Diamond Head : Dudley JBs, Private Invitation Only, 01/12/2004



Set list: Broken Pieces /Truckin / Give it to me / Its Electric / Mine All Mine / I cant help myself / Fallen Angel / Heat of the night / Run / Alimony / Nightmare / Helpless / Am I Evil.
Encore:The Prince.



Tonight was a major step in the history of Diamond Head. The past year has seen interesting developments within the band, which culminated in the departure of Sean Harris in August. Since then, a new look Diamond Head have written and recorded a complete new album and are now in the process of seeking out a deal with prospective Record Companies to secure a release. The purpose of tonights show was to get a public appearance under their belt with the new line-up and to air some of the new material in a live situation. To this extent, those lucky enough to be in attendance got to hear no less than six completely new numbers interspersed throughout a set of Diamond Head classics spanning all eras of the band.

Along with founding member Brian Tatler are the mainstay rhythm section of Karl Wilcox (drums), and Eddie 'Chaos' Moohan on bass. Second guitarist is now Adrian Mills, who made his live debut with Diamond Head at last summer's Wacken Festival. So the only new member to the band is Nick Tart. Nick has worked in several Midland bands previously, most notably with guitarist Robin George in the early 1990s both as part of Notorious and recording the 'Cocoon' album under the name of 'Life'. His dynamic vocals suit the Diamond Head music perfectly. After the first couple of songs, he seemed to relax more and slip effortlessly into the role, and his voice seemed to improve as the show went on.



The band to to the stage to the James Bond theme music 'Diamonds Are Forever', and launched into a brand new song 'Broken Pieces' and quickly followed up with the Dave Mustaine colaboration of 'Truckin'. We then get another new song in the form of 'Give It To Me' before the arrival of 'It's Electric'.An old time favourite 'In The Heat Of The Night' follows soon after with Brian's guitar being spot on. And to reinforce the fact he plays a blinder on 'Run'. That song should have been massive!
It's always difficult to fully appreciate a new song when you are hearing for the first time in a live situation, but the next two; 'Alimony' and 'Nightmare' sounded great, and the best of the new material. Diamond Head at their contemporary best.

It all seemed to come too soon with 'Helpless' and the standard 'Am I Evil?' closing the set proper. However, the band were still not yet done, and came back for a raucous rendition of 'The Prince', a song that they recently resurrected on the previous club dates in September 2002.


And with that the show was over. Welcome Nick Tart. Welcome back Diamond Head. Good luck with the album. We all want to get our hands on the main course now that we've had the appetiser!

'Diamonds Are Forever'? - They most certainly are.



Photographs courtesy of Mick Payton and Richard Ward