Press Pack
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| Latest Diamond Head Press Release: August 2006 |
DIAMOND HEAD - 'To The Devil His Due' (SMADVD260X)
Release Date: 21st August 2006
Following hot on the heels of the 'It's Electric' album (SMACD941) released in June comes 'To The Devil His Due', a live DVD recorded at The Astoria London in November 2005.
As part of the NWOBHM that emerged in the early '80s, the Diamond Head brand of metal led Sounds metal editor Geoff Barton to claim that 'there are more good riffs in your average single Diamond Head song than there are in the first four Black Sabbath albums'.
He's not alone. Lars Ulrich covered a host of Diamond Head numbers including 'Am I Evil?, 'It's Electric and 'Helpless' (all of which feature on the DVD), and both his band Metallica along with Megadeth have famously cited the band as an important early influence.
This year the band has started to rattle people's cages again with the combination of the live shows, album release, and such profile raisers as having tracks in both the cult metal movie 'A Headbangers Journey', and also on the 'Songs That Drove Metallica' album (which had 5 Diamond Head tracks) proving that they are indeed back in business. With Kerrang! writer Dom Lawson describing the band as "one of the greatest British heavy metal bands of all time… criminally underrated, with a staggering catalogue of magnificent, shit-kicking anthems", and concluding that "There has never been a better time to reassess this remarkable band", it's time to start paying attention to Diamond Head all over again.
This show captures the resurrected band storming through all the favorites including 'The Prince', 'Sucking My Love' and 'Lightning To The Nations'.
Extra DVD features: In the studio footage making new album - "All Will Be Revealed" & Full interview with the band.
| Recent Diamond Head Press Release: April 2006 |
DIAMOND HEAD - 'It's Electric' (SMACD941)
Release Date: 26th June 2006
At some point in the distant future, advances in technology may enable us to explore that fabled parallel universe where all the really great bands that never quite achieved their just rewards in this world are righteously huge and given all the credit and acclaim that they deserve. When metal fans arrive in that surreal Utopia for the first time, you can bet that it will be Diamond Head that they check up on first. Seldom has there been a more criminally underrated rock band, particularly one with such a staggering catalogue of magnificent, shit-kicking anthems, many of which can be heard here on this recording of the band's triumphant show at London's hallowed Astoria on November 4, 2005. With hard rock and metal enjoying a long overdue renaissance right now, and a new generation of fans relishing every chance to explore the history of the music they love, there has never been a better time to reassess this remarkable band. On this evidence, there's more than a little life in the old dogs yet…
Diamond Head formed in Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, in the mid '70s. Founded by guitarist Brian Tatler and drummer Duncan Scott, who duly recruited vocal powerhouse Sean Harris after hearing him sing Gene Vincent's 'Be Bop A Lula' during a school coach trip, the band swiftly struck upon their trademark sound; a fiery mixture of dark and driving heavy rock and fluid, blues-tinged muscularity that later marked them out as a hugely important stepping stone between '70s giants like Led Zeppelin and Rush and the edgy belligerence of '80s metal titans like Iron Maiden and Metallica. By the time they released their first single, 1980's 'Shoot Out The Lights', on local label Happy Face Records, a sizzling chemistry between Harris, Tatler, Scott and bassist Colin Kimberley had developed. When the band's first album arrived, again in that most fertile and classic-strewn of rock years, 1980, it seemed like Britain had found a tribe of world-beaters. Officially untitled but widely known as 'Lightning To The Nations', the album still sounds astonishing today. Weighed down with brutish but deceptively sophisticated epics like 'Am I Evil?', 'It's Electric' and 'Helpless' (all since covered by Metallica, about which more later…), it was both timely and ahead of its time; the perfect symbiosis of tradition and progress. And, by Christ, it rocked like a bastard.
Meanwhile, as the '80s clicked into gear, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was suddenly in full swing, with everyone from Iron Maiden and Def Leppard through to Venom and Raven making waves with powerful debut releases. Add to that the fact that old hands like Judas Priest and AC/DC were entering new, obscenely successful phases in their careers, and the time could hardly have been more ideal for a band like Diamond Head to conquer and dominate. However, despite the undeniable quality of the band's second and third albums - 'Borrowed Time' (1982) and 'Canterbury' (1983); both represented here via songs like 'To The Devil His Due' and 'In The Heat Of The Night' - that essential, momentary sideways glance from Lady Luck was not forthcoming and, after limping on towards a fourth album (due to be titled 'Flight East') that never saw the light of day before disintegrating in 1985.
