There are some bands that arrive with huge fanfare, and there are others that quietly sit there waiting to be discovered. Man Raze, or Manraze as it is styled on the forthcoming box set, very much falls into that second category.
Yes, the names involved are anything but under the radar. Phil Collen from Def Leppard, Simon Laffy from Girl, and Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols. On paper, that sounds like one of those projects that could have gone in almost any direction. In reality, it became something raw, instinctive and far more interesting than simply a “side project” built around famous names.
The reason for our conversation was the forthcoming Cherry Red Records 5CD box set, Lock, Stock & Barrel: Complete Recordings 2008–2011, which brings together the complete Manraze recordings, including the albums Surreal and Punkfunkrootsrock, alongside early material, live recordings, acoustic performances, instrumentals and rarities.
Although the interview was originally planned as a conversation with the band, in the end it was Phil Collen who joined me — and what followed was a really warm, open and revealing chat about how Man Raze came together, why the three-piece format was so important, and the exciting news that this may not just be a look back after all.
How ManRaze Began
Phil took the story right back to 2004, during a very difficult and emotional time in his life. His father was dying of pancreatic cancer, and Phil had returned to London to spend the final months with him.
During that period, Simon Laffy began coming over, and the two former Girl bandmates started writing again. Interestingly, Phil said they had not really been a songwriting team during Girl, but suddenly something started to flow.
The idea of a three-piece came very naturally. Phil had the thought that Paul Cook would be the perfect drummer, and then, in one of those almost cinematic moments, he literally bumped into Paul outside the hospital.
Paul was up for a jam, and once the three of them got into a room, the chemistry was immediate.
Phil described it as having “a magic to the three-piece thing”, especially as the singer and guitarist. It allowed him to go off on tangents, respond to the rhythm section, and be part of something far more instinctive and less structured than Def Leppard.
The Power Trio Club
One of the strongest themes in the interview was Phil’s love for the power trio format. He name checked Hendrix, The Police, Rush and Motörhead, and talked about how spiritually different it feels when there are just three people on stage.
With Def Leppard, everything is carefully arranged. There are backing vocals, structured parts, layers and a huge production element. With Man Raze, it was different. It was about instinct, risk and movement.
Phil said there is “a different energy” in a three-piece band, and described it almost as a club or a gang. There is nowhere to hide, especially when you are singing and playing guitar, but that is part of the appeal.
Punk, Reggae, Dub and Rock
What makes Man Raze so compelling is that they do not sound like a predictable extension of any of the members’ main bands. You can hear Phil Collen in the songwriting, the guitar tone and the melodic instinct, but this is not Def Leppard without the big production.
There is punk energy, hard rock muscle, bluesy guitar playing, reggae grooves, dub textures and a willingness to go somewhere unexpected. Phil said the band could do things that simply would not work in Def Leppard — including reggae.
The title Punkfunkrootsrock came from Paul Cook, and Phil said it summed the band up immediately. They did not have to overthink it. That was what they were.
Paul Cook’s Sound
One of the great moments in the conversation came when Phil talked about Paul Cook’s drumming. He remembered Mutt Lange referencing Paul’s ride cymbal sound during the Hysteria era, and then years later, when Man Raze started playing, Phil turned around and recognised that same sound.
Paul still had the same ride cymbal.
Phil also talked about Paul playing with the fat end of the sticks, giving his playing that harder, more aggressive edge. It was a lovely reminder of just how important feel, tone and personality are in a band like this.
Smaller Venues and No Hiding Place
We also talked about the difference between playing huge Def Leppard shows and being in a club with Man Raze. Phil described how, with Def Leppard, he almost has an “avatar” that goes out and performs. The scale, the lights, the screens and the theatrical element all create a different kind of performance space.
With Man Raze, it was much more direct. You could see people’s faces. There was no big production to lean on. It was personal, raw and immediate.
And with a three-piece, especially when you are the singer and lead guitarist, there is nowhere to hide.
The Cherry Red Box Set
The forthcoming Cherry Red box set gives Man Raze the chance to be rediscovered — or, for many people, discovered for the first time.
Phil explained that the idea came about through conversations with Steve Hammonds, and once Cherry Red became involved, the project gathered momentum. Going back through the archive revealed all kinds of material: unfinished tracks, instrumentals, studio footage, photographs, live material and even songs that Phil had forgotten about.
He described the archive as “a treasure chest”.
One of the most exciting parts of the conversation was that this box set does not appear to be simply a full stop. Phil confirmed that he and Simon have already been talking about new songs, and the idea of playing live again is very much on the table.
He even mentioned the possibility of a London club tour — just getting in a van and playing different parts of the city: north, south, east and west.
That feels absolutely perfect for Man Raze.
Man Raze Are Back?
By the end of the conversation, what became clear is that Phil still genuinely loves this band. This was not just a nostalgic look back. He sounded enthused, excited and creatively connected to the material.
There was talk of new music, live shows, social media being set up, acoustic sessions, and even the possibility of doing something in the spirit of a Tiny Desk performance.
For a band that many listeners may have missed first time around, Lock, Stock & Barrel could become much more than an archive release. It could be the beginning of a new chapter.
Man Raze deserve that second look. This is a band with punk attitude, dub-reggae space, hard rock muscle and proper songs at the centre of it all.
And as Phil said, listening back to the material now: “Wow, this is really great stuff. I love it.”
So do I.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
