Main
Main Page
News and updates
Search
Band History
Roadie Memories
The Journey Goes On Album
Limited Edition Nowhere To Hide
Discography
Discography
DVD
Videos
Cover Songs
Rare Songs
Members Other Projects
Buy CD's From
Interviews
Interview Index
Tino Chris Interview 2007
Mike Freeland Interview 2007
The Journey Goes On Interview 2003
Chris Troy - May 2000
Dennis Stratton - Nov 99
Steve Carroll - Nov 99
Dave Potts - Aug 99
History Interview - May 95
Band Interview - Nov 95
Mark Thompson Smith - 1998
Tony O'Hora - March 98
Dennis Stratton - March 98
Chris Troy - March 98
Group conversation - March 98
Bernie Shaw Interview Aug 98
Ho-No-O Tony Interview 98
Rodney Matthew - Jan 99
Horakane Interview Apr 99
Colin Peel Interview - July 99
In The Press
Praying Mantis
Clive Burrs Escape / Stratus
80's Fan Club Newsletters
Live
Tour 1998
1980 Line-up Reunion
1999 Party
Wacken 2000
The Gods 2000
Picture Gallery
Index
Hard Rock Hell II, 2008
British Steel III 2008
Headbanger's Open Air 2008
Bang Your Head 2007
Headbangers Open Air 2006
The Astoria 2005
Various 1980 Pictures
The Marquee 1982
Reading 82
Promo Tour 98
Ho-No-O Photos
Odds And Ends
Full 98 Tour Photos
Mantis Cup 98
Epsom Warm Up Gig 98
1980 Line-up Reunion
Other Sites
Help Wanted
About us
Site Owner
Praying Mantis
Jon Hinchliffe

 



Praying Mantis - 10 Year Party - Dean Swift - 18 December 1999

Last Modified On 21 Mar 2009

To celebrate tens years of the current core line-up of Praying Mantis the band decided to hold an invite only party (Hence I didn't put it in the news page, sorry).

The band did no rehearsals for the gig since they are still busy working on he next album. About 7 songs are now in a pre-mix stat of completion, so before Mantis played the main set they put the tape on. Unfortunately it wasn't very loud compared to the packed pub. So I didn't really pick up an impressions about it. One song sounded like a "Remember My Name" type slow song. Apparently Dennis has written two songs and co-wrote one with Chris. Chris has done 6 altogether. Tino about two. And Tony has done the lyrics and melody for one song.

Tony had been due to come down and record during the previous week but unfortunately he had been laid out with a cold. It was very unclear if he would make the gig or not. Luckily he did and I thought he sang very well. I couldn't really tell he was feeling ill (A feeling I see in others about me all the time so I am sure he still felt very rough.)

The band set up their gear and played a warm up around 7pm. It was very obvious they hadn't played the songs since the tour of November 98. By the time they played the official set at 9pm though the one time play through and almost completely sorted them out. Amazing! Lovers To The Grave on the warm up had proved the most difficult but although the band noticed a few problems and spent a few minutes remembering who was playing which harmony they were still pretty good.

Leon Lawson was back on the keyboards and I know ten days before the gig he had not played the songs and couldn't remember them at all. He had had to get a set list and re-learn all the parts from scratch. Being a guitarist until 6 months before the last Mantis tour, he was still in the early stages of playing keyboards. He was a quick learner and having an extra year of practising Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz techniques he was looking forward to playing even more this time.

It was also the first time he had played Lovers To The Grave. Not that he had caused any of the problems in the warm-up. They seem to have been mainly lyrical problems. Very surprising since Tino and Chris had only been singing them during the summer. It was interesting to see the difference between how Steve Carroll handled this song and how Dennis did it. Perhaps I am remembering a different song but in the fast section I seem to recall both Steve and Tino were on the arpeggios half way up the neck of the guitar but Dennis seemed to play a completely different backing at that point. Both sounded great.

The Dean Swift is a 30m?x20m? box room with the bar taking up large amount of space in the centre of the back wall. The band were therefore positioned on the long side in front of it. Leon on the far left in one section. Dennis next in another and then Bruce, Tony, Chris and Tino in the main section.

The mix or lack of it was actually very good. I was positioned slightly to the left of Dennis and I didn't get the full effect of Tino but everyone else was perfect. For the main set the pub was packed (Even though the guest list looked to have limited numbers and the pub was officially closed for the night)

After the Mantis set we got a few covers from a sort of Paddy Goes To Holyhead/Mantis. The drummer and singer from Paddy's join Tino and Chris both also in Paddies.

Steve Mann who used to be in Lionheart and MSG took over Dennis's guitar. And Leon remained on keyboards. Tony and his Wife Jaz did a few backing vocals on a couple of songs and a great deal of fun was had by all.

Phil Moog of UFO was in the audience and they tried to get him to play Doctor Doctor with the band. Unfortunately the Paddies drummer didn't know it so it didn't happen. I am told a couple of members of Tank were in the audience too but I didn't notice them myself.

Dennis had most of his family there including the daughter that was pictured on Only The Children Cry. I would never have guessed she was there if I hadn't asked as obviously she is no longer a child and has had a haircut.

Bruce's new wife was in the audience to.

Warm Up

Children Of The Earth
Can't See The Angels
A Cry For The New World
Lovers To The Grave
Turn The Tables

Main Set

Can't See The Angels
A Cry For The New World
Lovers To The Grave
Children Of The Earth (There was a classic moment in this in which Bruce forgot they slow part near "Time has no meaning times tells no lies" and Dennis had to grab his shoulder to slow the drum fill down! Tino had a guitar solo to play so could only smile while the rest of the band creased up. At the end of it he then had a good laugh at Bruce too.)


Turn The Tables
Smoke On The Water
Rock'n'Roll