Formation and first releases (1981–1985) Mercyful Fate was originally formed in
Copenhagen in the spring of 1981, following the dissolution of the band Brats. After two studio albums and several line-up changes (including the addition of Diamond and the departure of Denner), Diamond and Shermann began writing new material that was much heavier than any of Brats' previous work. After several line-up changes and semi-professional demo tapes, Mercyful Fate released their
self-titled EP in 1982. In July 1983, Mercyful Fate recorded their debut album at Easy Sound Recording in Copenhagen. Entitled
Melissa, the album was produced by Henrik Lund and released on October 30, 1983 through
Roadrunner Records. The character of Melissa, a
witch who was burned at the stake, appears for the first time on the eponymous debut album and intermittently throughout the band's later work. One of the album's tracks, "Into the Coven", received particular attention two years later, when it was listed by the
Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) as one of their "Filthy Fifteen" songs due to its perceived occult content. After a number of concerts around Denmark, Mercyful Fate entered the studio in May 1984 to record their second studio album ''
Don't Break the Oath'', which was released on September 7, 1984. During the album's supporting tour, the band played the US for two months and made festival appearances in Germany. Despite winning a
cult following around the world, Mercyful Fate broke up in April 1985, due to musical differences. Guitarist Hank Shermann wanted the band to move to a more commercial sound; Hank Shermann had formed the hard rock band
Fate in 1985, after having left Mercyful Fate. With Fate, Shermann released two albums: 1985's
Fate and 1986's
A Matter of Attitude. On May 12, 1992,
Return of the Vampire was released, which was another compilation of rare studio recordings. On October 6, 1992, Roadrunner Records released
A Dangerous Meeting, a greatest hits album under the King Diamond name, featuring material from both Mercyful Fate and King Diamond.
Reunion (1992–1999) In 1992, King Diamond, Hank Shermann, Michael Denner and Timi Hansen reunited to reform Mercyful Fate (drummer Kim Ruzz was replaced by Morten Nielsen). The result was the band's third album
In the Shadows, which was released on June 22, 1993 through
Metal Blade Records. The album also featured a guest appearance by
Metallica drummer
Lars Ulrich (a fellow Dane) on the track "Return of the Vampire". On June 27, 1994, the band released
The Bell Witch, an EP of live tracks, as well as studio recordings from
In the Shadows. performing with Mercyful Fate in 1999 On October 25, 1994, Mercyful Fate released its fourth album
Time, which was recorded and mixed at the Dallas Sound Lab during May and August of that year. After the album's release, drummer Snowy Shaw was replaced by Bjarne T. Holm for the Time Tour. After the album's release, guitarist Michael Denner left the band and was replaced by
Mike Wead.
Dead Again was released on June 9, 1998.
Hiatus and sporadic reunions (1999–2018) After the supporting tour for
9, Mercyful Fate was put on hiatus. King Diamond focused on his eponymous band, along with guitarist Mike Wead, who joined the group during the European
House of God tour. Hank Shermann and Bjarne T. Holm reunited with Michael Denner to form Force of Evil, while Sharlee D'Angelo joined the band
Arch Enemy. When asked about the current state of the band in 2008, Diamond stated that Mercyful Fate had been "hibernating", and that "it's definitely not finished, at least in my book." In August 2008, King Diamond was asked by
Metallica drummer
Lars Ulrich if Mercyful Fate would be willing to participate in
Activision's
Guitar Hero: Metallica video game. Ulrich requested the original masters for two of the band's songs, so they could be used in the game. On January 28, 2017, the original line-up of Mercyful Fate (minus Diamond) reunited to receive the Pioneer Prize at the
Steppeulven ceremony by the Danish Association of Music Critics at the
Bremen Teater in Copenhagen. This was the first time that drummer Kim Ruzz appeared with the band since the 1985 split.
Full-time reunion (2019–present) On August 1, 2019, it was announced that Mercyful Fate would be performing an unspecified number of concerts throughout Europe in the summer of 2020. The band's line-up consists of King Diamond on vocals, Hank Shermann on guitar, Bjarne T. Holm on drums, Mike Wead on guitar and
Joey Vera on bass, the latter of whom was filling in for Timi Hansen, who was battling cancer; Vera then became their full-time bass player after Hansen died on November 4, 2019, shortly after his 61st birthday. Aside from previously released material, the band was also going to perform new songs over the course of the summer. In a May 2020 interview with Heavy magazine, Shermann said that he had "written six or seven songs" for the band's new album. On June 2, 2022, Mercyful Fate performed their first live show since 1999 in
Hanover as part of a European tour, where they debuted a brand new song titled "The Jackal of Salzburg". On January 16, 2024, Mercyful Fate announced that they had "mutually decided to split ways" with Vera. Three days later, it was announced Becky Baldwin was the new bassist of the band, who filled in for Vera during the band's 2022 tour. In the following month, Baldwin stated that the new Mercyful Fate album was not expected to be released before 2025, due to
King Diamond's focus on his
namesake band's upcoming thirteenth studio album ''Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920
(formerly titled The Institute''). ==Artistry==