Diamond Head

Diamond Head

Diamond Head are a heavy metal band from Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, formed in 1976. They are associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and are cited as an influence by bands including Metallica and Megadeth.

Formation and early years

The band begins with school friends Brian Tatler and Duncan Scott, who found it in 1976. Sean Harris joins later that year on vocals, and Colin Kimberley joins on bass in 1978 after several changes in that role. The original line-up is Tatler, Scott, Harris and Kimberley. Tatler remains the only constant member.

In 1979 the band records two self-financed demo tapes in a six-hour session on a four-track recorder. One tape reaches journalist Geoff Barton at Sounds magazine, helping the group gain attention during the rise of the NWOBHM. Their growing profile leads to support slots with AC/DC and Iron Maiden.

Independent releases and MCA period

Although several record companies show interest, Diamond Head do not sign at this stage and remain independent. Their debut album, Lightning to the Nations, is recorded in 1980 at a local studio owned by Muff Murfin and initially released in a small run through his Happy Face Records. It appears in a plain white sleeve with no title or track listing to keep costs down, and copies are sold at concerts and by mail order.

Later in 1980 the band records the single “Sweet & Innocent” backed with “Streets of Gold”. In early 1981 they support April Wine on a UK tour, and to help fund a planned headline tour they record the Diamond Lights EP, although the tour is not financially successful.

After extended negotiations, the band signs a five-album deal with MCA Records on 1 January 1982. Their first MCA release is the Four Cuts EP, which includes new versions of “Shoot Out the Lights” and “Dead Reckoning”. They play the Reading Festival in 1982 as a late replacement for Manowar, and the BBC records the set, which later appears as Friday Rock Show Sessions.

The MCA album Borrowed Time follows in 1982. It reaches number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and features artwork by Rodney Matthews inspired by Michael Moorcock’s Elric stories. The band tours the UK, including a show at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, and releases “In the Heat of the Night” as a single. The next album, Canterbury, is originally titled Making Music and appears in 1983. During the recording sessions at Battery Studios in London, Duncan Scott is dismissed and Colin Kimberley leaves the band. The album reaches number 32 on the UK Albums Chart.

Diamond Head appear at the Monsters of Rock festival and tour Europe with Black Sabbath. MCA then declines to take up its option for a further studio album in January 1984. A 18-date UK tour that year is not financially successful, and the band eventually disbands in early 1985.

Breakups, reunions and later releases

After the split, Tatler manages the RPK recording studio, while Harris works on other projects, including Notorious with Robin George. Harris and Tatler reunite in 1990 and resume activity as Diamond Head. The resulting album, Death and Progress, is released in 1993 and features guest appearances by Tony Iommi and Dave Mustaine. The reunion is short-lived, and the band stops again soon afterwards. Their final performance of this period is at the Milton Keynes Bowl, where they open for Metallica and Megadeth.

Attempts to continue under the name Magnetic AKA do not lead to a recording contract. In 2000 Harris and Tatler reunite for acoustic performances, and an acoustic EP is released through the band’s own label. Diamond Head then return to electric performances and make their first US appearance at the Metal Meltdown Festival in New Jersey in April 2002. Work on a new studio album runs into disagreement over direction, and Harris leaves permanently in 2003.

Nick Tart joins in 2004, and the band records All Will Be Revealed, released in 2005. To support it they tour Europe with Megadeth and headline a concert marking the 25th anniversary of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal at the London Astoria. Recordings from that event appear as the live album It’s Electric and the DVD To the Devil His Due in 2006. After Adrian Mills leaves, Andy Abberley joins the line-up.

Recent activity

Diamond Head release What’s in Your Head? in 2007. After Tart moves to Australia in 2008, the band continues touring internationally, including in the United States, Japan and Europe, and also supports members of the Big Four thrash metal bands. Tart’s final performance with the group takes place on 4 October 2013.

Rasmus Bom Andersen joins in 2014. The band releases the self-titled Diamond Head in 2016 and tours Europe, North America and aboard the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise. Work on The Coffin Train begins in 2016; it is released in 2019 after the band signs with Silver Lining Records and reaches number 5 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. Diamond Head tour the UK and Europe and support Black Star Riders in 2019.

Brian Tatler later says work on a follow-up to The Coffin Train is delayed because of his involvement with Saxon, where he replaces Paul Quinn. In June 2025 Tatler announces that Diamond Head enter a hiatus because of his commitments with Saxon.

Members

The group’s members across its history include Colin Kimberley, Duncan Scott, Sean Harris, Brian Tatler, Merv Goldsworthy, Eddie Moohan, Karl Wilcox, Pete Vuckovic, Adrian Mills, Nick Tart, Andy Abberley, Rasmus Bom Andersen and Dean Ashton.