Formed: 1980
From:
Copenhagen,
Denmark
Last Known Status: Unknown
Latest Mercyful Fate News
Below is our complete Mercyful Fate news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
Displaying records 1 - 20 of 50 1 2 3 Last
Mercyful Fate Recruits Bassist Becky Baldwin
Danish metal icons Mercyful Fate has announced that, following the departure of bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint/ex Anthrax,) they have recruited British bass player Becky Baldwin, known for her work with Fury and Hands Off Gretel.
"It is a great honor to now be a permanent member of Mercyful Fate," says Becky Baldwin. "I can’t wait to join the recording of the new album. When I joined as a stand-in on the 2022 US tour, the acceptance and encouragement from the fans was exceptional. A huge thanks to the band, team and fans for the warm welcome. See you in Chile and Brazil this coming April." More...
King Diamond Premieres New Music Video
King Diamond has just released a music video for his 2019 single, "Masquerade Of Madness." Additionally, a new 12'' vinyl pressing of the single has been announced and is scheduled for release on February 23rd via Metal Blade Records. This vinyl release will not only include the title track but also live renditions of "Welcome Home" and "Arrival." These live versions were recorded during a performance at the 2019 ‘Graspop Metal Meeting‘ in Dessel, Belgium.
Just For Fun
Sleigher Premiere New Single “South Of Lapland”
Sleigher return with their latest Slayer-themed Christmas offering, putting a new spin on the title track to Slayer‘s 1988’s classic “South Of Heaven“. The end result is “South Of Lapland“, which you can watch below.
If you missed it last year: Sleigher previously took on Slayer's “Seasons In The Abyss” for their debut in 2021. Check it out streaming via Spotify for you below.
Comment the outfit:
“It’s Sleigher the sequel! Members of Haken, Dream Theater, Protest the Hero, Inhuman Condition have once again ventured South of Lapland. Joining the expedition are Becky from Fury (and recently of Mercyful Fate live!) and the mysterious Delta Empire on drums. This time… it’s Judgment Sleigh!”
Led by guitarist Charlie Griffith (Haken) the collective finds the below artists returning: More...
Report
Mystic Festival 2022 Day Three
The final day of Mystic Festival 2022 had arrived. It was bittersweet in a way, but I was totally exhausted by this point. After arriving at the festival grounds, I had to check out the Death Mask exhibit. Most of the masks and art had a very Tom G. Warrior influence. I wasn’t sure if this was his exhibition specifically, or a tribute to him by Mystic Festival itself. In any case, it was worth checking out even if it was for only 5 minutes because yours truly was kicked out for having a beer in hand. I’m sorry, I can’t read signs written in Polish, Mr. Polish security dude…
Today was avant garde day for me because the first two bands I checked out were Igorrr and Imperial Triumphant. If you’re feeling adventurous and have never seen either of these bands, I highly recommend it for the visual aspect alone. Both of their stage shows blew me away. With Igorrr, you get the feeling you’re at some bizarre, metal performance musical/opera. On the other hand, with Imperial Triumphant, you’ll see their incredible costuming with cacophonic bursts of jazz metal thrown in for good measure. If you want to broaden your metal horizons, these two bands will do the trick.
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I also was able to check out a little bit of Weigedood. They were excellent and exuded a “the end of the world” atmosphere with some black metal overtones for flavor. After a couple of songs, I had to haul ass to the main stage to catch Poland’s hometown heroes, Vader. Exclusively for Mystic Festival 2022, Vader played their “De Profundis” album in its entirety. In addition, they played a KAT (One of Poland’s most influential metal bands) cover and introduced new song, “Of Moon, Blood, Dream and Me,” which had never been played live before. Even with the amazing pyrotechnic show and 17-song set, their crowd was still chanting for more after they finished.
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See: Mercyful Fate Premiere New Song Live
Fan-filmed footage of Mercyful Fate's June 18 concert at the Copenhell festival at Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, Denmark can be streamed below. The band premiered a brand new song during their set named "The Jackl Of Salzburg", which is expected to appear on group's forthcoming 2023 studio full-lengt.
