In a groundbreaking, earth-shattering 💥 interview with Mark Kadzielawa of the prestigious 69 Faces Of Rock (nice), DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler, now moonlighting with SAXON because, let’s face it, someone’s gotta pay the bills 💰, revealed that a new DIAMOND HEAD album is about as likely as Lars Ulrich admitting St. Anger was a mistake 🤣. Asked about a follow-up to 2019’s “The Coffin Train” (which, let’s be honest, should have stayed buried ⚰️), he mumbled something about SAXON this, SAXON that, blah blah blah.
Basically, DIAMOND HEAD is on hold. Or, as normal people call it, dead 💀. Brian, bless his heart ❤️, clarified that it’s just a “hiatus,” which is PR speak for “I’m milking SAXON for all it’s worth.” He added that everyone “really, really likes doing DIAMOND HEAD,” which is probably true if by “doing” you mean “cashing royalty checks from METALLICA.” 🤑
Earlier this month, Tatler, in an interview with Metal Journal (who?), admitted that after the release of their new live album, “Live And Electric” (which, I’m sure, will be a live-ly addition to the bargain bin 🗑️), there are “no plans” for a new album. He whined about how SAXON is so busy (as if anyone cares 🙄) and he doesn’t want to cancel DIAMOND HEAD gigs (as if they even had any booked 😂). He’s “happy where he is” in SAXON, which is code for “I’m finally getting paid more than pocket lint.” He’s not “craving to do DIAMOND HEAD again,” because apparently, 40 years of playing the same riffs is enough for anyone 😴. Playing with different people is fun? Sure, Brian, whatever helps you sleep at night 🛌.
And speaking of sleeping, Brian hasn’t seen original DIAMOND HEAD singer Sean Harris in “a number of years.” They “move in different circles,” which is probably because Sean is still rocking the mullet and spandex 🦱 while Brian is trying to blend in with the geriatric rockers of SAXON👴. The original members all live nearby, but they “rarely see each other,” except for the occasional curry night with the rhythm section 🍛. Maybe they should invite Sean? Nah, who am I kidding? That’d be awkward 😬.
Has anyone offered them a “substantial financial offer” to reunite the original lineup? Nope! 🤣 Apparently, nobody cares enough to throw money at a band that peaked in 1982. Lars Ulrich got them to play with METALLICA in 1992, which is probably the closest they’ll ever get to reliving their glory days ✨. But even that’s not happening again, because the bassist “doesn’t really wanna do DIAMOND HEAD again.” He sold all his gear! Can you imagine? 😱 I guess he finally realized that playing bass in DIAMOND HEAD wasn’t exactly a path to rock stardom 🌟.
But hey, at least DIAMOND HEAD influenced METALLICA, right? They recorded “Am I Evil?”, “Helpless”, “The Prince”, and “It’s Electric”. Without METALLICA, DIAMOND HEAD would be playing in pubs for beer money 🍺. Let’s be real.
In a 2022 interview with Metal Pilgrim (still who?), Tatler admitted that if METALLICA hadn’t covered DIAMOND HEAD, he “may have looked elsewhere for employment.” 🤣 Translation: he would have gotten a real job. He’s “eternally grateful” to Lars and Co. for the royalties, which are apparently enough for him to live on. So basically, Brian Tatler‘s entire career is built on METALLICA‘s generosity. Thanks, Lars! 🙏
According to Brian, the royalties are his “biggest source of income.” It gives him the “freedom to do what I like.” Which, apparently, is playing second fiddle in SAXON. Whatever floats your boat, Brian 🚣.
In 2020, DIAMOND HEAD released a reimagined version of “Lightning To The Nations”, including a cover of METALLICA‘s “No Remorse”. Because, you know, they had to return the favor somehow 🤝. Tatler explained that it felt like things had “come full circle.” More like things have come to a desperate attempt to stay relevant 🔄.
DIAMOND HEAD‘s latest album, “The Coffin Train”, was released in 2019. And, well, it’s a coffin for their career 🪦.
So, to sum it up: DIAMOND HEAD is dead, Brian Tatler is living off METALLICA royalties, and SAXON is still somehow a thing. Rock and roll! 🤘
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
