Dave Wanklin

I was born on 12 th May 1957 in Droitwich, Worcestershire. After leaving school at the age of 16 I bought my first guitar, a Les Paul copy and by 1975 had started playing in a band made up of old school buddies, Pete Wynne (lead guitar/vocals), Mick Steele (drums) the late Ron Hughes on bass and myself on rhythm guitar. At some point we were joined for a while by vocalist Nigel Lloyd and performed as a five-piece, going by the random name of ‘Noris’. We met up regularly at Pete’s house, where we practised covers to perform at clubs and pubs in the Worcester and Hereford areas. Around 1976, the band name was randomly changed to ‘Wisdom Smith’  after a gypsy who sold us our first van.

After a couple of years, the bass player left and I took over. For a while

we continued as a three-piece until in 1977 we met up with Lol Cooke from

Worcester who joined as second guitarist. The new line up brought about another

name change and we became known as ‘The Johnny Ryder Band’ (named after one of

Lol’s school teachers). It was some time during this period that I first met Nick

Bowcott when he was playing in a local band at the community centre in Droitwich.

I had gone along to check them out. During the show I was invited on stage to play a

couple of numbers. After the gig Nick came over and introduced himself. The band

continued to play intermittent gigs up until 1978.

In 1979 Grim Reaper’s bass player had quit to start university and I got a call from Nick Bowcott asking me if I wanted to join the band. The line-up at the time was; Nick Bowcott on lead guitar, Adrian Jacques on drums and Paul (Woofer) Smithers providing vocals and now myself on Bass.

Our first demo tape ‘Bleed them dry’ was recorded and produced in 1981 by Rick

Bailey at his home studio. The band profile was raised through articles placed in

weekly publication ‘Sounds’, and a general surge of interest in home-grown rock

bands; dubbed the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) heralded a

compilation album under the label “Heavy Metal Records” which included “The

Reaper” from “Bleed em Dry”.

Although enjoying some success, the band was unsteady and, due to personality differences, I left and for a while Phil Matthews took over on bass. Around that time also, the drummer left for university and was replaced by Brian Parry, but a rift had formed between Nick and Paul and it wasn’t long before the group disbanded.

Months later, both at a loose end, Nick and I bumped into each other in a pub, where

we’d both gone for a game of pool. We discussed the possibility of reforming Reaper.

Nick knew of a drummer ‘Lee Harris’ and also vocalist ‘Steve Grimmett’ (ex

Medusa). Nick arranged a jam at the local village hall where we went through some

ideas and Grim Reaper was out of the graveyard.

In 1982 Reaper’s second demo came about, featuring early versions of songs that

would later appear on the ‘See you in Hell’ and ‘Fear no Evil’ albums. This was

followed by entry into a local radio station’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition. Roy

Wood (Move/ELO/Wizard), was on the panel of judges and I met him out in the car

park having a ciggy and his words were “you’ve pissed this mate”. Hours later he

was proved right and we had won ourselves some studio time at ‘The Old Smithy’

Kempsey, enabling us to record a two-track demo, which was then used to shop

around for a record deal.

In 1983 Reaper signed to Ebony Records in Hull and the first album, ‘See you in Hell’ was released two months later. Tracks from the album were getting

regular air play on Radio One’s Friday Rock Show.

The following year, (Friday 13 th July 1984), Grim Reaper was undersigned to RCA

who re-released 'See you in Hell' ahead of the forthcoming tour. RCA. arranged for a video shoot for the title track, which took place in London and went out on MTV across America. ‘See you in Hell’ reached number one on the Kerrang heavy metal chart back in the U.K and the "All Hell Let Loose” tour of the States kicked off in September 84 at Boston Paradise Club.

We went on to play across New England and the east coast before heading south to Arkansas, Texas and St Louis, followed by a trip up north to Denver and Colorado Springs, then down to the south-west to play Phoenix followed by the west coast taking in San Francisco, San Diego and L.A. Some venues were several hundred miles apart. We must have burnt some serious rubber in our tour bus  on them there highways. Other bands out on tour at the time included Metallica and also Slayer, who supported us on the Texas gigs.

The first US tour wound up at the end of October ’84 with various interviews in LA

before the final flight back home to England. Over the next few months Reaper spent

time working on their second album, which was recorded at Ebony Records studio in

Hull with new drummer Mark Simon replacing Lee Harris. Video shoots took place in

Surrey and ‘ Fear no Evil’ was eventually released in May ’85.

Prior to the forthcoming tour, a promotion to win one of ten Scythe guitars was

launched and by July Reaper were back out touring the States supporting Uriah Heep

and further dates along the East Coast, stopping off to play at the Texas Jam, at the

Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas.

Grim Reaper went on to make their third album ‘Rock you to Hell’, recorded in

March 1987 at Long View Farm Studios, Massachusetts, but a legal wrangle ensued

between UK management and RCA, who wanted to take Reaper into Europe. Shortly

after this time I made the decision to leave for health reasons. The band went on to

complete a short tour of the States before eventually disbanding in 1988.

By the early 90’s I formed a new rock band called ‘Misery Tree’ which comprised of local Worcestershire musicians Andy (Ringer) Hunt - lead & rhythm guitars, Nick Patrick - drums, Steve (Stan) Stanley - vocals and myself on bass guitar. We played in and around the Midlands pub circuit and in 1993 recorded a five-track demo which we sold at gigs. A second demo was recorded but never used and after a while Stan left the band. Although other vocalists were auditioned, no-one fitted the bill and eventually, sometime between 1994-95 we decided to call it a day.

In 1998 I signed up to a music technology course at Kidderminster College where

i also met my current partner Marion, with the aim of learning techniques in midi

recording, an interest I shared with a friend who also had a home studio where we

would spend several long frustrating evenings, in the days before digital audio.

In 1999, Jim Hebron,  a local guitarist hooked up with us and I recorded some of his

songs. We have worked together with each other’s projects ever since. 

By 2016 I had started to work on my own album, with Steve Grimmett laying down

vocals and Steve Stine adding lead guitar. The overall sound having a local flavour,

being mostly influenced by Judas Priest & Black Sabbath. Lyrics for the songs often

came about from something I said in passing,  Marion would  write them down

and turn them into songs. Its been a while since I've been on the scene but now is

the time to put things right!

I am starting off by releasing the songs I did with the two Steve's (Grimmett & Stine)

All projects going under the collective name of CLOISTERPHOBIA.........