..20. March (this Friday)

TINO TROY………28. April

CHRIS TROY……..29. August

The band hope to tour with Whitesnake in April, but I am afraid it’s only three
dates in Europe. But it will establish them there. Your taste is in the right
class for Mantis, they are trying to get away from the Heavy Metal title, they
are far more melodic and they are Heavy Rock, but at the moment they don’t
really mind as they are pulling the best of both crowds, and at Reading they
were excellent, I think that gig helped the band tremendously. The new numbers
they have been writing are great, more along the lines of Cheated and Lovers To
The Grave, great classics.

Unfortunately, we have been told by our record company that they have decided to
put the album back a couple of weeks (again!) they want to see how this single
sells before releases an album. Because, as you may know singles are released to
push an album, and if this single doesn’t do so well, they think the album might
be a waste of time, What rubbish, we have a lot of faith in the album here and
haven’t heard a bad word about it yet, I’m sure it will do well on its own
steam. Anyhow, spread the word, it’s good to hear nice things…….

I hope to do a newsletter soon, with info on the band for April.

Sandra

Spring 1981

Hello again….

Firstly, thanks for being so patient in a very busy time for us all at the
Mantis office, but now on to the band….

Mantis completed a few dates of their own and a short tour with Gamma at the
beginning of March and since then they have toured the country recording
interviews with various local independent Radio Stations.

But since then the band have spent most of these months rehearsing in the studio
and writing new songs for you all. Mantis’ booking agency have been very also
organising a decent size tour for everyone.

The new album has been amazingly well received by all, although there have been
a few comments from our friends the press-men, ;i.e. Paul Suter, who claimed the
band couldn’t sing and that their gigs weren’t too hot either. Well, we don’t
take too much notice of that do we? As he has been proved wrong more than once.
We hear he doesn’t like heavy music and goes to bed at 9.30, so who takes notice
of his opinion? After all it’s all your opinions that matter and they’ve been
just great.

By now you should have your own copies of the album which entered the charts at
64. We still feel it will take a few weeks to get to everyone’s ears but we know
it will become big. As I said, we have received piles of great mail from you and
would you believe it, not one criticism! Thanks, they make good reading and show
how loyal you all really are……

You may have received a merchandising leaflet in your album, however, many
retailers take them out now, so we are sending you another copy of which you
club members can purchase the items at special prices. Please make cheques
payable to PM Fan Club as usual.

Now on to a different subject, Rodney Matthews, we have had quiet a few letters
in enquiring about Rodney’s work.

Rodney has been around or sometime working on album sleeves, such as Nazareth’s
“No Mean City” a while back. He’s quite a fanatic on the “Lord of The Rings”
design. He’s well known for his calendars and posters on the series, which you
will find in popular arty shops such as ‘Athena’ and you may notice in the
couple of the music papers where they advertise posters, a few of Rodney’s may
be there, looking very much like Roger Dean. Although Rodney would be most
annoyed if he heard me say that! He admits he is similar, but has been going
just as long and has all his own designs and ideas. Rodney has also written
children’s books, his last project being a 3 year old headbanger, and as you may
gather he is very committed to heavy rock.

Now available exclusively to the fan club members only is a poster approx. 18″
sq. of the front sleeve. There are only a few so first come first served as they
say, when requesting one please just enclose the appropriate stamp, I think it
would be around 30p. Soon Rodney will be organising the full picture on large
posters, but we have left that in his hands and will let you know when available
and where.

The reason this newsletter has taken so long to be sent out, as it’s been ready
to go for a month now, is that tour dates had to be confirmed, they are listed
overleaf, but please check the music press for any possible changes….. OK.

Also on request, for those interested, is the band’s equipment list. Please
don’t forget those stamps, as it helps you get a speedy reply.

We have had many questions about the band, so I have given the boys a kind of
questionnaire to fill in, as soon as I collect them completed they will be sent
off to you all. And hopefully for the next June/July newsletter there will be
information re this up and coming tour.

