Editing King Diamond (section)

==Career==
===Early days===
King Diamond's first [[heavy metal music|heavy rock]] band was called Brainstorm (1974–76), with Jeanette Blum (Jean Blue) on vocals and bass, Michael Frohn (Mike West) on guitar and Jes Jacobsen (Jesse James) on drums. Diamond left Brainstorm and began singing with local Danish [[hard rock]] band Black Rose. He began experimenting with [[Horror fiction|horror]]-themed theatrics and shaping a malevolent quasi-[[Satanism|Satanic]] stage persona. He left Black Rose and joined the [[punk rock|punk]]-[[heavy metal music|metal]] band Brats, where he met [[Hank Shermann]]. The two were soon asked to help Michael Denner (also formerly a member of Brats) with his own project, Danger Zone. This band included [[Timi Hansen]], and the musicians would join with Diamond in 1980 to become [[Mercyful Fate]].

===Mercyful Fate===
{{main|Mercyful Fate}}
Following Mercyful Fate's 1984 release of ''[[Don't Break the Oath]]'' and the subsequent tour (which saw them play in the U.S. for the first time), Diamond split ways with Mercyful Fate. With him, he took two of his bandmates (Hansen and Denner) to pursue a solo career under his own name.

Mercyful Fate reunited in 1992 (while Diamond simultaneously continued his solo career) and recorded five more studio albums. In 1999, Diamond and Hank Shermann performed the song "Evil" live with [[Metallica]]. This performance also featured Diamond without his famous makeup.

[[File:King Diamond live 1999.jpg|thumb|King Diamond in 1999]]
In 2000, Diamond decided to put Mercyful Fate on hold and continue on with his solo career.

On 1 August 2019 Mercyful Fate announced a reunion and an accompanying European tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/copenhell-2020-will-see-mercyful-fate-back-on-their-home-turf|title=Mercyful Fate bring original lineup back to home turf in Copenhell 2020|first=Alice Pattillo02|last=August 2019|website=Loudersound.com|date=2 August 2019 |access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref>

In June 2022, Mercyful Fate debuted a new song, "The Jackal of Salzburg". In August 2022, King Diamond confirmed that the band was actively working on a new album.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Absolute Top Horror |url=https://www.creem.com/fresh-creem/king-diamond-mercyful-fate-creem-interview |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=CREEM - America’s only rock ‘n’ roll magazine. Subscribe now. |language=en}}</ref>

===King Diamond===
{{main|King Diamond (band)}}
In 2001, King Diamond worked out a deal with the band Usurper to sing backup vocals on the song "Necronemesis" in exchange for them shifting their recording schedule around to accommodate the recording of ''[[Abigail II: The Revenge]]''. In 2004, Diamond contributed vocals to "Sweet Dreams", the final track on the album of [[Dave Grohl]]'s heavy metal side project [[Probot]]. In late 2005, Diamond appeared on the ''[[Roadrunner United]] – The All-Star Sessions'' album, contributing vocals for his song "In the Fire", which featured multiple Roadrunner Records musicians (past and present) working together to create individual songs. Diamond also guested on the [[Cradle of Filth]] song "Devil Woman" in late 2005.

In April 2006, Diamond reunited with [[Mikkey Dee]] ([[Motörhead]] drummer) at a sold-out gig at Kåren in [[Gothenburg, Sweden]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51287 | title=Motörhead's Mikkey Dee Jams with King Diamond in Sweden | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | date=21 April 2006 | access-date=2007-07-13 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001005621/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51287 | archive-date=1 October 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2001 he referred to Dee as "one of the best drummers of all time and that's something that has bothered us since he left."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=167 | title=Diamonds Are Forever: An Exclusive Interview With King Diamond | publisher=[[KNAC]] | date=31 December 2001 | access-date =2007-07-13}}</ref>

Diamond released his album ''[[Give Me Your Soul... Please]]'', on 26 June 2007. The band received a [[Grammy]] nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill".<ref name="Blabbermouth.net">{{cite news | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86262 | title=King Diamond Comments on Grammy Nomination | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | date=6 December 2007 | access-date=2007-12-13 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213001513/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86262 | archive-date=13 December 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

He was forced to cancel a United States tour due to a herniated disk, causing severe back pain, which puts him in intense pain almost all of the time.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=85506 | title=King Diamond on Tour Cancellation | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | date=24 November 2007 | access-date=2007-12-13 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213004500/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=85506 | archive-date=13 December 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He attributes the problem to the long stressful hours spent working on the album.

