Editing King Diamond

{{Short description|Danish musician}}
{{About|the musician|the associated band|King Diamond (band)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = King Diamond
| image             = Mercyful Fate - 2022216204958 2022-08-04 Wacken - Sven - 1D X MK II - 2326 - B70I4217.jpg
| caption           = King Diamond performing in 2022
| image_size        = 
| birth_name        = Kim Bendix Petersen
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|6|14}}
| birth_place       = [[Hvidovre]],<ref name="bio" >{{cite book|title=Dansk rockleksikon|editor=Bille, Torben|publisher=[[JP/Politikens Hus|Politikens Forlag]]|year=2002|isbn=87-567-6525-8|edition=1st|page=253|language=da|quote=Kim Bendix Petersen. Født 14. juni 1956 i Hvidovre. [English: Kim Bendix Petersen. Born 14 June 1956 in Hvidovre.]}}</ref> Denmark
| instrument        = Vocals, keyboards, guitar
| years_active      = 1974–present
| genre             = {{Hlist|[[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]|[[shock rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/a-brief-history-of-the-worlds-greatest-shock-rockers |title=A Brief History Of The World's Greatest Shock Rockers |author=Staff |date=September 4, 2018 |work=Kerrang! |access-date=2023-07-16}}</ref>|[[black metal]]}}
| occupation        = Singer, songwriter, musician, producer
| current_member_of = {{Hlist|[[King Diamond (band)|King Diamond]]|[[Mercyful Fate]]}}
| website           = {{URL|kingdiamondcoven.com}}
}}

'''Kim Bendix Petersen''' (born 14 June 1956),<ref name="bio" /> better known by his stage name '''King Diamond''', is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging [[countertenor]] singing voice, in particular his far-reaching [[falsetto]] screams. He is the lead vocalist and lyricist for both [[Mercyful Fate]] and the eponymous [[King Diamond (band)|King Diamond]]. He also plays keyboards and guitars on studio recordings but uses live shows to focus solely on his vocal performance. Diamond is renowned for his dark lyrical content and his story concepts. He is also known for his distinctive [[shock rock|shock]] stage persona (in particular his black and white facepaint). He has been an influence for other rock and metal artists, including [[Metallica]],<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Band%20History.htm |title=The History of Metallica |publisher=Metallicaworld.co.uk |access-date=2012-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605102501/http://metallicaworld.co.uk/Band%20History.htm |archive-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Slayer]]<ref name="Metal Hammer">{{cite web | title = Kerry King interviewed by Metal Hammer.| date = 15 June 2010| publisher = YouTube| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLGIw2KXm0&list=FLOb0w15YR6aG-n_TxKIZg9Q&index=88&feature=plpp_video| access-date = 2012-12-08 }}</ref> and [[Cradle of Filth]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://knac.com/index.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012165032/http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1868%2F|url-status=dead|title=KNAC.COM - The Loudest Dot Com on the Planet!|archive-date=12 October 2013|website=Knac.com|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref>

==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]].

==Stage presence==
On stage, Diamond uses a microphone stand consisting of a [[femur]] bone and a [[tibia]] bone in the shape of a [[cross]]. He previously used a [[human skull]], called Melissa, on stage. In the mid-1980s Melissa was stolen after a performance in the Netherlands.

Diamond has changed the design of his make-up often over the years. With ''[[Conspiracy (King Diamond album)|Conspiracy]]'', he wore a mesh of black and white line war paint, with some red "blood" made to look like a wound coming out of his forehead. With his album ''[[The Puppet Master (album)|The Puppet Master]]'', he used very little white and mainly had black crosses and inverted crosses going up and down his face.

==Influences==
Diamond cites [[Arthur Brown (musician)|Arthur Brown]], [[David Byron]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Ronnie James Dio]], [[Ian Gillan]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]] and [[Robert Plant]] as his primary influences.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/kingdiamond.html | title=King Diamond Interview | publisher=tartareandesire.com | date=May 2005 | access-date=2010-08-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165043/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/kingdiamond.html | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=usurped | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

According to Diamond's biography on his official website, the first two albums he bought were [[Deep Purple]]'s ''[[Fireball (album)|Fireball]]'' and [[Black Sabbath]]'s ''[[Master of Reality]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.covenworldwide.org/bandhistory02.php |title=covenworldwide.org |publisher=covenworldwide.org |access-date=2014-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116063035/http://covenworldwide.org/bandhistory02.php |archive-date=16 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Religion==
Diamond follows<!-- If you change this, add a footnote to prove he doesn't follow that path anymore.--> [[LaVeyan Satanism]],<!-- Do not remove the word LaVeyan; King Diamond is not a Theistic Satanist. --> which he does not see as a [[religion]], but a [[philosophy]] by which he lived even before reading [[occult]]ist [[Anton LaVey]]'s ''[[The Satanic Bible]]''.<ref name="rhi1">Götz Kühnemund: "'A History of Horror". In: ''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]'', no.  82, November 2010, pp. 20–27.</ref> [[Michael Jenkins Moynihan|Michael Moynihan]] calls him "one of the only performers of the '80s Satanic Metal who was more than just a [[poseur]] using a devilish image for [[shock value]]".<ref name=loc15f>[[Michael Jenkins Moynihan|Michael Moynihan]], Didrik Søderlind: ''[[Lords of Chaos (book)|Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground]]'', Feral House 1998, pp. 15f.</ref> Diamond has expressed concern that religion has led so many people to kill and destroy each other. He stated that he cannot comprehend why religion has caused so much death and destruction when it is logically impossible to prove the presence or absence of any [[deity]]. He states that he has reached a point in his life where he has completely given up believing in anything religious.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.heavymetal.dk/interviews_view.php?id=101 | title=King Diamond Interview | publisher=Heavymetal.dk| date= 27 February 2006 | access-date =2007-07-13}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Diamond is married to [[Livia Zita]], a Hungarian-born singer who has made appearances as a backup vocalist on the albums ''[[The Puppet Master (album)|The Puppet Master]]'' and ''[[Give Me Your Soul...Please]]'', as well as during live performances. She is also his business partner, and is currently{{when|date=September 2020}} working with him to compile old footage for two planned DVD releases of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate live performances. She also helped him make remastered editions of the King Diamond albums ''[[The Spider's Lullabye]]'', ''[[The Graveyard (album)|The Graveyard]]'', ''[[Voodoo (King Diamond album)|Voodoo]]'' and ''[[House of God (album)|House of God]]''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspxmode=Article&newsitemID=111860 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140717193338/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspxmode=Article&newsitemID=111860 | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 July 2014 | title=King Diamond Is Madly in Love with His 24-Year-Old Wife | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | date=4 January 2009 | access-date=2009-06-20 }}</ref>