JUNE:

6 GLASGOW Tech. College

8 CLEETHORPES Peppers

10 HUDDERSFIELD Eros Club

11 SUNBURY Winter Gdns

12 WEST RUNTON Pavilion

13 BEDFORD College of Education

15 INVERNESS Civic Hall

16 LINCOLN Drill Hall

18 PORTSMOUTH Rock Garden

19 LONDON Marquee Club

22 ST ALBANS City Hall

23 BRISTOL Granary

24 WIGAN Pier

25 WOKINGTON Slipped Disc

26 LIVERPOOL Warehouse

27 RAWTENSTALL Rossendale College (Didn’t turn up. Tour fell into disarray)

29 COLWYN BAY Dixieland Show Bar

JULY:

3 MIDDLESBROUGH Rock Garden

4 MANCHESTER Mayflower

5 CHELTENHAM Eves

Well, as I say watch the press for changes and now till next time…..

Bye

(This seems the best place to add it. There is a note on the Great Escape
article saying Clive Burr was born 8/3/1957)

FULL NAME: David Potts

DATE OF BIRTH: 3-3-1955

PLACE OF BIRTH: Liverpool

SCHOOL/COLLEGE Edge Hill Secondary

ATTENDED: Modern

AGE OF LEAVING: 15yrs

PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS: Clothes Salesman

AGE STARTED PLAYING PRESENT INSTRUMENT: 12 to 13 yrs old

OTHER INSTRUMENTS

PLAYED: Piano and Guitar

WHY PICKED PRESENT INSTRUMENT: Because everybody wanted to play guitar

OTHER GROUPS PLAYEDWITH: Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues & T.Y.A

MAIN MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Led Zeppelin

OTHER KINDS OF MUSIC LISTEN TO: Classical & Jazz

FAVOURITE BANDS : Eagles, Zep, early Yes, early Rainbow

FAV. SINGER (MALE): Ronnie James Dio

FAV. SINGER (FEMALE): Dionne Warwick & Streisand

FAVOURITE FILM STARS: Charles Bronson

FAV. FILM (IF ANY): Godfather 1 & 2

WHY?: Because I’m one of the Mafia

FAV. AUTHORS OR BOOKS: On U.F.O. or Supernatural

FAV. COLOUR: Beige

FAV. FOOD & DRINK: Steak, Perrier Water

FAV. CLOTHES:

WHERE WOULD YOU LOVE TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS: Anywhere sunny

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON LIKES OR DISLIKES: Likes
Motor racing, Boxing, Dogs


Dislikes
Hunting or cruelty to any animal

FULL NAME: Stephen G. Carroll

DATE OF BIRTH: 20/3/59

PLACE OF BIRTH: London

SCHOOL/COLLEGE

ATTENDED: John Kelly Boys High School

AGE OF LEAVING: 16 & a bit

PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS: Car Mechanic & few part time jobs

AGE STARTED PLAYING PRESENT INSTRUMENT: 13/14

OTHER INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Tenor Sax (a bit rusty now)

WHY PICKED PRESENT INSTRUMENT: Could not afford a drum kit

OTHER GROUPS PLAYED WITH: Little Bo Bitch (EMI)

MAIN MUSICAL INFLUENCES: ——–

OTHER KINDS OF MUSIC LISTEN TO: Third World, Joan Armatrading, Police

FAVOURITE BANDS: Queen, Jeff Beck, Rainbow

FAV. SINGER (MALE): Paul Rogers, Graham Bonnet

FAV. SINGER (FEMALE): Barbara Streisand, Elkie Brooks

FAVOURITE FILM STARS: Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Raquel
Welch, Bo Derek, Goldie Hawn, Farrah Fawcit Majors, Wonderwoman. St Trinians
etc. etc.

FAV. FILM (IF ANY): —

WHY?: —

FAV. AUTHORS OR BOOKS: Mary Renault

FAV. COLOUR: Pound Note Green

FAV. FOOD & DRINK: Any seafood – Remy Martin

FAV. CLOTHES: Anything comfortable

WHERE WOULD YOU LOVE TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS: World Cruise

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON LIKES OR DISLIKES: —

FULL NAME: Constantino Neophytou

DATE OF BIRTH: 28. 4. 56

PLACE OF BIRTH: London

SCHOOL/COLLEGE Quintin Kynaston

ATTENDED: London College of Furniture

AGE OF LEAVING: 16

PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS: Interior /Furniture Designer

Age started playing with yourself: Not disclosing (Too personal)

AGE STARTED PLAYING PRESENT INSTRUMENT: 16

OTHER INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Jaws Harp/ Bass/ Some Piano, Little bit of Sitar

WHY PICKED PRESENT INSTRUMENT: Decided to make an electric guitar in my
last year at school and went on to learning to play.

