Praying Mantis

Background

Praying Mantis formed in 1974 in London as Junction when guitarist Tino Troy teamed with fellow student and guitarist Peter Moore at the London College of Furniture. Tino recruited his younger brother, bassist Chris Troy, to the group. Pianist Chris Hudson joined the musicians and switched to drums.

The Troy brothers grew up in a Spanish–Greek family with the surname Neophytou. Chris began classical and flamenco lessons on a Spanish guitar his mother bought for his eleventh birthday. Tino built an electric guitar at Quintin Kynaston School and later converted the instrument into a bass for Chris. The younger brother studied mechanical engineering for an Ordinary National Certificate and began a degree in environmental engineering.

Junction rehearsed at the home of Hudson in Beckenham and played youth-club dates with a repertoire of covers. Chris devised the bass line for “Night Child,” their first original song. Tino recruited Welsh singer and lyricist Stan Cunningham, a college acquaintance who collaborated on the early material. The musicians adopted the name Praying Mantis when Cunningham compared their hand gestures to the insect at a home vocal session for “Golden Rainbow.” Cunningham subsequently left the group, and Praying Mantis developed three-part vocal harmonies among the Troy brothers and Moore. The quartet increased the proportion of original songs on the pub circuit.

Praying Mantis recorded “Lovers to the Grave,” “Johnny Cool,” and “Captured City” in 1978 at a studio in Penge, south London. Lyricist Paul Williamson, a collaborator on “Johnny Cool,” advised Tino to take the demo to DJ Neal Kay at the Heavy Metal Soundhouse in Kingsbury. Kay played the tape at the club and arranged appearances at the Soundhouse and the Music Machine in Camden.

Tommy Vance broadcast a three-song Praying Mantis session in November 1979 on the BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show. Drummer Mick Ransome joined late that year in place of Hudson. Former Iron Maiden guitarist Bob Sawyer replaced Moore in January 1980 under the name Bob Angelo.

Early Singles

EMI included a new recording of “Captured City” on the February 1980 compilation Metal for Muthas. Praying Mantis toured Britain that month with Iron Maiden and Neal Kay. Ripper Records issued “Captured City” in February 1980 (b/w “Johnny Cool”) with EMI distribution under the title The Soundhouse Tapes Part 2. The band added “The Ripper” to the 12-inch edition.

Dave Potts replaced Ransome in April 1980 through an audition prompted by a Melody Maker advertisement and a recommendation from an acquaintance. The Liverpool-born drummer played in the Crying Shames from 1966 and recorded From Mighty Oaks with Moody Blues flautist Ray Thomas. In May, Praying Mantis resumed support dates with Iron Maiden.

Gem issued “Praying Mantis” (b/w the Angelo song “High Roller”) in July 1980, just as Angelo cleared out for ex-Little Bo Bitch guitarist–singer Steve Carroll, a fellow client of the Fireball management company. Praying Mantis appeared at the Reading Festival in August 1980 and signed a long-term contract with Arista Records. The quartet entered Battery Studios in London with producer Tim Friese-Greene to record Time Tells No Lies.