The original line up of Metal Messiah was formed in 1987. After Biff-Guitar, Kev-Drums, Graham Bass left Arbitrator, they recruited Grem-Guitar and Phil-Vocals.
The band became very popular in the emerging UK Thrash scene at the time and earned themselves a session on Tommy Vance's RIP Friday Rock Show (remember the wireless kiddies) This lineup also recorded the 1st demo featuring the tracks Intro, Metal Messiah, Kiss Of Nosferatu and War Machine, the demo remained in the readers charts of Metal Forces mag for many months (many due to sales that Kev kept raking in the money for, hehe).
In 1988 Phil was asked to leave the band and was replaced by Jim. This new line up remained until the band broke up in 1991. Recording the 2nd demo featuring the tracks, Madman, Curse Of The King, Bitch and Drunken Messiah. After much interest but with no deal on the table from the major labels at the time, Metal Messiah entered the studio and recorded the Honour Among Thieves album. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there is not a single member of the band that wouldn't now have turned around and walked out of that studio. Originally booked into Slaughterhouse Studios in Hull the band arrived only to find Dogs D'Amour were over running by a week on their recording, so rush phone calls were made and a replacement studio was found. Unfortunately the album suffered from very poor production and never really lived up to it's promised potential.
After the split, the band went their separate ways. Biff went back to his Punk Rock roots and formed Sick On The Bus (with Graham and Kev for a brief period) Grem and Jim formed Monster but never managed to recapture the magic of the Messiah days. Many drunken conversations over time threatened a reunion, but ultimately always ended with a thick head the next morning. Then, in late 2006, a much more hopeful drunken phonecall from an Exodus gig "god I was pissed that night" resulted in the majority of the band meeting up in early 2007. Biff was asked to join for the reunion but is still very busy with Sick On The Bus and The Varukers so declined the offer although he said it's not out of the question that he may appear at a gig and get up and jam through a song or two.
Initially the reunion was to play the special guest spot at Podrock but huge thanks to Jon from The Attic for offering Metal Messiah the support slot for Onslaught. This will be the 1st MM gig in 16 years, it should be a blast!!!
2009 Mega Special Thanks to Joe from Gama Bomb for kicking our lazy butts and getting us on the awesome bill with Gama Bomb, Lawnmower Deth and Virus at The Pitz, Milton Keynes.
We are also in talks with a certain shit hot producer/engineer and are planning to re-record Honour Among Thieves later 2009/early 2010. Finally Honour will make it onto CD, just as vinyl seems to be making a come back.
Thanks to New Metal Army for the live videos of Metal Messiah from The Pitz at Milton Keynes, from their opening slot for Virus, Gama Bomb and Lawnmower Deth on 5th June 2009
Honour Among Theives
Metal Messiah
Mad Dogs Of War
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