OTHER GROUPS PLAYED WITH: None

MAIN MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Started out listening to Status Quo

OTHER KINDS OF MUSIC LISTEN TO: All types with good melodies.

FAVOURITE BANDS: Dixie Dregs, Eagles, early Rainbow

FAV. SINGER (MALE): Ronnie James Dio

FAV. SINGER (FEMALE): Barbara Streisand

FAVOURITE FILM STARS: Clint Eastwood, John Belushi, Dustin Hoffman,
Audrey Hepburn

FAV. FILM (IF ANY): The Blues Bros.

WHY?: Go and see it and find out!

FAV. AUTHORS OR BOOKS: Harold Robbins

FAV. COLOUR: None in particular

FAV. FOOD & DRINK: Sirloin Steak cooked in red wine, Perrier Water

FAV. CLOTHES: Dressy and unusual

WHERE WOULD YOU LOVE TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS: What holidays? Anywhere hot
surrounded by beautiful women

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON LIKES OR DISLIKES: Hate answering questionnaires
FULL NAME: Christopher Troy

DATE OF BIRTH: 29\8\58

PLACE OF BIRTH: St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

SCHOOL/COLLEGE Quinton Kynaston

ATTENDED: Secondary School

AGE OF LEAVING: 17

PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS: Environmental Engineer

AGE STARTED PLAYING PRESENT INSTRUMENT: 15

OTHER INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Rude question

WHY PICKED PRESENT INSTRUMENT: Didn’t like fingerstyle!

OTHER GROUPS PLAYED WITH: None

MAIN MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Difficult to say

OTHER KINDS OF MUSIC LISTEN TO: Mostly rock orientated

FAVOURITE BANDS: Old Rainbow, Van Halen, Boston

FAV. SINGER (MALE): Graham Bonnet

FAV. SINGER (FEMALE): Pat Benatar

FAVOURITE FILM STARS: No one really

FAV. FILM (IF ANY): The Exorcist

WHY?: It was different

FAV. AUTHORS OR BOOKS: Enid Blyton

FAV. COLOUR: Blue

FAV. FOOD & DRINK: Pass

FAV. CLOTHES: Jeans and sweatshirt

WHERE WOULD YOU LOVE TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS: Near the Pyramids

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON LIKES OR DISLIKES: Don’t like Brussels Sprouts

1981 Band Bio Sheet.

PRAYING MANTIS are a bard rock outfit as opposed to the blood and thunder of
Heavy Metal. They tend to be more subtle and melodic, but still have that
dynamic ingredient, full of force and crisp musicianship.

MANTIS boast two talented brothers in the shape of Tino Troy (lead guitar) and
Chris Troy (bass guitar) both being of Spanish origin. On Chris’ eleventh
birthday his mother bought him a Spanish guitar, hoping he wou1d learn the
flamenco style. Tino was responsible for putting things together, in 1974 he
persuaded his brother Chris to join him and a college friend in forming a band.
At first things were a little amateurish, for example Chris’ first bass was a
converted six string which did it’s job for a while.

Meanwhile, the boys still had ‘day jobs, Tino took a 3 year college course in
furniture design, then later worked in conjunction with an interior designer.
Chris, with 6 O’levels, studied for ONC in Mechanical Engineering for 2 years,
the studying paid off as he came out with 3 distinctions and a credit. He then
embarked on a BSC honours degree in environmental engineering However, after two
years of day jobs, studying and trying to keep the band together the boys opted
for the band.

As like many bands, Mantis started playing one-off gigs in youth clubs, this
gave them the necessary background to get them around the pub circuit, with
difficulty though, as punk was still the rage.