Lyrically, "The Jackl Of Salzburg" is inspired by one of the last major witch hunts, the Zaubererjackl trials in Salzburg, Austria (1675-90). 139 people were executed as the followers of Wizard Jackl (Jäckel), who was himself never captured.
Brutal Assault: 70% Of Lineup Confirmed
The one-day extended Brutal Assault 2022 is getting closer. In just under 200 days, its twenty-fifth line-up will feature 150 artists across genres over five days. The latest lineup update before Christmas has already pushed it over a hundred and gotten more headliners on the roster. To name a few, Mercyful Fate, Cannibal Corpse, As I Lay Dying, Cradle of Filth, Static X, Municipal Waste, Jinjer, Katatonia, Mayhem, At the Gates, Comeback Kid, Lorna Shore, Paradise Lost, Venom and more. Of course, there are also performers from outside the metal genre such as Front Line Assembly, Die Krupps, Clutch, Atari Teenage Riot or Melt-Banana and an interesting non-musical program to be presented later. More...
Mantic Ritual Shares Mercyful Fate Cover
Reunited thrashers Mantic Ritual have unveiled a visualizer video for their cover of Mercyful Fate's classic, "Black Funeral." The video for "Black Funeral" can be viewed below. The track is the B-side of the 7-inch vinyl release for their recently-revealed single, "Crusader." The limited-edition of 300 collector’s 7-inch vinyl with "Crusader" - the band's first new music in 12 years from the reunited group featuring original members Dan Wetmore (vocals/guitars), Jeff Potts (guitars), and Ben Mottsman (bass) alongside new drummer Carlos Cruz (Warbringer, Machine Head, Power Trip) - as the A-side and “Black Funeral” as the B-side is set to be released this Friday, January 28th.
"I can't think of a metal band I like more than Mercyful Fate; melodic, dark, and shockingly heavy at times," explains guitarist/vocalist Dan Wetmore. "We've covered ‘Doomed by the Living Dead’ and ‘Gypsy’ in the past, but I wanted something direct and short. ‘Black Funeral’ really delivers. Heavy as hell, straight to the punch and then it ends with two beautiful leads. Perfect. We wanted to do this largely note for note, true to the original, just a bit faster. My vocal style has changed a bit. I scream less, and I sing more. And my range is much bigger. This seemed a challenge, but it came out in just a few takes. All hail Satan!!" More...
Trivium & Testament Frontmen Team Up For New Track
Trivium singer and guitarist Matt Heafy and Testament frontman Chuck Billy join forces for a new track titled "Behold Our Power". The song serves as the theme for the "Mystic Festival" which will take place between June 2nd and 4th in Gdansk, Poland. The festival will be headlined by Opeth, Judas Priest, and Mercyful Fate with supporting acts including Katatonia, Mastodon, and Mayhem.
80 Bands Announced For 2022 Brutal Assault
Eighty, of the 150, bands for the 2022 edition of the Brutal Assault Festival have now been announced. The five-day festival will be held in its usual location of Fortress Josefov in the Czech Republic on August 9-13, 2022.
The festival will be one day longer than it has ever been before, and tickets purchased for the 2020 and 2021 festivals remain valid.
Confirmed bands so far include: 1914, Abbath, At The Gates, Bloodbath, Dark Funeral, Katatonia, Mercyful Fate, Uada, and Winterfylleth.
Just For Fun
Hear: Metallica As Reimagined By King Diamond
In case you ever wondered, how Metallica's "Master Of Puppets" would sound like, if written by King Diamond/Mercyful Fate: Denis Pauna has the answer for you in the below music video and cover version "What if King Diamond wrote Master Of Puppets".
Comments Pauna: More...
Mercyful Fate & Saxon Added To Mystic Festival
After a pandemic setback, Mystic Festival will take place during June of 2022{(2nd thru 4th) in Gdansk, Poland. The festival organizers have started announcing the line-up to include Mercyful Fate and Saxon plus several more bands.
