I’ve been a huge fan of King Diamond for nearly my entire life, but Mercyful Fate was my first true love. Watching them live in the 90's still resonates with me today, and even lead to meeting up with lead guitarist Michael Denner at his record shop in Copenhagen last summer. Denner told me that he’s totally down to the idea of playing Mercyful Fate gigs if and when everyone else is in. A new interview with King suggests this may actually happen!
Eddie Trunk recently invited King Diamond and Metal Blade Records’ Brian Slagel on his podcast to discuss King's return. While pressed about the subject of Mercyful Fate, Brian Slagel says he will personally make sure Mercyful Fate shows will be on the way.
Eddie: You mentioned Mercyful Fate a few times. Where are you at with those guys? Are you in touch with them still… is there any chance that you work with those guys again in any capacity?
KD: There’s always a chance. Absolutely is there a chance. I mean, I love Mercyful Fate; there’s no doubt about it. King Diamond is number one for me. It has all the theatrics and all the different kinds of musical styles that go with that. I mean when I say “theatrics” that’s also for the music because we get more & we use more different instruments when we do King Diamond because it’s such, uh, when you tell stories you get really into being theatrical on the musical parts as well. Mercy is a little bit more straight forward even though we’re very progressive. But definitely. I talk a lot with Hank, especially, you know, with Michael Denner sometimes. Timmy, not so often, but I still might see Timmy when we start rehearsing here. He was there with his daughter two years ago when we were rehearsing in Denmark at the time. So I see the guys. I mean, they come by when we play.
Brian Slagel: By the way King, just so you know, I’m gonna make sure that there’s Mercyful Fate stuff happening.
Eddie: There again is the label chiming in
Slagel: Well, no, it’s not the label. It’s from the fans’ POV. There’s gonna be Mercyful Fate tours and things happening. I mean, not tours, but shows in the future. I’m gonna make it happen.
You can't see it, but we're sending Brian Slagel some brain hugs right now. You can listen to the audio excerpt from the show below, and check out the full interview on Eddie Trunk's podcast tomorrow.
King Diamond recently announced a string of solo dates. Get the full itinerary here.
[Special thanks to Katy Irizarry]
