By Matthew Roscoe • Published: 16 Aug 2022 • 12:43
Top British heavy metal frontman dies suddenly and unexpectedly aged 62. Image: Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper/Facebook
Steve Grimmett, frontman of British heavy metal band Grim Reaper, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, August 15 aged 62, according to the band’s social media pages.
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write but it’s with a heavy & shattered heart to say that my beloved Steve died suddenly & unexpectedly on Monday 15th August,” his wife Millie wrote on Facebook.
“Wait for me my love. Until we are together again. Your Millie xxx”
The post added: “The family appreciate all the messages we’ve had so far but ask that you allow us to morn.”
Steve’s brother Mark Grimmett wrote: “I don’t really know where to start so I guess I will just come right out with it. It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I have to tell you all as many of you know him my very talented brother Steve Grimmett very sadly passed away today, my heart goes out to Millie his wife my Mum and Dad, Russell , Sami and Ethan. I will miss you more than words will ever say , love you bro xx”.
Grim Reaper, who formed in 1979, were a British heavy metal band from the new wave of British heavy metal era. The band was formed in Droitwich, England, by guitarist Nick Bowcott, and there have been numerous lineup changes over the years.
However, frontman Steve Grimmett remained the only constant member after joining the band in 1982. Due to legal reasons, the band was forced to change its name after reforming in 2006 and had since gone by Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper.
Grim Reaper were probably best known for the respective title tracks from their first three albums: See You in Hell (1983), Fear No Evil (1985) and Rock You to Hell (1987) after gaining notoriety in the 1990s for appearing on Beavis and Butt-Head.
Tributes flooded social media following the news of his death.
Rock writer KMan wrote: “R.I.P🕯️⚰️🕯️ STEVE GRIMMETT – Grim Reaper/Onslaught/Lionsheart🇬🇧62! Another one gone! Grimmett’s vocal range was highly reknowned; Uniquely identifiable. One of the greats. A sad day for Metal. Condolences to his family. See you in hell, my friend.🙏 #SteveGrimmett #RIP #KMaN”
R.I.P🕯️⚰️🕯️STEVE GRIMMETT – Grim Reaper/Onslaught/Lionsheart🇬🇧62! Another one gone! Grimmett's vocal range was highly reknowned; Uniquely identifiable. One of the greats. A sad day for Metal. Condolences to his family. See you in hell, my friend.🙏 #SteveGrimmett #RIP #KMaN pic.twitter.com/Cjye8egPlK — KMäNriffs (@KManriffs) August 15, 2022
R.I.P🕯️⚰️🕯️STEVE GRIMMETT – Grim Reaper/Onslaught/Lionsheart🇬🇧62! Another one gone! Grimmett's vocal range was highly reknowned; Uniquely identifiable. One of the greats. A sad day for Metal. Condolences to his family. See you in hell, my friend.🙏 #SteveGrimmett #RIP #KMaN pic.twitter.com/Cjye8egPlK
— KMäNriffs (@KManriffs) August 15, 2022
“Woke up this morning to the sad news that Steve Grimmett has passed away. Such a great vocalist and a big loss. So, I’m going to spend my morning cranking this classic. RIP Steve, I’ll always be sad that our gig in 2004 never happened. See you on the other side…😔 #stevegrimmett” one person on Twitter wrote.
