| Interview With King Diamond By: Blissfulviolet |
Listening to Mercyful Fate as a child, the amazing stage presence, voice and mystical
character of King Diamond had always fascinated me. Flash forward 22 years later
and I find myself chatting with King over the phone about his latest release; Give Me
Your Soul…Please.
The intoxicating, ‘horror concept’ album is about 2 children who find out that they
were brutally murdered by their father. As the story and music unfold, you find
yourself on a journey as they struggle to get to the other side but will they get there?
character of King Diamond had always fascinated me. Flash forward 22 years later
and I find myself chatting with King over the phone about his latest release; Give Me
Your Soul…Please.
The intoxicating, ‘horror concept’ album is about 2 children who find out that they
were brutally murdered by their father. As the story and music unfold, you find
yourself on a journey as they struggle to get to the other side but will they get there?
King Diamond: Hello.
King Diamond: Yep I’m here in Dallas, doing fine.
Blissfulviolet: That’s great to hear. I myself am in San
Antonio, Texas and this interview is for Beyond the Dark
Horizon zine. On behalf of Beyond the Dark Horizon, I
would like to thank you for doing this interview.
Antonio, Texas and this interview is for Beyond the Dark
Horizon zine. On behalf of Beyond the Dark Horizon, I
would like to thank you for doing this interview.
King Diamond: Oh you welcome. My friends live down
in San Antonio.
in San Antonio.
Blissfulviolet: Really? That’s great. I’m curious, why
did you decide to settle in Texas of all places?
did you decide to settle in Texas of all places?
King Diamond: Having toured, I feel really good here in Texas. It’s kind of like a laid back lifestyle in some way
when you compare it to other places in the U.S. New York for instance, I love going to New York you know; but I
couldn’t live there. I think it’s because my background in Denmark. LA, I lived there for a year and a half back in
‘88. There’s Hollywood, I like going there; I can stay for a week but it’s a place once again that is way too different
from my lifestyle. But Texas seems to be much laid back you know and I’ve experienced lots of great hospitality.
So I feel very, very at home.
when you compare it to other places in the U.S. New York for instance, I love going to New York you know; but I
couldn’t live there. I think it’s because my background in Denmark. LA, I lived there for a year and a half back in
‘88. There’s Hollywood, I like going there; I can stay for a week but it’s a place once again that is way too different
from my lifestyle. But Texas seems to be much laid back you know and I’ve experienced lots of great hospitality.
So I feel very, very at home.
Blissfulviolet: Hello, hey King. How are you and things
in Dallas, TX?
in Dallas, TX?
Blissfulviolet: Good to hear, I like it here in Texas as well. I got the chance to listen to your latest release,
“Bring Me Your Soul…Please” and I was impressed with the entire production and storyline. It’s also been
receiving tremendous great feedback and reviews. So how did the recording process go for you guys? Happy
with the final product?
“Bring Me Your Soul…Please” and I was impressed with the entire production and storyline. It’s also been
receiving tremendous great feedback and reviews. So how did the recording process go for you guys? Happy
with the final product?
King Diamond: Oh…This is ‘THE’ album that we as a band, everyone in the band are the most proud of. It’s the
best album that I have been proud of and there's no doubt in my mind at all. I know a lot of people are like
Abigail…Abigail…Abigail…
best album that I have been proud of and there's no doubt in my mind at all. I know a lot of people are like
Abigail…Abigail…Abigail…
Blissfulviolet: Yeah I’ve heard plenty of that.
King Diamond: It’s tough to compete with an album that was released so
many years ago. At the time when it came out, it had a lot of things going for
it. It was the first time you heard a horror story set to a metal album, with a
whole concept story. The music style at that time was very unique. Not very
many people had heard something like that before. It was an album that had
lots of impact. Usually when they review our albums, they say nothing can
beat Abigail. With this new one, their not saying that it’s right up there with
Abigail; a lot of them are saying “The more I hear it, the more it takes over
Abigail,” for those who had Abigail as a favorite. But Abigail had lots of
things on its side and people are already used to our style, so we really had
to out do ourselves to make an impact. And it’s good because, it’s almost
like having someone whipping you along saying, “Come on make something
better, make something better!” I think “The Puppet Master,” was up there
too, but this new one definitely beats it.
many years ago. At the time when it came out, it had a lot of things going for
it. It was the first time you heard a horror story set to a metal album, with a
whole concept story. The music style at that time was very unique. Not very
many people had heard something like that before. It was an album that had
lots of impact. Usually when they review our albums, they say nothing can
beat Abigail. With this new one, their not saying that it’s right up there with
Abigail; a lot of them are saying “The more I hear it, the more it takes over
Abigail,” for those who had Abigail as a favorite. But Abigail had lots of
things on its side and people are already used to our style, so we really had
to out do ourselves to make an impact. And it’s good because, it’s almost
like having someone whipping you along saying, “Come on make something
better, make something better!” I think “The Puppet Master,” was up there
too, but this new one definitely beats it.