On June 1st, there will be a "Warm Up Day" with special concerts and many other attractions. Those who kept their tickets from 2020 or 2021 (this also concerns those who upgraded their 1-day tickets) apart from access to Warm Up Day will receive a special, limited CD with recordings of Mystic Festival artists. This CD will never be available in general purchase. More...
Copenhell Adds Several Bands For 2021
Today Copenhell announced the addition of six more bands to the 2021 lineup, scheduled to take place on June 16-19. The bands are Mercyful Fate, Kiss, Korn, Down, The Hellacopters, and Sabaton. They join a lineup that already included Judas Priest, Opeth, Emperor, Devin Townsend, The Hu, Destruction, Sacred Reich, Vreid, and Witchcraft.
Gojira, Mastodon, and Iron Maiden are three of the biggest names from the canceled 2020 Copenhell that have not been announced for 2021. Iron Maiden has already noted that they will not be playing at 2021 Copenhell as they have stadium gigs in Austria and Spain while Copenhell is happening.
Brutal Assault Announces Half Of 2021 Lineup
Headliners include Mercyful Fate, Devin Townsend, and Cradle Of Filth. The five-day festival will again be held at the 18th-Century army fortress Josefov, located in Jaromer, Czech Republic.
Mercyful Fate To Headline Bloodstock 2021
Danish metal masters Mercyful Fate has been confirmed as the headliners for the Saturday night of next year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival. In related news, Dimmu Borgir will also be joining the bumper lineup as special guests, also on Saturday. Mercyful Fate frontman King Diamond commented on the announcement by saying:
"It is with sinister pleasure Mercyful Fate will finally bring the Devil himself to Bloodstock Summer ‘21. We cannot wait and neither can he. It’s gonna be dark as Hell."
Dimmu Borgir added: "UK! After our triumphant London show this January, we will be back at your shores next year. See you at Bloodstock in August 2021!"
Standard weekend tickets for the extended, now 5-day event in 2021 were due to increase by £10 on 10th August 2020 to £155 (+ booking fees). However, the government has confirmed that festivals are included in the reduced 5% VAT rate for the hospitality & leisure industries, so Bloodstock will be freezing their standard weekend price at £145 until 13th January 2021, at which time the 2021 price increase comes into effect. In addition, to recognise the difficult financial situation that some fans may find themselves in due to the pandemic, Bloodstock has launched an extended 6-month instalment plan, allowing customers to spread payments across smaller instalments. Fans can sign up to the scheme at the online ticket store any time before 31st August 2020, and payments will be debited as follows; £31.17 (includes £7 bkg fee) immediately upon sign up, then monthly payments of £24.17 will debit your account on 5th Sept, 5th Oct, 5th Nov and 5th Dec, with the final payment of £27.65 (includes £3.50 postage) on 5th Jan 2021.
Headline News
Brutal Assault Open Air Postponed Until 2021
Brutal Assault's 25th anniversary will have to wait until 2021. It should come as no surprise that the festival's organizers were forced to postpone the festival due to ongoing pandemic concerns. The anniversary edition will now take place August 10 - 14, 2021. Festival organizers posted on their Facebook page that they have "already confirmed most of the major bands from the current bill." More...
Mystic Festival Announces Stage Line-up
The full lineup for each of the festival’s three stages is now available. Mystic Festival 2020 performances will be held at the Main Stage, the Park Stage and The Shrine.
Dates are June 10 (Wednesday) and 11 (Thursday), 2020
Krakow, Poland at The Polish Aviation Museum
DAY ONE (JUNE 10, 2020)
MAIN STAGE
Judas Priest
Mercyful Fate
Devin Townsend
Amorphis
Infected Rain
PARK STAGE
Heilung
Killing Joke
Katatonia
Alien Weaponry
TBA
THE SHRINE
Mgla
Obituary “Slowly We Rot”
Baroness
Motanka
Baest
DAY TWO (JUNE 11, 2020)
MAIN STAGE
Nightwish
Gojira
The HU
Beast in Black
Black River
PARK STAGE
Accept
Mastodon
Sepultura
Bombus
Hentai Corporation
THE SHRINE
Vader “De Profundis”
Witchcraft
Oranssi Pazuzu
Truchlo Strzygi
TBA
Detailed schedule of the festival shows will be published later. Tickets are still available.