In 2017, they became parents to a son, Byron,<ref>{{cite web |title=KING DIAMOND Shares Rare Photo With Four-Year-Old Son |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/king-diamond-shares-rare-photo-with-four-year-old-son |website=blabbermouth.net|date=10 January 2021 }}</ref> born in March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/king-diamond-and-wife-are-parents-of-baby-son/|title=KING DIAMOND And Wife Are Parents Of Baby Son|date=10 July 2017|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref>Twitch Live Stream May 27, 2022.</ref>

==Legacy==
Metallica released an 11-minute medley of five Mercyful Fate songs on their 1998 ''[[Garage Inc.]]'' cover album. King Diamond has provided guest vocals for live performances of the medley at Metallica's concerts on three occasions: at the 1999 [[Gods of Metal]] festival in [[Milan]], Italy (with Hank Shermann on guitar);<ref>{{cite web |title=1999-06-05 Milan, Italy |url=https://www.metallica.com/events/event-10332.html |website=Metallica.com |access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref> at the 2008 [[Ozzfest]] in [[Dallas]], Texas;<ref>{{cite web |title=2008-08-09 Dallas, TX, United States |url=https://www.metallica.com/events/event-10629.html |website=Metallica.com |access-date=8 October 2020}}</ref> and at a 2011 Metallica fan club gig in [[San Francisco]], California (with Hank Shermann on guitar, Michael Denner on guitar and Timi Hansen on bass).<ref name=GWorld>{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica-joined-mercyful-fate-anthrax-armored-saint-members-second-30th-anniversary-show |title=Metallica Joined by Mercyful Fate, Anthrax, Armored Saint Members for Second 30th Anniversary Show |publisher=[[Guitar World|GuitarWorld.com]] |date=8 December 2011 |access-date=2012-12-08}}</ref>

King Diamond has appeared on the covers of many rock and metal magazines, and has influenced many artists, including Metallica's [[Lars Ulrich]],<ref name="auto"/> [[Cradle of Filth]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Cage (band)|Cage]],<ref>[http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/cage07.html/quote]{{dead link|date=March 2012}}</ref> and [[Andy DiGelsomina]] of the Wagnerian opera metal project [[Lyraka]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.louderthanhell.net/bands/united-states/lyraka/interviews/207/aquatic-odyssey |title=Lyraka Interview @ Louder Than Hell |publisher=Louderthanhell.net |access-date=2014-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202120435/http://www.louderthanhell.net/bands/united-states/lyraka/interviews/207/aquatic-odyssey |archive-date=2 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

American heavy metal band Cage devoted to him the song "King Diamond" on the album ''[[Hell Destroyer]]'' in 2007.

==Discography==
{{main|King Diamond discography|Mercyful Fate discography}}

* ''[[Fatal Portrait]]''  (1986)
* ''[[Abigail  (album)|Abigail]] ''  (1987)
* ''[[Them  (King Diamond album)|Them]] ''  (1988)
* ''[[Conspiracy  (King Diamond album)|Conspiracy]] ''  (1989)
* ''[[The Eye  (King Diamond album)|The Eye]] ''  (1990)
* ''[[The Spider's Lullabye]]''  (1995)
* ''[[The Graveyard  (album)|The Graveyard]]''  (1996)
* ''[[Voodoo  (King Diamond album)|Voodoo]] ''  (1998)
* ''[[House of God  (album)|House of God]] ''  (2000)
* ''[[Abigail II: The Revenge]] ''  (2002)
* ''[[The Puppet Master  (album)|The Puppet Master]]''  (2003)
* ''[[Give Me Your Soul...Please|Give me your Soul...Please]]''  (2007)

==Awards==
*2008 – [[Grammy Award|Grammy nomination]] in the "[[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|Best Metal Performance]]" category for the track "Never Ending Hill"<ref name="Blabbermouth.net"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Mercyful Fate}}
{{King Diamond}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond, King}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Danish male singers]]
[[Category:Critics of religions]]
[[Category:Danish atheists]]
[[Category:Danish heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:Danish horror writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish male singers]]
[[Category:Danish rock singers]]
[[Category:Danish Satanists]]
[[Category:Countertenors]]
[[Category:English-language singers from Denmark]]
[[Category:Heavy metal keyboardists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mercyful Fate members]]
[[Category:Metal Blade Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Copenhagen]]
[[Category:King Diamond (band) members]]
[[Category:Church of Satan]]