Everything turned out better and it started right when we were writing the
songs. This new album spoke to the band in a way where everyone was
more inspired then ever before. Another great thing about this album is the
production. I wished all of our albums sounded like this, where you can
actually hear everything that you record and that has certainly not always
songs. This new album spoke to the band in a way where everyone was
more inspired then ever before. Another great thing about this album is the
production. I wished all of our albums sounded like this, where you can
actually hear everything that you record and that has certainly not always
been the case. There is one thing within the record industry that unfortunately happens often and it’s that they
have the tendency to compress everything excessively. All that compression just washes the sound out. It
becomes extinct. The clarity goes away (Makes a yucky sound in disgust). The actual dynamics of the sound gets
washed out. For the voice and everything else that is true. If I did something with my voice and recorded it
(demonstrates by making a growling high pitched voice) then you would hear the version with cooler compression,
it’s just (makes a soft faint growl) and you just don’t get the (Makes a loud strong growl) of what was in there
emotionally. Emotion has been lost so many times before and then you feel like, “Why do I put all that effort into it
if you don’t get to hear yourself; because it gets covered up with all these compressions.” And this time around I
said, “Who cares what normal people do, lets just do what we want.”
have the tendency to compress everything excessively. All that compression just washes the sound out. It
becomes extinct. The clarity goes away (Makes a yucky sound in disgust). The actual dynamics of the sound gets
washed out. For the voice and everything else that is true. If I did something with my voice and recorded it
(demonstrates by making a growling high pitched voice) then you would hear the version with cooler compression,
it’s just (makes a soft faint growl) and you just don’t get the (Makes a loud strong growl) of what was in there
emotionally. Emotion has been lost so many times before and then you feel like, “Why do I put all that effort into it
if you don’t get to hear yourself; because it gets covered up with all these compressions.” And this time around I
said, “Who cares what normal people do, lets just do what we want.”
We monitored the entire background compressions so we could hear every detail, that’s why you can hear every
note that is being played on this album. That has never happened to us before. That was a good thing that we
did, we took a chance and it is something that you don’t hear normally. Most albums that come out today you
really can’t hear what the bass player is playing. I’m sure a lot of the bands come up with a mix and you can hear
it there and then they send it off to mastering and it comes back completely overly compressed, and these bands
worked hard. It’s sad that it’s like that you know. But for our style of music, it was real decent and it worked out
fine.
note that is being played on this album. That has never happened to us before. That was a good thing that we
did, we took a chance and it is something that you don’t hear normally. Most albums that come out today you
really can’t hear what the bass player is playing. I’m sure a lot of the bands come up with a mix and you can hear
it there and then they send it off to mastering and it comes back completely overly compressed, and these bands
worked hard. It’s sad that it’s like that you know. But for our style of music, it was real decent and it worked out
fine.
Also you have to imagine the sound picture for us. There are of course the drums, bass, organ sounds going,
then you have to find space in the sound picture for another 8 backing vocals and that’s just my vocals and theirs
Livia’s vocals too and guitar solos. Very often you have a church organ or cello playing on top of all this. You
record it because you want people to hear it, not so it could be somewhere in the background and you don’t even
know what it is. This time we really went for that. I noticed on our own website and where ever I would see
comments on the new album, they were really complimenting the sound. That was really the chance that we took,
staying away from the norm and I think it paid off.
then you have to find space in the sound picture for another 8 backing vocals and that’s just my vocals and theirs
Livia’s vocals too and guitar solos. Very often you have a church organ or cello playing on top of all this. You
record it because you want people to hear it, not so it could be somewhere in the background and you don’t even
know what it is. This time we really went for that. I noticed on our own website and where ever I would see
comments on the new album, they were really complimenting the sound. That was really the chance that we took,
staying away from the norm and I think it paid off.
All the little pieces that make an album, they all landed in the right place. There was nothing that we didn’t feel,
“Oh that didn’t work.” There were no ego trips or arguments, we did what was best for the album and it really
shows.
