Band Line Up 2021
Lawnmower Deth were formed in Nottingham, England in 1987 by Chris Flint and Joseph Whitaker School mates Pete Lee, Steve Nesfield and Chris Parkes. They were later joined by Gavin ‘Paddy’ O’Malley after the band were introduced to him by the influencial Sabbat as a second guitarist. He was later sacked following an show with NWOBHM legends Saxon, and was replaced by Kevin Papworth (ex Acid Reign).
Their first official release was a split album with Metal Duck. Lawnmower Deth's side of the record was entitled Mower Liberation Front and positive responses led to their debut studio album, Ooh Crikey, It's... Lawnmower Deth. This was quickly followed the following year with their only single, their notorious cover version of Kim Wildes ‘Kids In America’.
Lawnmower Deth's second studio album, Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns, was released in 1992. The band's sense of humour extended into their cheap but enjoyable music videos. Both "Kids in America" and "Lawnmowers for Heroes, Comics for Zeros", the latter from Metal Bozo Clowns, were recorded on home video cameras and edited in an amateur fashion.
The band's third and to date latest studio album, Billy, was released in 1993. The band tried to take a slightly different direction on the album, verging towards the kind of pop punk feel pioneered by the likes of Green Day at the time, with most of the band's thrash metal roots left behind. The band to broke up later on that year.
Lawnmower Deth announced that they would be reuniting to support Welsh metalcore band Bullet for My Valentine for a one off gig on 15 November 2008 at the Alexandra Palace in London.
The one off became a permanent fixture on the festival circuit and they now appear as a continual 5 piece and occasional 6 piece (dependent on Papworths world touring commitments) and claim to be one of only three bands you can name who have kept their original line up for 30 years.
Since then they have played Bloodstock twice, Download (a whopping 6 times), Damnation, Hard Rock Hell, Beermaggedon, MammothFest, Lord Of The Land, Hammerfest and countless others. Their Christmas shows and usually only club shows of each annum are rapidly becoming a thing of legend.
2014 saw the re-release of their classic first full album ‘Ooh Crikey’ on Earache records after mass demand from both their label and fans alike. All profits were directed to the SOPHIE cause of which the band have had a close affinity in the past couple of years.
2016 finally saw the band return to Bloodstock after a 4 year absence whilst also headling Wildfire Festival in Scotland and a first time visit to the Camden Rocks Festival in London.
2016 got more bizarre. Having now being adopted by the Radio 2’s The Simon Mayo show following a listeners confession, live appearances on the show have ensued and the band have now supplied the theme to his weekly Wednesday night slot for the Dr. Mosh feature. Who would have predicted Lawnmower Deth airplay on Radio 2 on a weekly basis! A new track, the first in 22 years in the form of ‘I Am Cob’ was released as a free track available on Download Festivals website. The track was given it’s world exclusive on Mayos show. Released to acclaim from the Lawnmower faithful many have proclaimed it to ‘rock like a bastard’. Events continued for the year with a return to Wales for Hammerfest / Hard Rock Hell a 5th, (yes 5!!) appearance at Castle Donington for Download Festival. Rumours turned out to be true around the bands appearance as appearing with the band as part of this they were joined by pop legend Kim Wilde as she donned the Download stage for the first time in her career, and something she claims to be a career high. Both the band and Kim now claim their lives to be inextricably linked forever.
Also this year was a first for the band as they appeared at The Rock & Bike Festival.
If 2016 was bizarre, ’17 left the planet as amongst the festival appearances the band and Kim Wilde further strengthened their allegiances with the release of ‘FU Kristmas’, a joyous pop rock metal glority that not surprisingly given it’s lyrical content was banned by every radio station in Europe. It is something which Wilde claims to be her proudest and yet most shameful moment but states ‘I couldn’t help it’.
Finally at the end of ’17 following the bands appearance at MammothFest, their founder Chris Flint finally hung up his sticks given his stage vomiting antics and reached an unprecedented level. Only LMD could lose a drummer through general inability and lack of fitness rather than musical differences. Undeterred long time friend Chris Billam of UK punk legends Consumed was quickly recruited. Something the band have come to regret given he is ‘young, fit, handsome and plays very fast and hard, it hurts!”.
In 2018 and with a 6th Donington performance was pushed under the belt.
Stong and as yet unconfirmed reports in 2021 suggest the band have written a new album, signed a record deal, are working with a producer and claim it sounds ‘not bad at all’. No one has yet seen evidence of this, but if things seem to be true, a album of 18 brand new tracks will surface in late 2021.
May God have mercy upon your souls.
PS. To date O’Malley has not been sacked again although a TBC date is always in the offing given his diabolical taste in jokes and inability to decide on what pre gig meal he should eat.
“We are truly sorry you’re not going to get Night Flight Orchestra. They’re terrific and awfully melodic. Naturally as the B-TEC replacement for them we sound exactly the same, so your disappointment should be somewhat abated. Just think melodic Swedish hard rock, with balloons. However, the chance to get in a field, well a tent, with you lovely lot, and some beer, did we mention beer, is the bar open yet? Bloodstock, we’re coming. At our age, slightly slower, but we’ll be there. Bring beer. And dancing shoes. And beer. Love LMD x”
