Savage Master hat geschrieben: STEVE GRIMMETT was a one-of-a-kind. A Lifer. An absolute icon of Heavy Metal in the annals of Rock N Roll music. His powerful voice and command of the stage will resonate with us and lead us for all the years to come. Moreover, his example of friendship, dedication to craft, and genuine character will be what helps keep us onward. Rest in peace, Sir.
Blabbermouth hat geschrieben: GRIM REAPER singer Steve Grimmett has died at the age of 62.
Steve's passing was confirmed by his brother Mark Grimmett, who wrote on social media: "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".
Steve's son Russ Grimmett also shared the news, writing: "We can't begin to put into words the current feelings. But as dad was so well known the news is starting to reach out earlier than we would have liked. Unfortunately, our dad passed away today and leaves a massive hole in the world and our hearts. We are utterly heartbroken. Sleep tight dad. We we always love you xxx".
Steve's wife Millie wrote: "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.
"Wait for me my love. Until we are together again. Your Millie xxx
"(The family appreciate all the messages we’ve had so far but ask that you allow us to morn)."
Producer Max Norman, who worked on GRIM REAPER's classic third album, 1987's "Rock You To Hell", weighed in on Steve's death, writing: "Very distressed to hear that old friend and singer for GRIM REAPER, Steve Grimmett has left us... A terrific vocalist, and all around perfect gentleman - you will be missed my friend. Condolences to Mark and Millie and friends and family - a very very sad loss..."
Grimmett's passing comes more than five years after he had his right leg partially amputated in January 2017 when an infected wound on his foot spread to the bones in his leg partway through the group's five-week tour of South America. The life-saving surgery was carried out in Ecuador and the frontman was in hospital for just over a month while fans raised $14,000 to bring him home after his insurance company refused to pay because of the type of work he was doing.
GRIM REAPER's story begins in 1979 after successfully fighting off hundreds of bands in a local Battle Of The Bands competition. This win, combined with an already sizeable following, aroused the interest of Ebony Records. Signing with the small U.K. label, GRIM REAPER released three albums in rapid succession to international acclaim. Due to legal turmoil with Ebony, GRIM REAPER would disband in 1988. Grimmett would go on to record with ONSLAUGHT, LIONSHEART and more recently THE SANITY DAYS. His renowed vocal range remains one of metal's most identifiable with loyal fans turning out in numbers to hear him perform.
GRIM REAPER was part of the "Hell On Wheels" tour which crossed the States in 1987, alongside ARMORED SAINT and HELLOWEEN.
Grimmett reformed GRIM REAPER in 2006 as STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER following an amicable decision between the singer and original GRIM REAPER guitarist Nick Bowcott, who both agreed that using the original name minus the other members of the classic lineup wouldn't be a proper reunion.
STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER released two studio albums, 2016's "Walking In The Shadows" and 2019's "At The Gates".
Since 2006, STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER had made a number of European festival appearances and toured all around the world.
Earlier this year, Steve told VWMusic that he had "no regrets whatsoever" about how his career panned out. "I should by rights be a millionaire, but I haven't got a penny to my name," he revealed. "I'm on welfare at the moment because of COVID, and a lot of people do think that I am a millionaire, but I can tell you now, I'm not. I've never received a penny — not one penny — from GRIM REAPER, so that says it all, doesn't it? But still, no regrets. I still love getting up there and playing. I still love watching the smiling faces in front of me. That says it all and does it all for me."
Grimmett also had plans to get back to touring in 2022, saying: "I'm just doing some deals at the moment in regards to doing a tour in America, and then we'll be doing a tour in South America and Europe. All of these need my people to come together, sort dates out, and just get on, book it, and go for it. There will be lots more releases as well from GRIM REAPER, apparently."
He added: "I just wanna say thank you to my fans for the loyal support that you show me and give me. I can't wait to come and see you for real, face to face. Take care, and stay safe."
Lady Beast hat geschrieben:Steve Grimmetts passing is heartbreaking and also makes you realize how important the presence is of genuine and truly enthusiastic people in our world is. Not allowing obstacles to get in the way of his dream… he fought, he slayed and he will be forever remembered.
An amazing singer whose smile was infectious….Our hearts go out to Steve’s family, close friends and fans.
Onslaught hat geschrieben:R.I.P STEVE GRIMMETT..
It is with great sadness to hear about the unexpected death of Steve, who was undoubtedly one of the greatest voices in the world of metal music.
We had some real good times back in the days of ISOS and he will be sorely missed..
We would like to send our deepest condolences to his family at this truly difficult time, our thoughts are with you.
“See you in Hell my friend”
Millie Grimmett hat geschrieben:Thank you for the thousands of messages of condolences since the passing of my beloved Steve. I’m gradually reading a few at a time but I will get round them all eventually.
Steve had 2 passions, aeroplanes & being on stage, & it’s his fans that made being on stage possible. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for buying tickets, queuing for hours to meet him after a gig (which he was honoured that you all did) & buying his albums. After every gig he would call me to tell me how amazing the crowd were & about the people he met.
Over the weekend we were talking about our plans for the future. The tours he had coming up this year & next, the album he had half written, which had guest musicians on, the planes he was working on & looking forward to flying & the places we were looking forward to exploring together. Life was amazing. Steve was in the best place, mentally, that he’s been since loosing his leg. My heart couldn’t have loved him more.
I found steve forever asleep at home on Monday 15th August. He hadn’t been ill so to say this was a shock is an understatement. His official cause of death has not yet been released by the coroners.
My heart will forever be broken & my life now incomplete. I long for the day that we are together again. Steve sung a lot about hell but I know he is in heaven waiting for me and watching over his family.
