Lawnmower Deth
Lawnmower Deth were an
English thrash metal band of the late 1980s and early 1990s, who to an extent parodied the genre while also recording three-and-a-half well regarded albums.
The band originally formed in
Mansfield,
England in 1987 under the name SCRAWM, releasing one demo -
Demented Genius. Realising that thrash metal and a sense of humour could go hand in hand, the band renamed to Lawnmower Deth, changed some members and (after 2 demos) were signed by
Earache Records in 1989.
Their first official release was a split album, shared with another band - Metal Duck. Lawnmower Deth's side of the record was entitled
Mower Liberation Front and positive responses led to their first full-length effort,
Ooh Crikey, It's... Lawnmower Deth.
The band covered several famous songs in their time, including
Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain",
Motörhead's "Motörhead",
Squeeze's "Up the Junction" and
Kim Wilde's "Kids in America" which was released as the band's only single in 1991.
Their sense of humour extended into their cheap but enjoyable music videos. Both "Kids in America" and "Lawnmowers for Heroes, Comics for Zeros" (from second album
Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns) were recorded on home video cameras and edited in an amateur fashion.
The third, and final, album
Billy saw the band try to take a slightly different direction, verging towards the kind of punk feel being pioneered by the likes of
Green Day at the time. Poor sales and less popular live dates made the band decide to call it a day.
Numerous "threats" of a reunion gig (or even a small tour) continue to surface, but seem unlikely.
Line-up when the band split
* Qualcast "Koffee Perkulator" Mutilator - vocals
* Concord Face Ripper - guitar
* Baron Kev Von Thresh Meister Silo Stench Chisel Marbels KP - guitar
* Mightymo Destructimo - bass
* Explodin' Dr Jaggers Flymo - drums
Former Lawnmower Deth members
* Schizo Rotary Sprintmaster - guitar (left in 1991 and replaced by Kev)
SCRAWM line-up
* Dogg Bower - vocals / guitar
* Dudd Hallam - bass
* Chris Flint - drums
* Rich Brady - Guitar
*
Demented Genius (demo while the band was called SCRAWM, 1987)
*
It's a Lot Less Bovver Than a Hovver (demo)
*
Mowdeer (demo)
*
Mower Liberation Front (split album with Metal Duck, 1989)
*
Ooh Crikey It's... Lawnmower Deth (1990)
*
Kids in America (single, 1991)
*
Return of the Fabulous Metal Bozo Clowns (1992)
*
Billy (1993)
*
Tribute site*
Earache Records page*
Lawnmower Deth message board
