Grim Reaper were an English heavy metal band from Droitwich Spa. Formed in 1979, the group originally featured vocalist Paul De Mercado, guitarist Nick Bowcott, bassist Kevin Neale and drummer Lee Harris. After disbanding in 1981, the band reunited a year later with new vocalist Steve Grimmett, who fronted the band until their breakup in 1988. Grimmett subsequently reformed Grim Reaper in 2006 with guitarist Ian Nash, bassist Ritchie Walker and drummer Pete Newdeck. The final lineup of the band, active until Grimmett's death in August 2022, featured Nash alongside bassist Julian Hill and drummer Steve Grice, both of whom joined in 2018.
History 1979–1988 Guitarist Nick Bowcott formed Grim Reaper in 1979 with vocalist Paul De Mercado, bassist Kevin Neale and drummer Lee Harris. Harris was soon replaced by Adrian Jacques, before Dave Wanklin took over from Neale, who left to attend university. Shortly after recording their first demo Bleed 'Em Dry, Wanklin left due to "personality issues", with Phil Matthews taking his place. Shortly thereafter, Jacques also left to attend university, with Brian Parry taking his place on drums. By the end of 1981, Grim Reaper had disbanded, reportedly due to "a rift" between Bowcott and De Mercado.
In May 1982, Bowcott introduced a new lineup of the band, initially dubbed "Grim Reaper II", which featured new vocalist Steve Grimmett alongside returning members Dave Wanklin and Lee Harris. The new lineup released the band's first full-length album, See You in Hell, in November 1983. By early 1985, Harris had been replaced by Mark Simon, who debuted on that May's Fear No Evil album. This was followed in September 1987 by the band's third album, Rock You to Hell. Prior to touring for the album, Wanklin left for "health reasons", with Geoff Curtis taking his place. Curtis toured with the band into 1988, but was later replaced by Benje Brittan as, according to Bowcott, he "never really committed himself". Before the end of the year, Grim Reaper disbanded due to record label disputes.
2006–2022 In February 2006, Steve Grimmett reformed Grim Reaper with an entirely new lineup consisting of guitarist Ian Nash, bassist Ritchie Walker and drummer Pete Newdeck. This lineup released the album Personal Crisis in 2007, which was instead credited to Grimmett as a solo release. The band subsequently changed their name to "Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper", to differentiate it from the original incarnation. By 2010, Walker and Newdeck had been replaced by Chaz Grimaldi and Mark Rumble, respectively. In 2011, the band issued their first release since reforming, the live EP Alive and Kicking. In April 2014, Nick Bowcott performed with Grim Reaper for the first time since their breakup in 1988. By the following month, Rumble had been replaced in the band's lineup by Paul "Needles" White.
In late 2015, Nash took a break from the band to spend time with his family, with Richie Yeates temporarily taking his place. Martin Trail took over on bass the next spring, contributing to the band's first studio album since 1987, Walking in the Shadows. Nash returned briefly for a run of shows in the summer of 2016, with Steve Stine taking over in the autumn, before Nash returned again. During shows throughout 2016, Bowcott returned again as an occasional guest performer. By August 2018, Trail and White had been replaced by Julian Hill and Mark Pullin, respectively. The new lineup released At the Gates in October 2019. A live album recorded on their first tour, Reaping the Whirlwind, was released in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grimmett and Bowcott reunited again for a remote performance.
Steve Grimmett died on 15 August 2022. Shortly after his death, the surviving Grim Reaper band members performed a festival set with Nick Bowcott and a range of guest vocalists, including Grimmett's son Russ and Jag Panzer's Harry Conklin. Bowcott (with Conklin) later reunited with 1985–1987 members Dave Wanklin and Mark Simon for a performance in November 2024.
Members Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsNick Bowcottall Grim Reaper releases from Bleed 'Em Dry (1981) to Rock You to Hell (1987)Paul De Mercado1979–1981lead vocalsBleed 'Em Dry (1981)Kevin Neale1979bassnoneLee HarrisdrumsAdrian "Angel" Jacques1979–1981Bleed 'Em Dry (1981)Dave "Chief" Wanklinbassall Grim Reaper releases from Bleed 'Em Dry (1981) to Rock You to Hell (1987)Phil Matthews1981noneBrian ParrydrumsSteve Grimmettlead vocalsall Grim Reaper releases except Bleed 'Em Dry (1981)Mark Simon1985–1988Geoff Curtis1987–1988noneBenje Brittan1988Ian Nashall Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper releasesRitchie Walker2006–2010nonePete NewdeckdrumsChaz Grimaldi2010–2016Alive and Kicking (2011)Mark Rumble2010–2014drumsPaul "Needles" White2014–2018Walking in the Shadows (2016)Richie Yeates2015–2016noneMartin Trail2016–2018Walking in the Shadows (2016)Steve Stine2016noneJulian Hill2018–2022Mark Pullindrums
Timeline
Lineups Lineups as Grim Reaper PeriodMembersReleases1979Paul De Mercado — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Kevin Neale — bass Lee Harris — drumsrowspan="2" 1979Paul De Mercado — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Kevin Neale — bass Adrian Jacques — drums1979–1981Paul De Mercado — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Paul Wanklin — bass Adrian Jacques — drumsBleed 'Em Dry (1981)1981Paul De Mercado — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Phil Matthews — bass Adrian Jacques — drumsrowspan="2" 1981Paul De Mercado — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Phil Matthews — bass Brian Parry — drumsBand inactive late 1981–early 1982May 1982–early 1985Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Dave Wanklin — bass Lee Harris — drumsFor Demonstration Only demos (1982/83) See You in Hell (1983)Early 1985–summer 1987Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Dave Wanklin — bass Mark Simon — drums, backing vocalsFear No Evil (1985) Rock You to Hell (1987)Summer 1987–early 1988Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Geoff Curtis — bass, backing vocals Mark Simon — drums, backing vocalsrowspan="2" Spring–summer 1988Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Nick Bowcott — guitar, backing vocals Benje Brittan — bass, backing vocals Mark Simon — drums, backing vocals
Lineups as Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper PeriodMembersReleasesFebruary 2006–2010Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Ritchie Walker — bass, backing vocals Pete Newdeck — drums2010–May 2014Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Chaz Grimaldi — bass, backing vocals Mark Rumble — drumsAlive and Kicking (2011)May 2014–late 2015Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Chaz Grimaldi — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsrowspan="2" Late 2015–spring 2016Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Richie Yeates — guitar, backing vocals Chaz Grimaldi — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsSpring–summer 2016Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Richie Yeates — guitar, backing vocals Martin Trail — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsWalking in the Shadows (2016)Summer–fall 2016Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Martin Trail — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsrowspan="3" Fall–late 2016Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Steve Stine — guitar, backing vocals Martin Trail — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsLate 2016–August 2018Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Martin Trail — bass, backing vocals Paul White — drumsAugust 2018–August 2022Steve Grimmett — lead vocals Ian Nash — guitar, backing vocals Julian Hill — bass, backing vocals Mark Pullin — drumsAt the Gates (2019) Reaping the Whirlwind (2022)
References
External links Grim Reaper official website