Please help me keep his music & memory alive by playing everything he ever wrote, sung, produced & did guests slots on. If you don’t own it all, buy it, download it. Please keep his 40+ years on this mad industry going. There’s plenty of YouTube footage too & we all loved the Beavis & Butthead videos but none more than Steve.
Steve was known as the Metal Warrior, to me he was My Steve.
Thank you again. Blessings & prayers. Millie
Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper hat geschrieben:63 years ago today on 19th August 1959 the legend that is Steve Grimmett was born.
Let’s join together and raise a glass up to the heavens & crank his music up to 11 all day.
Happy heavenly birthday Mr ‘Metal Warrior’ Grimmett.
Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper hat geschrieben:Let’s give Steve the send off he deserves!
Steve was very open about being on benefits and never seeing any Grim Reaper royalties so friend of Steve & Millie has set up a gofundme page to help with the funeral costs.
If you’d like to and are able to help please click on the link below.
Thank you.
https://gofund.me/24d674e0
Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper hat geschrieben: Announcement from the Grimmett family:
Steve will be laid to rest on Wednesday 7th September at 2pm (UK time) at Tewkesbury Abbey, UK. All are welcome. We are hoping to also live stream it. Feel free to wear one of Steve’s band T-shirts or anything you’re comfortable in.
Thank you for your continued messages, cards & phone calls.
Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper hat geschrieben:SG Grim Reaper should have been headlining this show on the Friday night (30th Sept). Saxon are headlining on the Saturday night. The organisers have decided to keep SGGRs slot open in memory of Steve with the band still playing but having guest singers singing Reaper songs - one of them being Steve’s son Rus. I’m very honoured to have been invited along so if you’re going please come & say hi.
Millie
Millie Grimmet hat geschrieben:On the Subject of Steve Grimmett's passing
"First just say to thank you to everybody, the support has just been overwhelming really. Within the first 12 hours of announcing it I must have had 3 000 messages. I think within the first 12 hours it was very difficult obviously because we're just trying to get our heads around to what happened. We weren't aware that Steve was ill. Steve wasn't aware he was. Which I'm pleased about because it meant that he didn't die worrying or feeling ill or thinking he's going to die any day or any of that. "
"Steve was still grieving his brother he never got over his death, which is nearly four years ago now. This was his Middle Brother, they were just inseparable they did so much together and they built planes together (model) and flew them together and lost of stuff. But aside from that Steve was in a really good place with his mental health. He was halfway through writing an album, he was talking to Chris Holmes on Sunday evening to talk about him doing a guest slot on one of the tracks. Steve had so many ideas written down. There's were tours that were coming up, he had a new manager. There was shows in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, all of these were coming up next year he was supposed to do. South America again in November. Keep it true Festival at the end of September 2022. So much going on and we have plans but actually inside he was actually quite unwell and we didn't realize. He didn't die worrying, he died happy and he wasn't in pain because he went in his sleep it was instant the doctor said it was an instant death. He literally just went to sleep and didn't wake up and then I just found him lying in his usual place when he had a nap, His diabetes was quite bad on and off so we did kind of have the odd naps throughout the day when he could. He just had one of his morning naps before going out and he just didn't wake. It's been yeah it's been just over a week now it's last Monday that happened. I'm still getting my head around it it's quite tough it feels like he's on tour at the moment especially because there's other videos and photos that people are sharing and it's almost like that was last night's gig so it's I'm still trying to process it all at the moment. It wasn't the diabetes that got him he had problems with his heart. He didn't have a heart attack, when he died but it was issues with his heart but it's known with people with diabetes. It's unfortunately, it goes hand in hand and you have to extra look after your heart even more so when you've got an illness like diabetes because you've got a higher risk of blood pressure problems which causes problems with the vessels and heart disease. And then there's the life of a rock and roll star in the 80s which is always going to take your time the toll on you later on in life. I think he and the Reaper boys enjoyed the 80s very much. There had been warning signs again connected to the diabetes but we just weren't aware of how severe how severe things were and like I say I am pleased because I wouldn't have left his side. I wouldn't have slept because I would have been so worried and he wouldn't have been able to relax because he would have been worried that he could go any day. The doctor said actually he lived a lot longer than he probably should have done so we're kind of looking at lots of positives that we had him longer than perhaps medically we should have. Steve didn't know what was going on and he didn't know he was ill and he died a completely pain-free death. He always said to me that his ideal death was dying on stage which he nearly did in Ecuador. He did say he wasn't scared of dying, it was just how we were dying and in an ideal world he would just want to go to sleep and not wake up and that's what he did. There was there an official reason, the doctors said it was due to some heart issues . I can't recall the technical terms on the death certificate but has to do with heart disease basically but it's some technical terms it's not heart attack. I've had many messages from people asking me was it COVID related and did the vaccine kill him? No to both of those."
On Steve's Grimmett's Funeral arrangments
Steve's funeral will be on the 7th of September 2 p.m local time UK time. Everybody is welcome to come and we are going to live stream it as well so I'll share the link close to the time. Steve always made time for his fans because his fans are incredibly important to him because if it wasn't for his fans there would be no Steve Grimmett he would just be a regular guy in his shed playing with his planes. If people are coming along then I want to meet them afterwards as well and say thank you. I'm also very grateful to everybody that that's donated (funeral cost) and I'm very grateful to my friend Rachel as well to start up the fund I didn't ask her to do it, that was nothing to do with me. I was talking to her a few days before saying to how much it's gonna cost, which a funeral is almost the cost of a wedding ,it's a huge amount of money. Steve was never shy to admit that he didn't have any money and he was on benefits because he never saw any of the Reaper money. He had the fame and he had the you know rock and roll background but he never had the money that come with it. We don't live in a mansion like people think we do, we live in a very modest rented accommodation."
