Lionheart released their first album, Hot Tonight, in 1984. As with a lot of bands of that era, management issues led to their disappearance from the scene, and principal members moved on to other projects. Guitarist Dennis Stratton (ex-Iron Maiden) moved on to Praying Mantis, while bassist Rocky Newton and guitarist Steve Mann played with the McAuley Schenker Group. Lionheart reunited in 2016 for a festival show rounded out with new members Clive Edwards (ex-UFO) on drums and Lee Small (ex-Shy) on vocals.

The current version of Lionheart released their comeback album in 2017, entitled Second Nature. Riding the success of that album, Lionheart is set to release The Reality of Miracles on July 31st, 2020. Metal Express Radio had the chance to speak to Steve Mann about the new album, the early days of Lionheart, and his time with MSG and Michael Schenker Fest.

On the McAuley Schenker Group

Mann: "We had some great times touring. It was a band where we all got on really well. Michael (Schenker) has had his issues, but he was great: completely sober, totally focused, and we did a couple really good albums, especially Save Yourself. That was a great album that we did with Frank Filipetti, which had just come from producing the Foreigner album Agent Provocateur. He was really good for us. We toured with the Scorpions, we did a tour of the US supporting Great White, and then a song I wrote with Robin (McAuley) called 'Anytime' became a hit. So, we stopped the tour with Great White and went out headlining. As a support band we had The Black Crowes, who back then nobody had ever heard of. That was also a great tour. That was another really great time in my life."

Metalville Records will release The Reality Of Miracles, the new album from British hard rock legends Lionheart, on July 31. Check out an album preview video below.

Lionheart was founded in late 1980 by Dennis Stratton (ex-Iron Maiden), Steve Mann (Michael Schenker Fest), and Rocky Newton (ex-MSG) with Clive Edwards (ex-UFO) completing the lineup a little later. The band started playing constant live shows, including regular sold-out gigs at the London Marquee Club. Between 1981 and 1984, more shows followed, including a performance at the Reading Festival 1981 and as support for Def Leppard, Whitesnake, and Saxon.

In 1984, CBS Records offered Lionheart a contract. With the new singer Chad Brown, the debut album Hot Tonight was recorded in Los Angeles. Phil Lanzon (Uriah Heep) joined the band as a new keyboardist before Chad Brown was replaced by Keith Murrell (Airrace and Mama’s Boys) in 1985. The band was hit with managerial problems, and it was felt that the momentum was gone, and the band disbanded in 1985.

Rocky subsequently sang background vocals on the Def Leppard albums Pyromania and Hysteria before joining the Michael Schenker Group. Steve set up his first commercial studio and then hooked up with Rocky again in the McAuley Schenker Group. Dennis began a 15-year collaboration with Praying Mantis. Clive went on to play with Bernie Marsden and UFO.

In 1999, Lionheart released a double album with old demos, which sold well and once again generated interest in the band. In 2016, the organizers of the Rockingham Festival in Nottingham invited Lionheart to play a reunion show. The four founding members seized the opportunity and brought the former Shy frontman Lee Small on board as lead singer. The show received fantastic reviews, and they decided to record another album.

Second Nature was released to critical acclaim in 2017. This was followed by an appearance at Sweden Rock, mini co-headline tours through Japan with Praying Mantis, and a UK tour together with Airrace.

As the Christmas single “Mary Did You Know” was released in December 2018, the musicians were already recording the follow-up album. Although most of 2019 was taken up by the other projects, the band members got together in downtime to record The Reality Of Miracles. The 13 songs were recorded in Steve Mann’s studio in Hannover. Steve also produced, mixed and mastered the album.

Tracklisting:

"Salvation"
"Thine Is The Kingdom"
"High Plains Drifter"
"The Reality Of Miracles"
"Five Tribes"
"Behind The Wall"
"All I Want Is You"
"Widows"
"Kingdom Of The East"
"Outlaws Of The Western World"
"Overdrive"
"The First Man"
"Still It Rains On Planet Earth" (Lacrimosa)

Lineup:

Dennis Stratton (formerly guitarist with Iron Maiden)
Steve Mann (currently guitarist and keyboardist with Michael Schenker)
Rocky Newton (formerly bass player and backing vocalist with McAuley Schenker Group)
Clive Edwards (formerly drummer with UFO, Wild Horses, and Uli Roth)
Lee Small (formerly lead vocalist with Shy and Phenomena)