In ’78, the band recorded a three track demo in a south east London studio, the
numbers cut were “Lovers To The Grave”, “Johnny Cool” and “Captured City”. Tino
took the demo down to the Soundhouse and gave it to well known HM DJ Neal Kay,
he loved it and gave them a gig there. He also wanted them to play at the Music
Machine on one of his shows … this started the ball rolling for Mantis.

In February 1980 the demo tape of both ‘Captured City’ and ‘Lovers To The Grave’
topped the Soundhouse and Sounds HM Charts and subsequently Mantis started
pulling a good strong grass-roots following. Interest then hooted up from the
Record Companies culminating in the release of ‘Johnny Cool’ and ‘Captured City’
on the bands own label ‘Ripper Records’ distributed by EMI which sold well over
15,000 copies and achieved a placing of 99 in the Music Week chart.

Meanwhile, in February, Mantis were asked by EMI to record a new version of
‘Captured City’ for a compilation album of new MM bands called ‘Metal For
Muthas’ which lead to a joint nationwide tour with Iron Maiden and Neal Kay, the
album which sold amazingly well established Mantis as one of the foremost MM
bands.

April ’80 powerful drummer, Dave Potts joins the band. Since coming from
Liverpool in 1968 Dave has played with many named bands including Love Affair,
Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues, reformed TYA and toured the States with Barbi
Benton.

May ’80, now with the band stronger than ever, Praying Mantis vet again tour, as
support, with Iron Maiden. A mammoth 2 month tour commencing May 15 through to
July.

July ’80, after extensive auditions the band is completed with the addition of
Steve Carroll on guitar.

August ’80, Praying Mantis sign a long term, world-wide deal with Arista Records
after stunning the Reading Festival crowd with a powerful exhilarating set.

November ’80, Mantis finish recording their first album produced by Tim
Friese-Green, of which after they toured as special guests to Canadian rock
band, Triumph.

RELEASES TO DATE:

CAPTURED CITY b/w JOHNNY COOL (Soundhouse Tapes Part 2) 7″ & 12″

released on EMI, Feb. 1980 on Ripper Record Label.

METAL FOR MUTHAS compilation album, released on ENI, Feb0 1980.

PRAYING MANTIS b/w HIGH ROLLER released July 1980 on GEM Records.

METAL EXPLOSION compilation album released by the BBC in Sept. 1980.

CHEATED b/w 30 PIECES OF SILVER released January for l6th, 1981 on Arista
Records, with free ‘live’ single,

Flirting With Suicide” Panic In The Streets” recorded at a Marquee gig.

ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT b/w BEADS OF EBONY released March 1,981 on Arista
Records.

TIME TELLS NO LIES their first album released March 20, 1981 On Arista Record
label.

PRAYING MANTIS EQUIPMENT LIST:

TINO TROY:

Tino plays a Gibson “Explorer II” with a Schecter bridge, Dimorzio super 2
treble and Gibson “dirty fingers” bridge pick up’s, and an Ibanez “Iceman” with
Dimarzio super 2 treble and Gibson humbucking bridge pick ups.

Tino’s pedal-board contains a Boss flanger, overdrive, ‘spectrum, chorus and wah
wah.

STEVE CARROLL:

Steve plays a Gibson Custom “Les Paul” with a schecter bridge and tune-o-matic
tail piece Dimarzio super 2 treble and Gibson hum- bucking bridge pick ups, and
a “Washburn Falcon” with Dimarzio “dual sound” pick ups.

Steve’s pedal-boards contains a Boss flanger, overdrive and spectrum.

Tino and Steve, both use Marshall l00watt amps with two 4 x 12 cabinets. Vinci
strings, used throughout and both play with custom medium gauge tortoise-shell
picks.

CHRIS TROY:

Chris plays a Fender Precision Bass with a Badass bridge and a standard Hayman
40/40 Bass. Amplification is a custom Rack containing a Roland Bass pre-amp,
Monogram graphic equaliser and a Yamaha 400watt amplifier with a Marshall 4 x 12
and an Ampeg 2 x 15 cabinet.

DAVE POTTS:

Dave plays a Premier Kit comprising a 14 x 6½ metal shell snare- drum, two 14 x
10 Rack Toms, 18 x 16 and 18 x 18 Floor Toms, and two 26″ bass drums.

