Lionheart

Lionheart is a British hard rock group from London, active from 1980 to the present. The band forms in late 1980 and originally includes singer Jess Cox, guitarist Dennis Stratton, guitarist Steve Mann, bassist and vocalist Rocky Newton, and drummer Frank Noon. Cox comes from Tygers of Pan Tang, Stratton from Iron Maiden, Mann from Liar and later works with MSG, Michael Schenker and Eloy, Newton from The Next Band and Wildfire, and Noon from The Next Band and Def Leppard.

Formation and early line-up

The original line-up brings together players with backgrounds in several established British rock and metal acts. Lionheart operates as a hard rock supergroup with Cox on vocals, Stratton and Mann on guitars, Newton handling bass and vocals, and Noon on drums.

Split and reformation

The band splits in 1986. It reforms in 2016 with Stratton, Mann and Newton joined by Lee Small on vocals and Clive Edwards on drums. Small is associated with Shy and Phenomena, while Edwards has played with UFO and Wild Horses.

Style and related material

Lionheart are identified as a British hard rock band, though they are also tagged with hard rock, rock, hardcore, metalcore, moshcore, metal and straight edge. The group is one of several acts to use the name Lionheart, including bands from alternative rock, rock against communism, vocal chamber music, Russian melodic power metal and American hardcore.