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Steve Mann (English musician)

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Steve Mann
Mann performing with the Michael Schenker Group in 2022.
Mann performing with the Michael Schenker Group in 2022.
Background information
BornLondon, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • producer
  • composer
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Years active1974–present
Member of
Formerly of

Steve Mann (born 9 August[1] in London)[2][3] is an English guitarist, keyboardist, record producer and engineer, best known as a member of Andy Scott's Sweet from 1989 to 1995 and as a member of many bands by German guitarist Michael Schenker.

Career

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Early career

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Mann began taking classical piano lessons at the age of 7 and continued until he was 15,[3] when, he bought his first electric guitar.[2] He grew up in a musical family with his father playing Hawaiian guitar and his mother and brother, Dave, both playing piano.[3] While still at school he was a member of bands Heavy Water and Blind Eye and just before heading off to university he joined Fast Buck with Charlie Harper (who later formed UK Subs) and Scott Gorham (shortly before he joined Thin Lizzy).[3] After university he took up classical guitar, studying at the John Williams School in London. He also auditioned for the Deep Purple spin-off band Paice Ashton Lord (with Ian Paice, Tony Ashton and Jon Lord) but the position went to Bernie Marsden.[3]

Mann joined his first professional band, Liar, in 1977[4] who later opened for UFO, although after Michael Schenker's departure.[5] Three years later, Mann joined Lionheart with former members of Tygers of Pan Tang, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Judas Priest.[5] Their first album, Hot Tonight, was released in 1984, but the group disbanded after several line-up changes and problems with the label.[2]

During his time with Lionheart he was also a member of NWoBHM band Tytan.[6]

McAuley Schenker and Sweet

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Mann, joined McAuley Schenker Group, as keyboardist and guitarist, alongside Lionheart bassist Rocky Newton, in 1986[2] but later left in mid 1987 to work with NWoBHM band Saxon,[7] he was replaced by guitarist Mitch Perry.[8] Mann later returned to the band in 1988[9] and contributed to the highly successful albums Perfect Timing in 1987 and Save Yourself in 1989. The latter, recorded in Los Angeles, spawned the US number 5 hit[10] single ‘Anytime,’ written by Mann and Robin McAuley.[11][12]

After the group split in the early 90s, Mann established his Frida Park Studio in Hannover.[3] Over the following years, he honed his producer and studio engineer skills. He also spent several years as keyboardist and guitarist of the legendary British glam rockers Sweet and played several tours with the German progressive rock band, Eloy.[2][12]

Later career

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Mann performing with Michael Schenker Fest in 2019.

In 1998 Mann moved back to England where he took up work as an audio engineer at Channel 4 Television in London. This ran until 2004 at which point he moved back to Hannover and continued with his production and engineering exploits along with some coding work.[3][12]

Mann has continued his work as a musician, producer, and studio engineer.[13] Lionheart reunited in 2016, featuring the original members Mann, Newton and Dennis Stratton, and new members vocalist Lee Small (ex-Shy) and Mann's longtime friend, drummer Clive Edwards (ex-UFO and Uli Jon Roth) who played with the band briefly in the 1980s.[2][14] The renewed band has since released three studio albums, Second Nature (2017), The Reality of Miracles (2020) and The Grace Of A Dragonfly (2024).

In 2016 Mann also re-joined Michael Schenker, replacing longtime keyboardist and guitarist Wayne Findlay.[15] Schenker was putting together a new band, Michael Schenker Fest, consisting of only the members of his past bands, at points the band included vocalists Gary Barden,[15] Graham Bonnet,[15] Robin McAuley,[15] Leif Sundin[16] and Doogie White,[17] Mann on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals,[15] Chris Glen on bass and backing vocals[15] and drummers Simon Phillips,[18] Bodo Schopf[18] and the late Ted McKenna.[15][19]

Mann (left) performing with MSG in 2022.

Mann is currently a part of the Michael Schenker Group with the eponymous Schenker as well as vocalist Robin McAuley, bassist Barend Courbois (ex-Blind Guardian) and Bodo Schopf (ex-Sweet),[20] former members include bassist Barry Sparks[21] and vocalist Ronnie Romero.[22] He is also part of a project with McAuley, dubed McAuley-Mann who are expected to release an album.[5]

Since 2019, Mann has made regular appearances on guitar/keyboards with The Sweet, following the exit of Tony O'Hora.[23] He has alternated duties with Tom Cory and sometime performs alongside him.[24]

Discography

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Solo releases

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  • Is Anybody Listening (with Chris Ousey)

As band member

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With Liar

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  • Straight From The Hip (1977)
  • Set The World On Fire (1978)
  • Blame It On The Kids (1979)
  • Sunset Plaza Drive (2020)

With Lionheart

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  • Hot Tonight (1984)
  • Unearthed – Raiders of the Lost Archives (1999)
  • Second Nature (2017)
  • The Reality of Miracles (2020)

With Tytan

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  • Rough Justice (1985)

With Michael Schenker

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With Andy Scott's Sweet

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  • A (1992)[31]
  • The Answer (1995)[32]
  • Isolation Boulevard (2020) guest appearance on one track[33]

