Steve Grimmett -- Three Time Loser?

Thought this was an odd news bit. I never heard about him being considered for any of these positions back in the day. So either he's the unluckiest guy in the world, or he's completely full of it. Either way, I think he would've been a better fit for Maiden than Blaze was.

STEVE GRIMMETT Says He Was Being Considered For Singer Position In MAIDEN, PRIEST And SABBATH - Nov. 9, 2009

British heavy metal vocalist Steve Grimmett has told Classic Rock magazine that he nearly joined not one, not two… but three legendary bands. Grimmett, who made his name with GRIM REAPER, ONSLAUGHT and LIONSHEART, said, "When Bruce Dickinson left IRON MAIDEN, I sent them a demo. But never heard anything back from them, and then heard that Blaze Bayley had the job. But a while afterwards, their manager Rod Smallwood told me that I'd made the top five on their short list." The singer also went for the JUDAS PRIEST gig as the replacement for Rob Halford. "I did get a letter back, thanking me for my interest, but they didn't feel I was quite right for them." Finally, he was actually being lined up by BLACK SABBATH. "Drummer Bobby Rondinelli called and asked if I'd like to join the band. I was committed to doing the second LIONSHEART album ('Pride In Tact'), but told him that, if they could wait, then I'd love to do it. But by the time I was ready, the original lineup was back together, so that was out of the window."

Run to the hills? Indeed!!

I had heard back in the day that he was being considered for MAIDEN along with Doogie White and James LaBrie. I'm sure their desire for a British singer is one of the things that propelled him on that list.

I don't think he was a serious contender for PRIEST based on what I have read.

He would have been a much better choice than Blaze!!!!

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

manny wrote:

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Remember Beavis & Butt-Head ripping on Grim Reaper's "See You In Hell" video?

"Hey Beavis, didn't these guys play at the State Fair last year?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The lead singer won a blue ribbon in the hog contest! Cuz he's FAT! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Remember Beavis & Butt-Head ripping on Grim Reaper's "See You In Hell" video?

"Hey Beavis, didn't these guys play at the State Fair last year?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The lead singer won a blue ribbon in the hog contest! Cuz he's FAT! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

Yup, his image probably didn't help the cause.

That B&B moment is ingrained in my head anytime the name Steve Grimmett comes up.

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Remember Beavis & Butt-Head ripping on Grim Reaper's "See You In Hell" video?

"Hey Beavis, didn't these guys play at the State Fair last year?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The lead singer won a blue ribbon in the hog contest! Cuz he's FAT! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

LMAO!!!! I forgot about that one!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was great!!!!!!! Hu Hu HU Hu Hu HU

I'm sure Steve Harris didn;t want a fat dude behind the mic, instead he got blaze "shadow boxer" baley to sign

Maybe Maiden should have had Steve Grimmett hidden behind the stage singing, while Blaze lip synched , the metal world's version of Milli Vanilli.

I like how Steve sez he later heard from Rod Smallwood that he was in "the top five on their short list" for the Maiden gig. I wonder how many were on that short list. I'm guessing... four.

This whole news item is like "Dudes, I almost won the lottery, but I didn't have five out of the six numbers."

The only one that sounds like he might have had a legit chance was the Sabbath gig. He had an in with a member that actually asked him to audition.

With Priest & Maiden, it just sounds like he and a thousand other singers sent demos with their fingers crossed.

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Remember Beavis & Butt-Head ripping on Grim Reaper's "See You In Hell" video?

"Hey Beavis, didn't these guys play at the State Fair last year?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The lead singer won a blue ribbon in the hog contest! Cuz he's FAT! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

My personal fav was when Butt-Head stated, "Look at his face", then Beavis quipped "Yeah, his face sucks'!!! This line proceeded the lines you just quoted Freddy. If anyone wants to view the clip here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCRrP36KTGw

Quote :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCRrP36KTGw

Oh, man, that was classic!!

"They bought their clothes at the rock n' roll store in the mall."

"Stop in the name of all that which does not suck!!!"

Classic!!!!!

Was he in, Throw Momma From The Train?

Excellent vocalist who never was involved in a whole lot that I enjoyed. However, I dig some of the Grim Reaper classics and he also has some stuff he's done on his own, some really good songs, 'Karma', and he's done a ridiculously good cover of 'Powerslave'.

Very good singer...

Fat Freddy wrote:

manny wrote:

That dude can sing but image is also important and I am afraid that maybe (if these stories are true) the way he looks maybe why he didnot get the gig with any of those bands.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Remember Beavis & Butt-Head ripping on Grim Reaper's "See You In Hell" video?

"Hey Beavis, didn't these guys play at the State Fair last year?"
"Yeah! Yeah! The lead singer won a blue ribbon in the hog contest! Cuz he's FAT! Heh! Heh! Heh!"

I'm surprised Beavis and Butt-Head gave Grim Reaper a negative review. I thought they would like them.

Enjoyed his work on Onslaught's In Search of Sanity. Very underrated record IMO.

Leatherface wrote:

Enjoyed his work on Onslaught's In Search of Sanity. Very underrated record IMO.

Yea, I picked up that disc not long ago. Good stuff. That was the only Onslaught disc he did vocals for correct?

He sang on that? I'll have to check it out.

SEE YOU IN HELL MY FREEEEEEEIIINNNNDDD!!!

The live version of him singing that on YouTube (from some VHS promo release I had never seen) is absolutely amazing.

Leatherface wrote:

Enjoyed his work on Onslaught's In Search of Sanity. Very underrated record IMO.

Indeed, great album.