King Diamond is a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Michael Denner, and bassist Timi Hansen after the breakup of their former band Mercyful Fate. The first lineup of the group also included guitarist Andy LaRocque and drummer Mikkey Dee. The band currently consists of Diamond and LaRocque alongside guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson (both since 2000) and bassist Pontus Egberg (since 2014).
History Denner left King Diamond after the release of the band's second album Abigail in 1987, with Mike Moon taking his place for a European tour at the end of the year. Hansen also left after the tour, with Hal Patino joining alongside Moon's replacement Pete Blakk. By the end of the year, Dee had also left King Diamond. Dee was briefly replaced by Chris Whitemeier, before he was asked to return as a session drummer for the recording of Conspiracy the following year. Snowy Shaw joined as Dee's replacement prior to the beginning of touring for the album, shortly after his 21st birthday.
Following the release of The Eye, the band went into a five-year period of silence. The band would reform in 1994, adding guitarist Herb Simonsen, bassist Chris Estes, and drummer Darrin Anthony for the album The Spider's Lullabye, released the following year. Due to injuries suffered in a road traffic accident, Anthony was forced to leave the band shortly after the release of the 1996 follow-up The Graveyard, with John Luke Hebert taking his place. Simonsen left after the release of 1998's Voodoo, with Glen Drover taking his place. Paul David Harbour took over from Estes for 2000's House of God, after which Drover, Harbour, and Hebert all left the band.
Harbour, Drover, and Hebert were replaced by returning Hal Patino, and new additions Mike Wead and Matt Thompson, respectively in 2000. This lineup of the band remained stable for over 13 years and three studio albums, before Patino was fired in July 2014. He was replaced by The Poodles bassist Pontus Egberg.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsKing Diamond(Kim Petersen)1985–presentall King Diamond releasesMike Wead2000–presentguitarsall King Diamond releases from Abigail II: The Revenge (2002) onwardsMatt ThompsondrumsPontus Egberg2014–presentbassSongs for the Dead Live (2019)Gus G2026–presentguitarsnone
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAndy LaRocque1985–2026all King Diamond releases from "No Presents for Christmas" (1985) to "Spider Lilly" (2024)Mikkey DeedrumsTimi Hansen1985–1987 bassMichael Denner1985–1987guitarsMike Moon1987In Concert 1987: Abigail (1991)Hal PatinobassPete Blakk1988–1990guitarsChris Whitemeier1988–1989drumsnoneSnowy Shaw1989–1990The Eye (1990)Chris Estes1994–1999Herb Simonsen1994–1998guitarsDarrin Anthony1994–1997drumsJohn Luke Hebert1997–2000Glen Drover1998–2000guitarsHouse of God (2000)Paul David Harbour1999–2000bass
Timeline
Line-ups PeriodMembersReleases1985 King Diamond – vocals Michael Denner – guitars Timi Hansen – bassnone July 1985 – June 1987 King Diamond – vocals Michael Denner – guitars Timi Hansen – bass Andy LaRocque – guitars Mikkey Dee – drums Fatal Portrait (1986) Abigail (1987) The Dark Sides (1988) June – Late 1987 King Diamond – vocals Timi Hansen – bass Andy LaRocque – guitars Mikkey Dee – drums Mike Moon – guitars In Concert 1987: Abigail (1991)Early – Late 1988 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars Mikkey Dee – drums Hal Patino – bass Pete Blakk – guitars "Them" (1988) The Dark Sides (1988) Late 1988 – 1989 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars Hal Patino – bass Pete Blakk – guitars Chris Whitemeier – drumsnone 1989 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars Hal Patino – bass Pete Blakk – guitars Mikkey Dee – drums Conspiracy (1989)October 1989 – October 1990 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars Hal Patino – bass Pete Blakk – guitars Snowy Shaw – drums The Eye (1990)Band inactive October 1990 – September 1994September 1994 – September 1996 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards Herb Simonsen – guitars Chris Estes – bass Darrin Anthony – drums The Spider's Lullabye (1995) The Graveyard (1996)October 1996 – February 1998 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards Herb Simonsen – guitars Chris Estes – bass, keyboards, guitars John Luke Hebert – drums Voodoo (1998) Collector's Item (1999)February 1998 – February 2000 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards Chris Estes – bass John Luke Hebert – drums Glen Drover – guitarsnone February – June 2000 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards John Luke Hebert – drums Glen Drover – guitars Paul David Harbour – bass House of God (2000)June 2000 – July 2014 King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards Mike Wead – guitars Hal Patino – bass Matt Thompson – drums Abigail II: The Revenge (2002) The Puppet Master (2003) Deadly Lullabyes (2004) Give Me Your Soul...Please (2007)July 2014 – present King Diamond – vocals, keyboards Andy LaRocque – guitars, keyboards Mike Wead – guitars Matt Thompson – drums Pontus Egberg – bass Songs for the Dead Live (2019) The Institute (TBC)
References