Cymbals are Paiste, 22″ dark-ride, 20″‘ crash, 18″ crash, 16″ crash and 13″
sound-edge Hi Hats.

‘Dave uses Custom Premier sticks and all fittings and stands are Premier
Tri-lock.

Another reply to a Fan – July 3rd 1981

Dear xxxx,

Thank you very much for your letter, it was read with interest and we agreed
with you whole heartedly. The problem does lie with the record company, the
point is they are suppose to back a band with faith and money and we have none.
So we are at the moment fighting a loosing battle. Still we will see when the
contractual year is up. A newsletter is being organised at the moment and we
will have to apologise for the let downs of the tour dates, but what can you do
??? We here have faith in the band and will fight to the end as long as we have
you the fans to back us and it certainly helps us on when we receive letters
from the public knowing it’s not all a waste of time.

Sandra

September ’81

Dear Insect Lovers,

Well, here it is at last. We’ve kept this newsletter back for a reason which
will become, apparent to you as you read on.

First of all, Mantis would like to send their apologies for not turning up at
the Reading Bank Holiday gig as planned, but due to recording commitments abroad
and an error at a certain Airline, they were still in Germany by the time the
gig was happening.

Although the Mantis have been rather dormant in Britain lately, they have been
very busy elsewhere. They recently played is third on the List at a Dutch Open
Air Festival, headlined by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Well, I’m pleased to report
that the Dutch crowd took to the band like magnets, and after long and faultless
set the Band were begged to play encore after encore. The Dutch Press didn’t
stop talking about this ‘new phenomenal band’ for the rest of the week,
especially as by the time the Tygers of Pan Tang (second on the bill) hit the
stage many people had began to leave and the chants of ‘Mantis, Mantis.. .’
could still Be Heard around the stadium.

And while we leave our Dutch friends wondering what hit them, on September 20,
Mantis are headlining a Rock Festival in East Anglia, so every little bit of
support from you fans will help – so Spread the word. The festival comes at a
time when the band are rehearsing for a BIG British and European tour and we’ re
all confident it will be a great success, especially as the band have improved
l00% since ‘Time Tells No Lies’ which brings me to the reason why this letter is
late….. A NEW ALBUM.

And what a killer because if you enjoyed T.T.N.L. then you’ll have to sit down
when you listen to “A Question of Time” because this platter is a K.O. – fast,
melodious, hard, the trademarks haven’ t changed. It features eight tight
tracks, includes two new ‘classics’, namely ‘The Story’ and ‘Battle Royal’, and
features a re-recorded version of the all-time classic ‘Captured City’, three of
the tracks being considered as possible singles i.e. ‘No Mercy’ , ‘Battle Royal’
and ‘Heartache’. The band are very satisfied with the final product and Tino
says it’s a big progression from T.T.N.L. – well, that’s progress for you!

The single release date is for the middle of October, the album for late
December, but further details will be announced in the music press. Also watch
out for reviews (and Paul Suter). The Band would also be very happy if YOU could
spread the arrival of the by word of mouth while, we at the office, pub1icise it
– it all helps, and if the album reaches Top 30 Status, you and I can proudly
say “I played a part in that”.

We still have some T-shirts advertising Praying Mantis and others at the music
Machine back in November ’80 (white lettering on black); only about 50 left,
they ‘re going for only 5Op so, first come… Cheques/P.O’s made payable to PM Fan
Club please.

We’ve had lots of letter asking for pics of the Band. Well, I’ve been working on
some ideas i.e. photopacks, programmes/posters and I hope to have something
interesting for sale by the time the tour is off the ground O.K?

Right, just before you indulge yourselves with the much awaited Mantis Equipment
list below (Identical to the 1981 band Bio ) , I would like to say that if you
have any interesting ideas that would contribute to the improvement of the
newsletter then let us know, after all it is your Fan Club and we would like to
know how to keep you amused. Comments on the new Album would be very welcome and
we will print some of them in future newsletters.

Lastly, did you know that the Fan Club already has members as far away as
Singapore, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Canada and Japan Keep Mantis on the streets.

Freddy Photo (?)

Fan Club Memorabilia Sheet

Fan Club Memorabilia Sheet

Discography

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