During the mid '80s, the Diamond Head reputation received a long overdue and very welcome boost when the undisputed kings of thrash metal, Metallica, paid tribute to the band by recording and releasing fiery renditions of some of their greatest songs, including 'Am I Evil?', 'The Prince' and 'Helpless'. Their drummer, Lars Ulrich, frequently cited Diamond Head - a band he'd seen live back at the Woolwich Odeon earlier in the decade - as a pivotal influence and suddenly a new generation of metal fans were compelled to investigate their back catalogue. Whether or not this resurgence in interest was the main reason why a new incarnation of Diamond Head emerged in 1990 is a moot point; the fact is that Brian Tatler and Sean Harris had unfinished business to attend to, and so, with the aid of bassist Eddie Chaos (and later future 3 Colours Red frontman Pete Vukovic) and drummer Karl Wilcox, the legacy continued with 1993's well-received 'Death And Progress' album. A revival seemed imminent, but despite a performance at Metallica's Milton Keynes Bowl show that summer, the chaos continued and Diamond Head Mk.2 went their separate ways later that year.
As everyone sensible knows, you can't keep a shit hot metal band down. As the 21st century dawned, Tatler, Harris, Wilcox and Chaos reconvened and began some intensive touring, including the band's first ever trip to the US. Far from trading on past glories, the new 'Head - now fronted by vocalist Nick Tart - also started to work on a new studio album. After an interminable wait, the powerful and exhilarating 'All Will Be Revealed' opus roared into view in 2004, first as a limited edition, self-financed release, available only via the band's official website and at gigs. Now on general release, the album has won the band a new tribe of admirers and brought many old fans back into the fold. And it's on this wave of support and appreciation that Diamond Head were surfing when this electrifying live album was captured for posterity. Older and wiser but no less thrilling than they were 25 years ago, rock's most cruelly overlooked quartet have never sounded better, and at last they have a future worth shouting about. One listen to the mighty 'Am I Evil?', the anthemic 'Lightning To The Nations' or the bludgeoning 'Helpless' and you'll be gagging to catch the band in the flesh. And, since everything seems to be going so well for Diamond Head these days, there should be plenty of opportunities to do just that in the near future. Until then, crank this up and pay your respects to one of the greatest British heavy metal bands of all time. See the flashing lights, hear the thunder roll…Diamond Head are gonna set you all alight!
DOM LAWSON, April 2006
| Diamond Head Press Release: May 2006 |
New live album It's Electric released June 26, 2006.
Live DVD released in August
UK live dates in May and June.
Classic Diamond Head tracks featured on Metallica 'roots' album.
Diamond Head anthem Am I Evil featured in the cult movie Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
DIAMOND HEAD release a new live album, It's Electric, through Secret Records on June 26. The album was recorded at London's Astoria theatre on November 4, 2005, and features a mixture of classic tracks and new material. It is the second Diamond Head album to feature singer Nick Tart, who made his debut on 2005's critically acclaimed album All Will Be Revealed.
The full tracklisting for It's Electric is as follows:
Am I Evil (intro)
It's Electric
Give It To Me
The Prince
Mine All Mine
Lightning To The Nations
Fallen Angel
To The Devil His Due
Alimony
I Can't Help Myself
Sucking My Love
Streets Of Gold
Helpless
Am I Evil
In The Heat Of The Night
In the album's liner notes, Kerrang! writer Dom Lawson describes Diamond Head as "one of the greatest British heavy metal bands of all time… criminally underrated, with a staggering catalogue of magnificent, shit-kicking anthems." He concludes: "There has never been a better time to reassess this remarkable band."
It's Electric is both a celebration of Diamond Head's heritage and a reaffirmation that the band is very much back in business. As guitarist and founder member Brian Tatler explains, "We've never sounded better live, and the response we've had to the new material has been fantastic."
A DVD of the same show at the Astoria was also released in August 2006.
Diamond Head are currently in the studio recording a new album with engineer Dave 'Shirt' Nicholls to be released early 2007. The band are also lining up dates for next April.
2006 is also seeing renewed interest in Diamond Head's past. The band's classic track Am I Evil is featured in the movie Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and also on a new compilation album released on June 26, the same day as It's Electric. Full Metal Garage - The Songs That Drove Metallica is fully approved by Metallica themselves and features 27 vintage recordings that influenced the San Franciscan superstars. Included alongside tracks by such legendary names as Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd are no less than five Diamond Head songs: Am I Evil, Helpless, Sucking My Love, The Prince and It's Electric. Proof indeed that Diamond Head are Metallica's favourite band bar none.