Diamond made an appearance at [[Ozzfest]] on 9 August 2008 at Frisco, Texas alongside [[Metallica]], performing a medley of Mercyful Fate songs previously released on Metallica's ''[[Garage Inc.]]'' album. He also performed a cover of the [[Pantera]] song "A New Level" with [[Vinnie Paul]], [[Scott Ian]], [[Max Cavalera]], and Nick Bowcott.

In 2009, Diamond was revealed to be a playable character for the [[rhythm game]] ''[[Guitar Hero: Metallica]]'', appearing with Mercyful Fate's song "Evil". The player must complete the song on any instrument and any difficulty to unlock the character.

On 29 November 2010, Diamond was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered several blockages in his arteries due to his heavy smoking habit. They determined that he had had several heart attacks and that he needed [[coronary artery bypass surgery|triple-bypass surgery]], during which time he was medically dead for five hours.<ref>{{cite web |title="I was begging the doctors to kill me": the confessions of King Diamond |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/i-was-begging-the-doctors-to-kill-me-the-confessions-of-king-diamond |website=loudersound.com |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Metal Hammer}}</ref> The surgery was performed successfully and on 11 December 2010 it was announced that he was at home recovering.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metallian.com/kingdiamond.php|title=Metallian – King Diamond History And Biography|website=metallian|access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> All his musical projects were placed on hold.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=150748 | title=King Diamond Undergoes Triple-Bypass Heart Surgery | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | date=11 December 2010 | access-date=2010-12-13 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215174946/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=150748 | archive-date=15 December 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 7 December 2011, Diamond appeared on stage with Metallica at the Fillmore in San Francisco to celebrate Metallica's 30th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150412720800264&set=a.10150412717240264.353665.10212595263&type=1&ref=nf |title=2011 Tour Photos – 12/7/2011 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA |publisher=Facebook |access-date=2012-03-07}}</ref>

In June 2012, Diamond performed his comeback concert at [[Sweden Rock Festival]].

On Saturday 8 September 2012, Diamond appeared along with [[Mark Tremonti]] on VH1 Classic's ''[[That Metal Show]]'' discussing his surgery and various details about upcoming events.
[[File:Tuska 20130628 - King Diamond - 32.jpg|thumb|King Diamond in 2013]]
He appeared on [[Volbeat]]'s 2013 album, ''[[Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies]]'', providing guest vocals on the track "Room 24".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/volbeat-king-diamond-other-guests-outlaw-gentlemen-shady-ladies-album/ |title=Volbeat Recruit King Diamond + Other Guests for 'Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies' Album |publisher=Loudwire.com |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=2014-07-15}}</ref> In August 2013 Diamond performed at Open Air Bloodstock Festival, UK.

[[Slayer]] was chosen to headline the 2015 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. The bands [[HELLYEAH]], King Diamond, [[The Devil Wears Prada (band)|The Devil Wears Prada]], [[Thy Art Is Murder]], [[Jungle Rot]], [[Sister Sin]], [[Sworn In (band)|Sworn In]], [[Shattered Sun]], Feed Her To The Sharks, [[Code Orange (band)|Code Orange]] and Kissing Candice also participated in the Rockstar Tour.

====Other media====
Diamond was a special celebrity guest star in four episodes of the [[Warner Bros.]] adult-oriented cartoon ''[[Metalocalypse]]'' as the Blues Devil, Ronald von Moldenberg, a fast food manager, and one of the Klokateers in 2006 on [[Adult Swim]].