If you suggested to a music fan to mix the Sex Pistols with Def Leppard and throw in a bit of cult Brit Glam rock act Girl you would probably get startled looks! This is a combination that shouldn’t by rights work. But, music has a funny way of coming up with the unexpected and Man Raze defy expectations…

Before joining Def Leppard, London born Phil Collen played in Girl, who were one of the great unsung UK rock acts of the early 80’s (singer Phil Lewis would later front LA Guns – who were at the vanguard of the LA sleaze rock scene that eventually produced Guns N Roses). Whilst Phil went on to join Def Leppard he maintained a strong friendship with Simon Laffy, Girl’s bassist.

Phil returned to London in mid 2004 to care for his dying father. While there, he approached Simon with some songs he had been writing in addition to Def Leppard. The music was very different to Leppard – rawer, simpler and more direct. Simon agreed to collaborate on the material and the basis of the band was formed.

It was then by chance Phil bumped into Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. Phil and Leppard had always been fans of the Pistols and particularly Paul Cook’s drumming – even requested that Def Leppard’s producers try and get them that “Pistols drum sound”. Man Raze was born…