Mercyful Fate & Danzig Headline Psycho Las Vegas
Psycho Las Vegas 2020 announces full line-up to include headliners Mercyful Fate and Danzig. The eclectic grouping of bands range from Mayhem to T.S.O.L. to Satyricon to Pinback.
Three day passes are expected to sell out soon.
Mercyful Fate To Headline Brutal Assault 2020
After previous highlight appearances by Motörhead and Slayer at Brutal Assault, their 25th anniversary will be highlighted by the historic and godlike, Mercyful Fate.
Here's a list of confirmed acts so far:
1914, THE AGONIST, ALCEST, ARCTURUS, AS I LAY DYING, ASPHYX, ATARI TEENAGE RIOT, AUTHOR & PUNISHER, BENIGHTED, BEYOND CREATION, BLOOD INCANTATION, BLOODBATH, BUTCHER BABIES, CATTLE DECAPITATION, CRADLE OF FILTH, DARK FUNERAL, DESPISED ICON, DEVIN TOWNSEND, DRACONIS INFERNUM, EVOKEN, EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS, EXHORDER, FEVER 333, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, FRONTIERER, FUELED BY FIRE, HAVOK, HENTAI CORPORATION, IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, KATATONIA, KVELERTAK, LIFE OF AGONY, MANES, MASS INFECTION, MAYHEM, ME AND THAT MAN, MELT-BANANA, MERCYFUL FATE, MYRKUR, MYSTICUM, NAILED TO OBSCURITY, NECROPHOBIC, NOCTURNUS AD, OBITUARY, OTTONE PESANTE, PARADISE LOST, PENSÉES NOCTURNES, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS PERFORMING A VULGAR DISPLAY OF PANTERA, PSYKUP, RAZOR, RING OF SATURN, SACRED REICH, SHADOW OF INTENT, SIGH, SOEN, STATIC–X, STRIGOI, SUFFOCATION, TERROR TOXIC HOLOCAUST, UADA, VADER, VENOM, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, WORMROT
74 More Bands Confirmed For Graspop 2020
The organisers of Belgium's premier metal festival, Graspop Metal Meeting have confirmed a further 74 bands for next year's edition of the event. Among the newly confirmed bands joining previously announced headliners Judas Priest and Iron Maiden will be hard rock pioneers Deep Purple, nu metal favourites Korn, Chicago stars Disturbed, the recently reunited Mercyful Fate, California's own, Deftones and pop punk stars The Offspring. The festival will take place across four days from 18th-21st of June.
The lineup (in alphabetical order) is now as follows: More...
Headline News
Mercyful Fate Bassist Passes Away
Mercyful Fate bassist Timi "Grabber" Hansen has passed away at the age of sixty one, his bandmate King Diamond has revealed. A message from the vocalist reads as follows:
"I just found out that I lost one of my dearest friends, who has been fighting cancer for a long time, in such an incredibly brave way.
"He was not just my roommate on the early Mercyful Fate tours, but he was always my favorite bass player of all times.
"I was fortunate to have been able to visit him at his apartment with some other good friends, and we had a great afternoon that will never be forgotten.
"When I last talked to Timi on the phone on October 24th, I could understand that things had gotten tougher than they ever were, and yet he said “we fight on”.
I feel so so sad for his entire family, you have my absolute deepest sympathy.
"Rest in Peace my dear dear friend.
"King"
Hansen was a founding member of Mercyful Fate and performed on the classic eighties albums, "Melissa" and "Don't Break The Oath," as well as the 1993 release "In The Shadows." He was also an original member of King Diamond's eponymous band, recording the albums "Fatal Portrait" and "Abigail," as well as the single, "No Presents For Christmas" and some live releases.