Others appearances

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Year Artist Title Notes
1986 Lovelight Activate Lead guitar on unspecified tracks
1988 Saxon Destiny Backing vocals on unspecified tracks
1990 Rough Silk Demo '90 - Ups And Downs Production
1991 Letter X Time Of The Gathering Backing vocals, production and engineering
1991 Sargant Fury Still Want More Backing vocals on unspecified tracks
1992 Letter X Born Into Darkness Guitars, keyboards and choirs engineer
1992 True Brits Ready To Rumble Keyboards on "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" with members of Iron Maiden, MSG, Saxon, Samson, Tank, The Damned and The Sweet
1992 Suckspeed End Of Depression engineering
1993 Operating Strategies The Waters & The Wild engineering, mixing and electric guitar on unspecified tracks
1993 Boogeyman Who's Afraid? engineering and mixing
1994 Thunderhead Classic Killers Live! Producer
1994 Mad Jac Who's Mad ? Co-producer and mixing
1994 Eloy The Tides Return Forever acoustic guitar solo on "The Tides Return Forever"
1997 Cholane Black Box engineering and mixing
1998 Eloy Ocean 2: The Answer slide guitar on "The Answer"
2000 Praying Mantis Nowhere To Hide mixing, mastering and production
2003 Eloy Timeless Passages guitar on "Poseidon's Creation" (live in Munich, 1994)
2011 Steve Swindells The Lost Albums Guitar on disc one
2012 Osssy Serum Guitar on two tracks, also assistant mixing
2014 Eloy Reincarnation on Stage guitar
2014 House Of X House Of X production and mixing
2014 Albert Lee Highwayman additional instruments, production and mixing
2015 Jeff Brown Slipping Away guitar solo on one track
2020 Alcatrazz Born Innocent guest brass on one track
2022 Circle Of Friends The Garden keyboards and lead guitar on unspecified tracks
2023 Gabrielle de Val Kiss In A Dragon Night keyboards on unspecified tracks

References

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  1. ^ "The Sweet on Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Syrjala, Marko (3 June 2022). "Michael Schenker Group and Lionheart guitarist Steve Mann discuss the new MSG album and tour, upcoming Lionheart music and other ongoing projects". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Biography". Steve Mann. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Steve Mann | Artiscts | Prominy". Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Steve Mann of MSG – Part 2: "People are coming to shows again" - Roppongi Rocks". 9 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Tytan Interview (2011)". RockUnited.com.
  7. ^ "Music Now!" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 38. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: The Hard Report, Inc. 24 July 1987. p. 31. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. ^ Carlson, Taylor T. (2013). HAIRcyclopedia Vol. 2: The Vault. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1300687559. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. ^ Roser, Philipp (21 October 1989). "MSG At Their Hard Rocking Best" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 42. London, England: EMR Publishing. p. 12. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Save Yourself Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  11. ^ a b Save Yourself (liner notes). McAuley Schenker Group. Capitol Records. 1989. CDP 792752 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ a b c "Steve Mann | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Steve Mann on SoundBetter". SoundBetter. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  14. ^ Syrjala, Marko (7 August 2017). "Guitarist Steve Mann discuss Lionheart reunion, new album and past and current work with Michael Schenker". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Schenker To Perform With Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley At Sweden Rock Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Leif Sundin added as fourth singer with Schenker". sweden Rock Festival. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. ^ Syrjala, Marko (12 February 2018). "Michael Schenker discusses about "Resurrection" album, Michael Schenker Fest and more". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Michael Schenker Fest Announces New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Drummer Ted McKenna, Who Has Played With Rory Gallagher And Michael Schenker, Dead At 68". Blabbermouth.net. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  20. ^ Stickler, Jon. "Michael Schenker Group Plot UK And Ireland Tour For November And December - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Michael Schenker's New MSG Album 'Immortal' To Feature Joe Lynn Turner, Ralf Scheepers And Ronnie Romero". Blabbermouth.net. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  22. ^ BraveWords (1 June 2023). "RONNIE ROMERO Confirms He Is No Longer MICHAEL SCHENKER's Vocalist - "I Don't Have Any Bad Feelings"; Audio". bravewords.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  23. ^ "The Sweet - Official Website". The Sweet. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Steve Mann on Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  25. ^ Perfect Timing (liner notes). McAuley Schenker Group. EMI Electrola. 1987. 1C 064-7 48346 1 DMM.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ M.S.G. (liner notes). McAuley Schenker Group. Electrola Records. 1992. 1C 064-7 98487 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Live Tokyo International Forum Hall A (liner notes). Michael Schenker Fest. in-akustik. 2017. INAK 7194 BD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Resurrection (liner notes). Michael Schenker Fest. Nuclear Blast. 2018. NB 4173-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Revelation (liner notes). Michael Schenker Fest. Nuclear Blast Records. 2019. 27361 48600.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Immortal (liner notes). Michael Schenker Group. Nuclear Blast. 2021. NB 5162-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ A (liner notes). Andy Scott's Sweet. SPV Records. 1992. SPV 084-88832.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ The Answer (liner notes). Andy Scott's Sweet. Pseudonym Records. 1995. CDP-1029-DD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ Isolation Boulevard (liner notes). Sweet. Sony Music. 2021. 88875129699.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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