NWOBHM Never Dies Part Three: In The Heat Of The Night.

Diamond Head

The Hairy Dog

Derby

10.10.14.

October and November sees New Wave of British Heavy Metal veterans Diamond Head back on the road for a eighteen date tour which covers most of England, Scotland and Whales this includes the Hard Rock Hell festival at Pwllheli and a couple of dates on the continent.

Widely recognised as one of the leading lights in the plethora of NWOBHM bands back in the late seventies and early eighties Diamond Head have been chronicled as a major influence on the bands Metallica and Megadeth.

I first saw the boys from the West Midlands play live thirty two years ago at Rock City Nottingham in 1982 to be exact. Sadly after the release of their third studio album ‘Canterbury’ Diamond Head disappeared in the mid eighties, they reformed in the nineties and released their fourth studio album entitled ‘death and progress’ (1993) this second incarnation of the band was sadly short lived. In the noughties D/H came back for a third time and after two more studio albums ‘all will be revealed’ (2005) and ‘what’s in your head?’ (2007) it looks like they’re back to stay. 

The current line-up of founding band member Brian Tatler  (lead guitar) along with Karl Wilcox (drums) Eddie Moohan (bass) Andy Abberley (rhythm guitar) and Nick Tart (lead vocals) are by now well established and the most settled in the bands long history. That said I was surprised to learn that lead singer Nick Tart was not fronting the band on this tour; his replacement is Rasmus Bom Andersen from Denmark.

Tonight’s gig at the Hairy Dog in Derby is the first night of the tour and a respectable turn out has gathered to see the show. I’m looking forward to a full set of songs as last year D/H played a shorter show due to their tour being a ‘double headliner’ with Uli Jon Roth.

It’s half past nine, Showtime! There’s an air of anticipation building in the audience as the NWOBHM legends hit the stage opening up with ‘play it loud’ and ‘lightning to the nations’ both very early D/H songs. With ‘classics’ such as ‘call me’, ‘to heaven from hell’ and a mash-up of ‘devil his due’ and ‘heat of the night’ all coming in the first half of the set the Derby crowd were captivated right from the get go.

I for one had some trepidation about the stand in singer before the show started and although early on Rasmus did seem a little uneasy on stage it didn’t take him too long to get into his stride. He told me after the show that tonight was only his second performance with D/H making tonight’s rendition even more remarkable, by the end of the tour I’m sure it will seem like he’s always been there.  

This evening’s performance is packed with classics from the pantheon of D/H’s back catalogue such as ‘borrowed time’, ‘it’s electric’ ‘the prince’ and the song made famous by Metallica ‘am I evil’. A kind of middle-aged mosh pit (instigated by yours truly) started around the time D/H played ‘it’s electric’ and it continued to the end of the gig.

The newer songs ‘what’s in your head’, ‘come alive’ and ‘give it to me’ were included in tonight’s exploits to prove D/H are not resting on their laurels and the older hands in the band were definitely up for it, their enjoyment of playing live was apparent for everyone to see in fact their vivacity infected the crowd with a bonhomie felt long after to night’s entertainment was over.

Diamond Head can be seen all over the country till the end of November so if you’re an old fan from the early days or if you’ve never seen them before get yourself along to a show and all will be revealed… GD Manofmetal.

For more info on Diamond Head go to http://www.diamond-head.net/

Stop Press News…

Diamond Head singer Nick Tart quits the band

Statement from Nick

After 11 years of being the singer for Diamond Head I now feel it’s time for me to move on. As most are aware they have already started the October tour with a replacement singer and I wish them nothing but the very best. I haven’t heard the new guy yet but I’m sure he will be great; Brian has good quality control over Diamond Head and I don’t believe he would continue touring unless he had found a singer who could pull it off. They are a very powerful band to front, so the best of luck to him, no doubt I will be snooping into you tube to see what they sound like.
I was hoping to pen a third album, but making new music with the band became limited; Brian mentioned he had no interest in making a new album, he didn't feel the urge, which I can totally understand. He’s been doing it for a long time, but if there is no urge to make a new album, then an album doesn't belong. I made things even more difficult by moving to the other side of the world.
After living in Brisbane for nearly 6 years now, I've been very fortunate to still be able to fly to the UK and US for tours, thanks to hard work and determination of Karl Wilcox our drummer, without him there’s quite a lot that wouldn't have been possible for DH. When Diamond Head get offered work, festivals for example, they should be in a position to say yes, without worrying about all the hassle it will take to get me involved.
I’m very proud of the 2 albums I have written and recorded with DH and the touring we have done was way beyond my expectations, especially performing at Knebworth with Metallica. I have had some fantastic times, the guys in DH are so grounded which made the tours such a joyful ride, and we have had some laughs.
I now have my own band here in Brisbane; it’s taken me a long time to find someone to connect with musically, but I’m now writing new material and things are shaping up nicely. I’m getting quite excited, so I now need to move forward.
Love and thanks to those DH fans that accepted and encouraged me when I first joined the band and have followed us ever since, you know who you are.

All Photos and videos of Diamond Head by GD Manofmetal from the Hairy Dog Derby 2014 (Photo of Nick Tart by GD from Sheffield 2013)