Formed in New Forest, Hampshire, England in 1990, Lionsheart was a heavy metal band founded by twin brothers Mark Owers (guitar) and Steve Owers (bass) along with drummer Anthony Christmas, keyboardist Graham Collett, and vocalist Steve Grimmett, who was vocalist for NWOBHM band Grim Reaper between 1982 and 1988. The band’s line-up changed over the next two years and Steve Grimmett became the group’s leader when the Owers brothers left the group in 1992. Signing with the Music for Nations label, Lionsheart released their self-titled debut -still featuring the Owers brothers - in 1992 and followed it with Pride in Tact (1994) Under Fire (1998). Lionsheart never fully connected with metal audiences and split up in 2000. The band was always successful in Japan and they released a 1993 Japanese concert, Rising Sons – Live in Japan, as a parting shot to their fans. The popularity of the release inspired Steve Grimmett to form a new version of Lionsheart and record a new album, Abyss (2004). Steve Grimmett also reformed Grim Reaper and played in several other bands including The Steve Grimmett Band and The Sanity Days. Steve Grimmett died on August 15, 2022, at the age of 62.