Woke up this morning to the sad news that Steve Grimmett has passed away. Such a great vocalist and a big loss. So, I’m going to spend my morning cranking this classic. RIP Steve, I’ll always be sad that our gig in 2004 never happened. See you on the other side…😔 #stevegrimmett pic.twitter.com/9tm4cjNiRS — Steve Wallace ᛋᛄᚹ (@Steve_W_Guitar) August 16, 2022
Woke up this morning to the sad news that Steve Grimmett has passed away. Such a great vocalist and a big loss. So, I’m going to spend my morning cranking this classic. RIP Steve, I’ll always be sad that our gig in 2004 never happened. See you on the other side…😔 #stevegrimmett pic.twitter.com/9tm4cjNiRS
— Steve Wallace ᛋᛄᚹ (@Steve_W_Guitar) August 16, 2022
Another said: “Seriously. Grim Reaper’s Rock you to hell will continue to be one of the soundtracks of my life 😭 RIP Steve Grimmett Best Metal Singer 🎤”
マジかいや~Grim ReaperのRock you to hellはこれからも私の人生のサウンドトラックの1枚であり続けます😭 R.I.P. Steve Grimmett 最高のメタルシンガー🎤 pic.twitter.com/UrArqRxFDq — ともちん (@kikai_atama) August 16, 2022
マジかいや~Grim ReaperのRock you to hellはこれからも私の人生のサウンドトラックの1枚であり続けます😭
R.I.P. Steve Grimmett 最高のメタルシンガー🎤 pic.twitter.com/UrArqRxFDq
— ともちん (@kikai_atama) August 16, 2022
Another said: “A singer I really like (TT) is very disappointing. I’ve been hooked since MOVEment’s store manager taught me about 12-3 years ago. Everything including the unfashionable jacket was a key point. RIP”
めっちゃ好きなシンガーが(TT)非常に残念。12~3年前にMOVEmentの店長に教えてもらってからどハマリ。ダサジャケ含め全てがツボでした。R.I.P.#SteveGrimmett pic.twitter.com/63xoDror21 — Metagolazo吉四六🇺🇦 (@ktQ_Metal) August 16, 2022
めっちゃ好きなシンガーが(TT)非常に残念。12~3年前にMOVEmentの店長に教えてもらってからどハマリ。ダサジャケ含め全てがツボでした。R.I.P.#SteveGrimmett pic.twitter.com/63xoDror21
— Metagolazo吉四六🇺🇦 (@ktQ_Metal) August 16, 2022
The Metal Voice wrote: “R.I.P. Steve Grimmett my friend for many years. You be missed. Your music will be missed. Your spirit will be missed. Your humour will be missed. You were kind, smart and a super nice person. I was hoping this was not true. Our condolences to the Grimmett family.”
R.I.P. Steve Grimmett my friend for many years. You be missed. Your music will be missed. Your spirit will be missed. Your humour will be missed. You were kind, smart and a super nice person I was hoping this was not true Our condolences to the Grimmett family pic.twitter.com/hfQtua9qgD — The Metal Voice (@themetalvoice) August 15, 2022
R.I.P. Steve Grimmett my friend for many years. You be missed. Your music will be missed. Your spirit will be missed. Your humour will be missed. You were kind, smart and a super nice person
I was hoping this was not true
Our condolences to the Grimmett family pic.twitter.com/hfQtua9qgD
— The Metal Voice (@themetalvoice) August 15, 2022
“I’m so saddened since I learnt that Steve Grimmett passed away. A real hero with a magnificent voice. I feel honoured that I saw him live and had a brief chat with him when he played with his band in Athens back in 2009. R.I.P.” another wrote.
I'm so saddened since I learnt that Steve Grimmett passed away. A real hero with a magnificent voice. I feel honoured that I saw him live and had a brief chat with him when he played with his band in Athens back in 2009. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/P9OA4YCwyr — Evanthis Gogoulis (@EvanthisG) August 15, 2022
I'm so saddened since I learnt that Steve Grimmett passed away. A real hero with a magnificent voice. I feel honoured that I saw him live and had a brief chat with him when he played with his band in Athens back in 2009. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/P9OA4YCwyr
— Evanthis Gogoulis (@EvanthisG) August 15, 2022
In January 2017 partway through the group’s five-week tour of South America, Grimmett infamously had had his right leg partially amputated following an infected wound on his foot that spread to the bones in his leg.
Fans raised $14,000 to bring him home.
The news of Grimmett’s sudden and unexpected death comes after a top musician in South Africa passed away on the same day.
Legendary Kwaito musician Tokollo ‘Magesh’, a member of South African Kwaito music group TKZee, passed away in his sleep at the age of 45.
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Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
another vax death
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