Mercyful Fate

Formation (1981-1982)

Mercyful Fate was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1981[citation needed] from the remaining members of Hank Shermann's band Brats and King Diamond's band Black Rose. In early 1981 they helped out Michael Denner with demos for his band Danger Zone. Soon, Shermann, Denner, Diamond, and Denner's bass player Timi "Grabber" Hansen realized their potential as a unit and started performing as Mercyful Fate. The band experienced the usual member changes for a new band, as Denner left (and later returned). In addition, the drummer position was a revolving door, but Kim Ruzz finally established himself as the drummer.

[edit] Main career and disbandment (1982-1985)

In early 1982, Mercyful Fate contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, the band recorded their first material, The Mercyful Fate EP, on vinyl for the Dutch label Rave On. The EP was released in 1982 and included material that would later inspire the black metal genre.

Continuing the EP, the band released their debut studio album, Melissa, in 1983 and their follow-up album, Don't Break the Oath, in 1984. Both are now considered by many to be classics in both the heavy metal, power metal, and first wave black metal genres. Following the tour in support of Don't Break the Oath, which saw them play in the United States for the first time, King Diamond split ways with the band in April 1985 as a result of frustration over creative differences with Hank Shermann. With him, Diamond brought band mates Hansen and Denner to found a new band under his own name. Mercyful Fate disbanded shortly after. Diamond's new venture continued the tradition of Mercyful Fate, but with a more progressive, conceptual twist to it. In response, Shermann formed the band Fate, which pursued a more melodic rock direction.

[edit] Reunion (1992-1999)

Mercyful Fate reformed in July 1992 and signed a contract with Brian Slagel's Metal Blade Records. All the original members without Kim Ruzz (replaced by Morten Nielsen) reformed and released their third studio album, In the Shadows, in 1993.[3] The album featured a re-recording of "Return of the Vampire", with Metallica drummer, Mercyful Fate enthusiast and fellow Dane Lars Ulrich playing on the track. In the years since, the band has released four other studio albums, with the last being 9. Similar to the band's first run, members have left and been replaced; Michael Denner left and was replaced by Mike Wead, Nielsen was later replaced by Snowy Shaw who was then replaced by Bjarne Holm, Timi Hansen left quickly and was replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo. The lineup remained the same for Time and The Bell Witch EP.

Unfortunately, Michael Denner had also parted ways with the band at this point,