“Oh that didn’t work.” There were no ego trips or arguments, we did what was best for the album and it really
shows.
Blissfulviolet: I agree, I have also noticed that many of your albums
are said to be inspired by your personal experiences, paranormal
ones, would you agree?
are said to be inspired by your personal experiences, paranormal
ones, would you agree?
King Diamond: Oh I have had many paranormal things, not so
much in this house. In my past experiences things occurred when I
was living in an apartment on the third floor. That place was
extremely, I mean extremely haunted. It was not just me experiencing
these things and seeing these things, there were other people too;
my brother, the band members, tenants, our two good friends from
Metallica, (James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich) experienced some stuff
there too. That apartment was a journey with all the experiences that
I had. Lots of stuff happened up there, lots.
much in this house. In my past experiences things occurred when I
was living in an apartment on the third floor. That place was
extremely, I mean extremely haunted. It was not just me experiencing
these things and seeing these things, there were other people too;
my brother, the band members, tenants, our two good friends from
Metallica, (James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich) experienced some stuff
there too. That apartment was a journey with all the experiences that
I had. Lots of stuff happened up there, lots.
The stories for the album are there, inspiration comes from
everywhere. Certain things are real and some things were made to
everywhere. Certain things are real and some things were made to
fit the story. Some things are dreams and imagination. Other things are inspired by what I might see around me
or what other friends tell me what they have seen around them, even the news. With the new story frame,
children die. You can take it straight from the news. People are just snapping, going nuts and nothing makes
sense of the aftermath. Three weeks ago a mother here in Dallas hung her 4 children in a closet and then hung
herself.
or what other friends tell me what they have seen around them, even the news. With the new story frame,
children die. You can take it straight from the news. People are just snapping, going nuts and nothing makes
sense of the aftermath. Three weeks ago a mother here in Dallas hung her 4 children in a closet and then hung
herself.
Blissfulviolet: Wow, I didn’t hear about that.
King Diamond: Yeah her sister, living on the other side of the street, saw her car still parked outside and
wondered why she didn’t go to work. And then she walked over there and found her sister dead, hanging along
with her 4 children. The smallest one was just 8 months old, that one was still alive. The rest, they all died and it
makes you think, why? What is going on? What makes a mother do that to her own children? Even if she was
tired of living, why did she have to rob the children of their future? Nothing makes sense there. And it happens
so many times, people with different unreasonable ways of thinking. This other one, was not too long ago, I’m not
sure if you heard or not…This guy working for NASA in Houston went in and took his bosses secretary hostage.
Later on, they found out why he did it, because he was scared to losing his job. And it makes me think, “Well, did
you really think you were still going to keep your job by doing that?” (We both laugh) What goes on in these
peoples mind? He ended up killing his boss and then shot himself. It’s just insane and there is no solution, what
do you do about a thing like that? You can’t just go arresting people for saying things that might sound
threatening.
wondered why she didn’t go to work. And then she walked over there and found her sister dead, hanging along
with her 4 children. The smallest one was just 8 months old, that one was still alive. The rest, they all died and it
makes you think, why? What is going on? What makes a mother do that to her own children? Even if she was
tired of living, why did she have to rob the children of their future? Nothing makes sense there. And it happens
so many times, people with different unreasonable ways of thinking. This other one, was not too long ago, I’m not
sure if you heard or not…This guy working for NASA in Houston went in and took his bosses secretary hostage.
Later on, they found out why he did it, because he was scared to losing his job. And it makes me think, “Well, did
you really think you were still going to keep your job by doing that?” (We both laugh) What goes on in these
peoples mind? He ended up killing his boss and then shot himself. It’s just insane and there is no solution, what
do you do about a thing like that? You can’t just go arresting people for saying things that might sound
threatening.
I keep seeing more and more of these things happening and that’s why I chose that way in the storyline for the
children to die. Their dad comes home in a rage and grabs an axe. He goes down the cellar where the children
are playing and takes that axe and just hammers that axe into his son’s head, that’s the horror of it, the moral of it
is the albums front cover… When you see that little girl in the white dress full of blood, that blood is not hers, it’s
all the blood from her brother’s head. It’s a very, very grotesque cover; hopefully it will have an impact when you
think about these types of things.
children to die. Their dad comes home in a rage and grabs an axe. He goes down the cellar where the children
are playing and takes that axe and just hammers that axe into his son’s head, that’s the horror of it, the moral of it
is the albums front cover… When you see that little girl in the white dress full of blood, that blood is not hers, it’s
all the blood from her brother’s head. It’s a very, very grotesque cover; hopefully it will have an impact when you
think about these types of things.