For further details contact Paul Elliott:
paul.elliott2112@virgin.net
Office: 01273 327501
Mobile: 07866 474650
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Nick Tart : Vocals
Brian Tatler : Guitar
Karl Wilcox : Drums
Eddie Moohan : Bass
Andy Abberley : Guitar
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Click on poster above to see, or right click and save as
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Photos: Mick Payton
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School friends Brian Tatler and Duncan Scott first started writing music together in early 1976 with Brian on cheap fuzz guitar and Duncan on Biscuit tins. Brian had a poster of an album by Phil Manzanera called Diamond Head that was released in 1975 and he thought "that would be a good name for the band", but they needed a singer and auditioned several school chums until someone mentioned they had heard Sean Harris singing Be Bop a Lu La on a coach and so Brian asked Sean to try out and after one song he was asked to join. Colin Kimberley, an friend of Brian's from junior school completed the line up.
The first demo tape was cut in 1978 in a studio in Kidderminster. This was used to get gigs, and a copy was sent to Geoff Barton at Sounds, who was suitably impressed and put them on his play list, and arranged an interview. Continual gigging set them in good stead. This saw them opening for the likes of ACDC and Iron Maiden.
At the beginning of 1980, the band formed 'Diamond Head Music' as a means to putting out their own self financed material. Their first single was 'Shoot Out The Lights' backed with 'Helpless' on Happy Face Music.
They then recorded what was to become their first album release. Like Led Zeppelin's fourth album it had no official title and has been referred to as the 'White Album', or 'Lightning To The Nations'. There were initially 1000 copies pressed, which were in a plain white cover. Every copy was signed by one member of the band. This was available only at gigs or by mail order for £3.50 A further pressing of 1000 were done, which had the track listing on it. This contained 7 classic tracks including 'Am I Evil?', 'The Prince' and 'Sucking My Love'.
This album was heralded a classic and became one of the most influential records of the period. Both Megadeth and Metallica cite Diamond Head as a major influence, with the latter covering five DH tracks over their career. Occasionally a copy will surface on ebay which can earn it's owner a tidy sum.
The album helped to secure a deal with MCA Records with whom they recorded the 'Borrowed Time' and 'Canterbury' albums.
In 1991 Brian and Sean were joined by Karl Wilcox (drums) and Eddie Mooham (Bass), and they began recording their fourth studio album. The album was released in 1993 with guest spots from Megadeth's Dave Mustaine, and Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath who also co-wrote one of the tracks; Starcrossed (Lovers of the Night).
Prior to its release, the band opened a show at Milton Keynes Bowl featuring Megadeth and Metallica on 5th June 1993. The album sold more than 50,000 copies to their ever loyal fan base.
The band then lay dormant for several years. In late 2000, Brian and Sean started working on an acoustic project, reworking some of their back catalogue in an acoustic style and writing new songs. A self finance Acoustic EP was released. With Karl and Eddie back, electric shows followed and a full album was soon written and recorded. However, with Sean's departure in 2003, this was never released.
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| Comments and Quotes on Diamond Head |
'Some of the greatest Heavy Metal songs of all time"
Lars Ulrich
"The songwriting was always one of my favourite parts of being in a band - the actual creative spark, when you both look at each other and laugh, like, that's it!"
Brian Tatler
"I place Diamond Head at the forefront of the best of the best"
Dave Mustaine
"Tatler is a guitarist of phenomenal power and creativity"
Guitar World
"When we made 'Kill Em All', it was just Diamond Head and Motorhead"
Lars Ulrich
"Diamond Head took Heavy Rock a step beyond Led Zeppelin with new dynamics and new sounds"
Paul Elliot, Kerrang!
"To call this mere talent would be an understatement. Diamond Head were simply staggering. Harris in particular is an unstoppable whirling dervish for the whole 100 minutes, his emotive delivery never anything other than spot on"
Steve Beebee -Kerrang!
"I'm influenced by the likes of Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Brian Tatler".
Dave Mustaine - Megadeth
"Lightning to the Nations is one of THE classic pieces of vinyl as far as I'm concerned."
Lars Ulrich
"We're a combination of the two heads, Diamond Head and Motorhead. The epic feel is definitely from Diamond Head, while the simplicity came from Motorhead."
James Hetfield - Metallica
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