King Diamond (band)

King Diamond
King Diamond live at Hellfest 2012. From left to right: Mike Wead, Hal Patino, Matt Thompson, King Diamond and Andy LaRocque.
Background information
Origin	Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres	Heavy metal
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Roadrunner, Metal Blade
Website	www.kingdiamondcoven.com
Members	King Diamond Andy LaRocque Mike Wead Matt Thompson Pontus Egberg
Past members	Hal Patino Michael Denner Timi Hansen Mikkey Dee Mike Moon Pete Blakk Snowy Shaw Sharlee D'Angelo Darrin Anthony Herb Simonsen Chris Estes John Luke Hebert Glen Drover Paul David Harbour

King Diamond is a Danish heavy metal band formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Mikkey Dee. Diamond, Denner and Hansen had recently departed the group Mercyful Fate, and decided to form a new band under the King Diamond moniker, as it was already known from the Mercyful Fate days. In 1986, King Diamond released their debut album Fatal Portrait. Since then the band have released a total of twelve studio albums (most of them concept albums), two live albums, two extended plays, five compilations and five singles.

Since the band's inception, there have been over fifteen musicians in and out of King Diamond, with the only two mainstays being vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Andy LaRocque. In 1987 the band released their second studio release Abigail (their first concept album). Throughout the 1980s, King Diamond released a total of four studio albums. In the early 1990s, the band was put on hold when King Diamond reunited with his former outfit Mercyful Fate. After reforming King Diamond in 1994, Diamond would balance recording and touring with both Mercyful Fate and his eponymous band throughout the 90's. Since the early 2000s, King Diamond have kept recording and touring and, since 2014, the band has been composed of vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Andy LaRocque, guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and bassist Pontus Egberg.

The band was formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen. The three had recently departed from the group Mercyful Fate, which fell apart due to musical differences between King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. According to Diamond, when he, Denner and Hansen decided to form a new band, they chose the name "King Diamond" to "get better deals", and because the name was already known from Mercyful Fate. To round-out the line-up of the King Diamond band, the group chose drummer Mikkey Dee and guitarist Andy LaRocque.