Lawnmower Deth
Encyclopedia
Lawnmower Deth are an English
thrash metal
band who parodied the genre and recorded three-and-a-half albums. Initially active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they reformed in 2008.
, Nottinghamshire
, England
in 1987 by Chris Flint and Joseph Whitaker School mates Pete Lee, Steve Nesfield and Chris Parkes.
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.
The band covered several famous songs in their time, including Fleetwood Mac
's "The Chain
", Motörhead's self-titled song
, Squeeze's "Up the Junction", The Osmonds
' "Crazy Horses
", and Kim Wilde
's "Kids in America
" which was released as the band's only single in 1991.
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. Poor sales and less popular live dates lead the band to break up later on that year.
band Bullet for My Valentine
for a one off gig on 15 November 2008 at the Alexandra Palace in London
.
The band played at the 2009 Download Festival
at Donington Park
, which was their first appearance at Donington. They played a Download warm up gig at The Pitz In Milton keynes on 5 June 2009 with support from Gama Bomb
, Virus and Metal Messiah.
The band were subsequently announced again for the 2010 Download Festival
which was their second Donington Park
appearance. They played on the Pepsi Max
third stage on the Friday.
Lawnmower Deth then went on to play a main stage slot at Damnation Festival
2010 in Leeds and announced a further date at Redemption
at Derby on 28 May 2011 where they'll be supported by ska band Addictive pHilosopHy and the thrash band Hellrazor amongst others.
On Friday the 12th of August 2011, Lawnmower Deth will play Bloodstock Open Air
festival at Catton Hall in Derbyshire. They are playing on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band who parodied the genre and recorded three-and-a-half albums. Initially active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they reformed in 2008.
Main career (1987-1993)
Lawnmower Deth were formed in RavensheadRavenshead
Ravenshead is a village and civil parish in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire, England. It borders Papplewick, Newstead Abbey and Blidworth, and is part of Nottinghamshire's Hidden Valleys area, according to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,636....
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1987 by Chris Flint and Joseph Whitaker School mates Pete Lee, Steve Nesfield and Chris Parkes.
Their first official release was a split album with Metal Duck
Metal Duck
Metal Duck were an English spoof thrash metal band of the late 1980s and early 1990s who recorded one-and-a-half albums.-History:The band was formed in the late 80s in Cheshire, North West England, on the more humorous side of metal....
. 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.
The band covered several famous songs in their time, including Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
's "The Chain
The Chain
"The Chain" is a song from Fleetwood Mac's best-selling album Rumours. "The Chain" is unique in being the only song credited to all five members of the Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac lineup: Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks; this is partly because John McVie...
", Motörhead's self-titled song
Motorhead (Motörhead song)
"Motorhead" was recorded and released by Motörhead as a 7" vinyl single in June 1977, initially issued with the 'Map Of Chiswick' label, later it was switched to the 'Big Beat' label and pressed in other formats. The reverse cover is taken up almost entirely with the song's lyrics, printed in a...
, Squeeze's "Up the Junction", The Osmonds
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
' "Crazy Horses
Crazy Horses (song)
"Crazy Horses" is a 1972 hit by The Osmonds reaching number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is claimed to be a protest about the amount of pollution created by cars. It is a heavy rock style which was a major stylistic departure from the type of music...
", and Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
's "Kids in America
Kids in America (Kim Wilde song)
"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.-Background:...
" which was released as the band's only single in 1991.
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
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
feel pioneered by the likes of Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
at the time, with most of the band's thrash metal roots left behind. Poor sales and less popular live dates lead the band to break up later on that year.
Reunion (2008-present)
Lawnmower Deth announced that they would be reuniting to support Welsh metalcoreMetalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band Bullet for My Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
for a one off gig on 15 November 2008 at the Alexandra Palace in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The band played at the 2009 Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
, which was their first appearance at Donington. They played a Download warm up gig at The Pitz In Milton keynes on 5 June 2009 with support from Gama Bomb
Gama Bomb
-Beginnings: 2002-2005:Gama Bomb formed in Newry 2002 and soon built up a loyal following in their native Ireland and the UK, which they consolidated with a rigorous touring schedule and frequent forays into self-released recording. The band first gained attention with their demo The Survival...
, Virus and Metal Messiah.
The band were subsequently announced again for the 2010 Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
which was their second Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
appearance. They played on the Pepsi Max
Pepsi Max
Pepsi Max is a low-calorie, sugar-free cola, marketed by PepsiCo as an alternative to Pepsi and Diet Pepsi.It differs from Pepsi in that it contains aspartame, potassium benzoate, acesulfame potassium, calcium disodium EDTA and panax ginseng extract while it does not contain high fructose corn...
third stage on the Friday.
Lawnmower Deth then went on to play a main stage slot at Damnation Festival
Damnation Festival
The Damnation Festival is a one day music festival currently held annually at Leeds University, Leeds, England and organised by Gavin McInally. The 2011 edition of the festival will be held on November 5...
2010 in Leeds and announced a further date at Redemption
Redemption
- Religion :* Redemption , an element of salvation to express deliverance from sin* Redemption, absolution for the past sins and/or protection from damnation* Pidyon haben, redemption of the firstborn son in Judaism...
at Derby on 28 May 2011 where they'll be supported by ska band Addictive pHilosopHy and the thrash band Hellrazor amongst others.
On Friday the 12th of August 2011, Lawnmower Deth will play Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
festival at Catton Hall in Derbyshire. They are playing on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.
Line-up before band break-up
- Qualcast "Koffee Perkulator" Mutilator (Pete Lee) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Concorde Faceripper (Steve Nesfield) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Schizo Rotary Sprintmaster (Gavin 'Paddy' O'Malley) - guitar
- Mightymo Destructimo (Chris Parkes) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Explodin' Dr Jaggers Flymo (Chris Flint) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former members (as Lawnmower Deth)
- Baron Kev Von Thresh Meister Silo Stench Chisel Marbels KP (Kevin Papworth) - guitar
- Dave Lee - Guitar
Studio albums
- Ooh Crikey It's... Lawnmower Deth (1990)
- Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns (1992)
- Billy (1993)