It is a good horror story but there are so many other things, lots of talk about the dark, how we feel about the
dark. For example why is a room different when it’s dark than a room we know of in the daytime? What makes it
different, just because it’s dark; and just because you can’t see all the things? You know what it looks like, but it’s
hiding in the dark. Then again, maybe we don’t know. Maybe the dark is a gateway to the other side…I put
things in the story that are real. I wrote it as if it were happening in my house. We even took the frame of the big
mirror that I have hanging in my hallway; my mirror is longer though than what you see on the cover. And Magic
the cat, my cat is very real.
dark. For example why is a room different when it’s dark than a room we know of in the daytime? What makes it
different, just because it’s dark; and just because you can’t see all the things? You know what it looks like, but it’s
hiding in the dark. Then again, maybe we don’t know. Maybe the dark is a gateway to the other side…I put
things in the story that are real. I wrote it as if it were happening in my house. We even took the frame of the big
mirror that I have hanging in my hallway; my mirror is longer though than what you see on the cover. And Magic
the cat, my cat is very real.
Then there’s the thing about Andy…well not about Andy, but he wrote the music for the song called, “Black of
Night.” In that song where it says, “Oh OW something hit me on the head…Oh OW there it is again,” that
happened to Andy. I was sitting next to him and we were recording, and he said, “Ow what the fuck,” and he tore
his headphones off. He said, “Hey what’s going on did you get that loud peak sound?” I told him no, I did not.
“Something fucking hit me on the head,” he said. And I told him, “I told you before about some of the things that
happen in this house.” So I had to include that in the album for Andy’s sake. He knows it was none of us that did
that.
Night.” In that song where it says, “Oh OW something hit me on the head…Oh OW there it is again,” that
happened to Andy. I was sitting next to him and we were recording, and he said, “Ow what the fuck,” and he tore
his headphones off. He said, “Hey what’s going on did you get that loud peak sound?” I told him no, I did not.
“Something fucking hit me on the head,” he said. And I told him, “I told you before about some of the things that
happen in this house.” So I had to include that in the album for Andy’s sake. He knows it was none of us that did
that.
(Time was running out. I was granted a thirty minute conversation with King, and I didn’t want to keep him
late from his next interviews. I had just about time for one more question, but what to ask? I still had way
too many questions that I wanted to have answered like was “Give Me Your Soul…Please,” going to have a
squeal? And I wanted to know more about his religious views and about his cat Magic, which he has so
famously, sang about. So I ended it with the first question that came to mind…)
late from his next interviews. I had just about time for one more question, but what to ask? I still had way
too many questions that I wanted to have answered like was “Give Me Your Soul…Please,” going to have a
squeal? And I wanted to know more about his religious views and about his cat Magic, which he has so
famously, sang about. So I ended it with the first question that came to mind…)
Blissfulviolet: I really admire your writing style. Do you ever plan to put
your work to a novel or film?
your work to a novel or film?
King Diamond: I wish I knew a good well known director. I think my work
will have a huge impact on the big screen, I really think so. There are so
many stories and novels today being put to film, TAKE ONE OF MINE!
(He says in low but demanding voice, we both laugh). Oh that is one of
my biggest dreams to see my work up on the big screen.
will have a huge impact on the big screen, I really think so. There are so
many stories and novels today being put to film, TAKE ONE OF MINE!
(He says in low but demanding voice, we both laugh). Oh that is one of
my biggest dreams to see my work up on the big screen.
Blissfulviolet: I don’t want to take up more of your time, but I would like
to thank you for doing this interview. The new album sounds killer by the
way.
to thank you for doing this interview. The new album sounds killer by the
way.
King Diamond: Thanks I’m going to be doing this for a few more hours,
but it was a pleasure talking to you. I hope you got something out of it.
but it was a pleasure talking to you. I hope you got something out of it.
Blissfulviolet: Oh I definitely did, Thanks so much.
King Diamond: Cool. Take care down there in San Antonio, Texas. It’s
probably pretty muggy down there Isn't it?
probably pretty muggy down there Isn't it?
Blissfulviolet: Yeah, Yeah it is, pretty bad.
King Diamond: Yeah even over here, with all the rain it’s horrible. Alright well take care. Bye-Bye.