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Setlist: Its Electric, Give it to me, Sucking my love, To the devil his due, In the heat of the night, Alimony, Fever, Helpless, Am I evil?
Review by Dave Evans On a bitterly cold night in Birmingham we were in need of some quality rock music to warm the bones, and Diamond Head flick the switch with 'It's Electric', the first of 5 tracks to be played from the band's 1980 debut album 'Lightning to the Nations'. It's clear to see what a young Lars Ulrich saw in the band when he immersed himself in their world, 'It's Electric' is a NWOBHM classic and vocalist Nick Tart delivers a vocal performance and display that ticks all the boxes: foot on the monitor, mike stand thrust out into the crowd and chest pumping that any rock star would be proud of. It's an electric opener for sure. Drummer Karl Wilcox has also clearly read the rock rule book and provides the only pyrotechnics with his perfectly timed smoke spitting in the air theatrics. By now we have forgotten that guitarist Brian Tatler is the only original member of Diamond Head such is the quality of the band, 'The Prince' highlights Tatler's guitar pedigree, muscular riffs and the power chords that have fuelled many a rock band, the guitar interaction is superb - even if both Tatler and Abbz are unassuming guitarists - happy to let Tart and bass player Eddie Moohan patrol the front of the stage. The O2 is sadly still only half full by the time the ever familiar riff of 'Sucking My Love' strikes up, many in the crowd realising now the band's influence on Metallica (another song they've covered). The band are really on fire now and clearly enjoying their hometown experience, Tart seems to be living a rock n' roll fantasy up front and he is a livewire of energy. This carries through to 'The Heat of the Night' a track from 1982's 'Borrowed Time', this is a brooding tune full of tumbling bass and a twin flying V assault - for the first time this evening Tatler and Abbz really going for it, trading guitar licks like two teenagers trying to impress the girls. With the O2 finally filling up we are witness to a master class in song-writing and musicianship - I once again wonder why Diamond Head were never lauded in the same terms as Def Leppard and Iron Maiden?
"I'm evil Birmingham!" Cue what is possibly one of the greatest guitar riffs ever, the power chord opening of 'Am I Evil' makes every bodily hair stand on end. This is what has helped influence every rock and metal band since the early 80s: Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, etc. We are witness to a piece of musical history and Tatler's guitar is worshipped by a baying crowd. Finger picking his way through the track as if to say ''you see where Kirk Hammet got it from?". The devil horns are flicked at the appropriate moments, and then after nearly 40 minutes its over. Yes 40 minutes, a band that helped define rock music playing support in their hometown - they have always deserved more than that, but tonight we were privy to a master class in good old fashioned rock n' roll showmanship. Diamond Head are on fire, and we have been warmed up a treat for the main event! All photographs by Rich Ward
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