Lionsheart

After leaving U.K. heavy metal thrashers Onslaught, ex-Grim Reaper vocalist Steve Grimmett assembled a band better aligned with his vocal strengths and musical preferences. He recruited twin brothers Mark on guitar and Steve Owers on bass, along with Graham Collet on keyboards and Anthony Christmas on drums. Lionsheart secured a deal with Music for Nations, yet the Owers brothers exited prior to the appearance of the self-titled debut album. Mark Owers could not tour because of illness, so Nick Burr, formerly of Killers and Idol Rich, took over on guitar while Zak Bajjon joined on bass. Ignoring grunge trends, Lionsheart pursued guitar-driven melodic hard rock marked by strong songwriting. Although the group received little attention in the U.K. and the U.S., it earned notable success across Europe and attained major standing in Japan. On Pride In Tact, Lionsheart broadened its range from near-AOR balladry into harder blues-rock, with Burr matching the standard set by Mark Owers on the first record. Vocalist Steve Grimmett died on August 15, 2022, at the age of 62.