Mercyful Fate - Come to the Sabbath

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Mercyful Fate was formed in 1981 in Copenhagen (Denmark) on the ashes of the Punk/Metal band Brats, by vocalist King Diamond (ex-Black Rose) (real name Kim Bendix Petersen) and guitarist Hank Shermann (real name Rene Krolmark). After going through some lineup changes (see the liner notes in 'Return of the Vampire' for more info) the 'classic' lineup was born, with the addition of guitarist Michael Denner (also formerly of Brats) and bassist Timi "Grabber" Hansen (the two were members of a band/project called Danger Zone at the time, King and Hank used to help them), as well as drummer Kim Ruzz who quickly replaced Nick Smith (Danger Zone's drummer).

The band put out three releases - the self-titled EP (nicknamed 'Nuns Have No Fun'), 'Melissa' and 'Don't Break The Oath' - which cemented their status in the metal underground and the emerging black metal scene. In 1985, citing musical differences, the band split up - Shermann apparently was tired of the Satanic content and wanted to move on to a more accessible hard rock sound. He did precisely that with the next band he formed - Fate (Dnk) - while King Diamond, Michael Denner and Timi Hansen moved on to create a band of their own, simply called King Diamond.

1987 sees the release of 'The Beginning', a posthumous LP containing the out-of-print debut EP along with some other rare recordings. The rest of the '80s is marked by continuing success for King Diamond; Fate (Dnk) flops badly, which prompts Shermann to leave. After Denner quits King Diamond, the two form Zoser Mez together.

In 1992 'Return of the Vampire' is released, containing early unreleased tracks put together by King. Soon after this, King comes across the Zoser Mez recordings, and is impressed by how close Michael and Hank have managed to come to the original Mercyful Fate sound. This leads to a much-celebrated reunion, the full-length 'In the Shadows' and the 'Bell Witch' EP.

The band continued to record and tour throughout the '90s with some lineup changes (original member Denner has left the band again), in-between King Diamond recordings and tours and the other obligations of different members.

As of the present the band is inactive, though their exact status remains unknown. Asked about the end of the band's activities, King Diamond said in a March 2008 interview that Mercyful Fate have not broken up just yet, they are only "hibernating". Though he does not know when the band will come back, he admitted that the band is "definitely not finished, at least in my book."

Shermann and Denner have formed a new band, entitled Force of Evil, which also features Bjarne Holm, Hal Patino and Martin Steene.

Mercyful Fate re-recorded "Evil" and "Curse of the Pharaos" for the videogame "Guitar Hero: Metallica" in 2009. The re-recordings featured a line-up of: King Diamond, Michael Denner, Hank Shermann, Timi Hansen and Bjarne Holm.

(Extracted in part from the bio at the Mercyful Fate Coven)

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