We are pleased to announce that Brian's Autobiography; 'Am I Evil?' is now available in an exclusive FIRST EDITION print run of 500 copies. This book is now available for Diamond Head fans worldwide through this website.
At just £16.95 it is fast becoming a collector's item. It is not available anywhere else. It contains many unseen photos and has forewords by both Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine.
"Diamond Head were 50% of what ended up being Metallica…" - Lars Ulrich, Metallica
It all started in a bedroom with a biscuit tin drum kit and a cheap fuzzy guitar, and went on to create some of the most exciting music ever written and inspire the biggest heavy metal band on the planet.
Forever tipped as the next big thing, Diamond Head have opened for Iron Maiden, AC/DC and Metallica, and toured with Black Sabbath, Megadeth and Thin Lizzy. Yet they were beset by management difficulties, poor decisions, bad deals, nightmare producers, band splits, ego problems… And when they finally signed to a major label it was the wrong one. But amongst all that, their legacy is enormous and their music timeless, with their classic signature tune 'Am I Evil?' appearing on Metallica's 2009 'Guitar Hero' game.
"Diamond Head were a really important band… The most important band of the whole New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement… More important than Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard or whoever. Musically they were just streets ahead…" - Geoff Barton, Classic Rock magazine
Brian Tatler founded Diamond Head in 1976. In 'Am I Evil?' he reveals frankly what it's like to be chasing the dream of wanting to be a rock 'n' roll star, what it's like when you attain it, and how it feels to see it unravel before your eyes - a story all too familiar to musicians of all genres.
John Tucker was hooked by Diamond Head's first single 'Shoot Out The Lights' in 1980. He is the co-author of Biff Byford's autobiography 'Never Surrender (Or Nearly Good Looking)' and the author of 'Suzie Smiled… The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal'.
"The classic lost heroes of a golden age of rock…" Paul Elliott, Kerrang!
The book has now sold out.
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Finally there’s Am I Evil?, guitarist Brian Tatler’s telling of the Diamond Head story. No, it’s not an album. But it’s just been published, and is worth reading. In his book Tatler recalls the story in a surprisingly honest fashion, and if the writing style hardly suggests he’s the next J.K. Rowling nonetheless it really does give a fascinating glimpse into the life, times, triumphs and failures of the band many of us believe should have been a world power. Get it from www.diamond-head.net.
– Malcolm Dome
The only positive, apart from spending some father and son time with my lad Eddie, was reading Brian Tatler's autobiography, Am I Evil?, on the journey. The Diamond Head guitarist has approached his band's tale with an unflinching honesty that's refreshingly free of bitterness and quite often extremely amusing. Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine's forewords are touching, and the book goes into fairly revealing detail about the fledgling Ulrich's fact-finding mission at the Woolwich Odeon in 1981, even printing a hand-written 'Thanks for letting me stay at your gaff' note from Lars.
As someone who's career is, I guess, interwoven with that of DH my first ever published review was of a February 1982 gig at the Saxon Tavern in London that appeared in Kerrang! #12, and I had many dealings with Tatler and vocalist Sean Harris (indeed Brian actually refers to me in the text as the seemingly ever-present Dave Ling) I found the book difficult to put down.
Of the band's failure to gatecrash the big-time, despite such awesome early potential, the blame is jointly attributable to poor management courtesy of Harris' mum, Linda, and a local cardboard box impresario called Reg Fellows, bad luck and the equally calamitous decision to sign to an ill-suited label, MCA Records. The mess is best described by Robbie France, drummer on the 'Canterbury' album, who observes: [The breakthrough] was never going to happen. Sean was tied to his mother's apron strings and Linda couldn't have managed a piss-up in a brewery. You're only as good as your weakest link, and the management was ours.
Am I Evil? is available from: www.diamond-head.net
- Dave Lings' Diary
Am I Evil? Book Review by Adem Tepedelen
For Metal nerds-especially Diamond Head fans-there's plenty to dig into. Tatler starts from the beginning, when he founded the band with drummer Duncan Scott in 1976 and ploughs forward until 2008, detailing all the drama along the way. Reading it today, it's shockingly clear why the band never achieved the success or fame they probably deserved-terrible management, teenage naivety, some poor decision making-but one can't fault Tatlers' refusal to throw in the towel (as some of his band mates' did).
Granted both Tatler and vocalist Sean Harris (whose mum co-managed the band and is not exactly portrayed favourably here) were kept afloat by what must have been generous royalties from Metallica covering four of their songs that appeared on multiple releases, but it's Tatler who ultimately emerges with Diamond Head as a going concern some 30 years after they formed. Where is Sean Harris today? Metallica will always be mentioned as Diamond Head benefactors, but what this book reminds us is that the band only came to young Lars Ulrich's attention because: a) they were already getting so much acclaim in the nascence of the NWOBHM, and b) because that first album, 'Lightning to the Nations', was an amazing record that today stands up to anything from that era.
Adem Tepedelen Decibel Magazine, January 2010.
Uberock website review by Johnny H
It's not often that I sit and read a book from cover to cover in a little over a week, but that's exactly what happened with this autobiography from Brian Tatler, erstwhile guitar hero of the NWOBHM legends Diamond Head and godfather to thrash metal icons Metallica and Megadeth. From the moment I picked 'Am I Evil?' up I was enthralled, and almost immediately I found myself not doing my usual trick of skipping to my favourite eras but dutifully reading each chapter in turn savouring the band's story as it unfolded before me.
Having picked this luxurious hardcover edition up at a show on the recent Europe tour, Gaz E actually commented at the time "that the book should be an interesting read for your generation, well you grew up with the band, it's your era", and he couldn't have got it more spot on if he tried. This book is an absolute treasure trove of facts and trivia for fans of the band, following the four school mates' humble beginnings in Stourbridge, through their never say die journeys through the UK pub circuit to their ultimate career peak at 1982's Reading Festival, at which point their whole rock 'n' roll world started to turn more.... well pear shaped really.
The book encapsulates these initial highs and the lows that followed, but somehow manages to replay the story in a refreshingly non-judgmental way that makes you genuinely empathise with the guys involved. The underlying sub plot of (long term Diamond Head fans) Metallica and Megadeth's rise to superstardom while their heroes fell from grace is also both fascinating and ultimately equally heartbreaking to read.
But think again if you believe Brian's story ends with the near farcical tales that surrounded Diamond Head's ground (and band) breaking third album 'Canterbury'. No, this book takes you through the multiple reformation years, Radio Moscow, and even Brian's folk/tribute band years, before reaching the here and now with the story of the now Sean Harris-less version of Diamond Head who, thanks to Brian's perseverance and tenacity regarding all things Diamond Head, appear to be going from strength to strength as a creative unit and this book draws to a fitting close as the band play their first ever shows in Japan in 2008.
Tightly written in conjunction with John Tucker (who also worked with Biff Byford on his book 'Never Surrender') this is the story of what could have been and what should have been. The greatest band ever to come out of the NWOBHM who were seemingly mismanaged and subsequently overlooked by an industry that nurtured far lesser bands to become international superstars.
Gaz really was bang on when he made that initial judgement call about this book. For anyone who remembers Diamond Head from their first time around, this an essential read. For anyone who remembers Diamond Head from their second or third time around or has a mild interest in anything related to Metallica or Megadeth, this is an essential read. If none of these apply to you then you're reading the wrong fucking website.
Uber Rock website
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