History
The band was launched with the single "No Presents for Christmas", in 1985. It was followed by the album Fatal Portrait, which featured the guitar talents of Andy LaRocque, who would become King Diamond's longest running collaborator. In 1987, the band released Abigail, which is often considered his best solo work. The album tells the tale of an 18th-century house that is inherited by a young couple who soon discover its dark secrets. Abigail was followed by "Them" and its sequel Conspiracy, which also told of a demon-possessed house, this time maintained by a demented old woman who drinks tea made from human blood.
Following the departure of drummer Mikkey Dee (who joined Don Dokken's band and then would later join Motörhead), King Diamond released The Eye, but did not tour due to lack of label support. Pete Blakk and Hal Patino left the band and were replaced by Mike Wead and Sharlee D'Angelo. This lineup never recorded. In the liner notes for Mercyful Fate's In the Shadows album, King wrote a special message thanking them for their patience and emphasized his enthusiasm for their upcoming album. After relocating to the United States, King Diamond released The Spider's Lullabye and The Graveyard. However, this was with an entirely new line-up, with the exception of mainstay Andy LaRocque. The new line-up consisted of Herb Simonsen, Chris Estes and Darrin Anthony, all of the Texas band Mindstorm. These members were chosen due to their proximity of Diamond's new residence in the United States.
Darrin Anthony was soon replaced due to his inability to continue as the result of a car accident. He was replaced by John Luke Hebert. After the recording of 1998's Voodoo, Herb Simonsen left for family reasons. His replacement was Glen Drover of the band Eidolon. After touring with this line-up, Estes left and was replaced by David Harbour.
In 2000, King Diamond recorded a concept album solo entitled House of God concerning religious symbolism and emotional manipulation. King Diamond would again face line-up changes that would be the last to this date. Hebert, who also left for family reasons, was replaced by Matt Thompson. Harbour, who had personality clashes with the band, was replaced by former King Diamond bassist Hal Patino, who was able to conquer his drug problem. Glen Drover, who also left for family reasons, was replaced by one-time King Diamond and current Mercyful Fate guitarist Mike Wead. Drover later went on to join Megadeth. This line-up would be the most consistent in King Diamond's history. In 2002, by popular request, Abigail II: The Revenge was released. Though the album was well-received by critics and fans alike, King Diamond's record company claimed loss of profits due to file-sharing prevented them from supporting an album tour from the band.
The issue of touring funds was solved for the 2003 release of The Puppet Master. Since the album was recorded largely at King's home in Texas, more money was left over for a tour. The tour was documented of the 2004 live album Deadly Lullabyes Live.
The Puppet Master, which tells of human beings being converted into string-operated dolls, received critical acclaim. In addition to guitar work by Andy LaRocque, the album features long-time collaborator Hal Patino on bass and Mercyful Fate guitarist Mike Wead on additional guitar. Also featured are drummer Matt Thompson and female singer Livia Zita, now King's wife.
In April 2006 King reunited with old friend Mikkey Dee (current Motörhead drummer) at a sold-out gig at Kåren in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2001 King referred to Dee as "one of the best of all time and that's something that has bothered us since he left."
In January 2007 it was announced on the band's official website that the mixing of the new album would start on March 5 in Dallas, Texas. The new album, titled Give Me Your Soul... Please, was released on June 26 in North America by Metal Blade Records and June 29 in Europe by Massacre Records. Following the release in December the band received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill".
On June 9, 2012, King Diamond played at the Sweden Rock Festival. It was their first show in almost 6 years. They were joined on stage by Michael Denner, Hank Sherman and Mickey Dee.
According to King Diamond, the band expects to begin writing new material for their next album in the fall of 2012.
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—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956)
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