You've been one of the most influent
bands for hard'n'heavy, the inspiration for many bands
playing that kind of music, even though you released
only a few albums. Why didn't you reach the big exposure
you deserved?
It was partly small time management
and partly our failure to tour the states,while Iron
Maiden were managed by Rod Smallwood who everybody
knows has done a brilliant job with Iron Maiden and
Sanctuary Music,and Def
Leppard managed by Peter Mensch at Leiber Krebs and
then moved onto Q Prime,Diamond Head had Reg Fellows
(a local business man and Sean`s mom) also we never
played a single gig in the US until 2002.
We can find Metallica among your
fans, they also played 3 cover songs in "Garage
Inc.". How does it feel to listen to those songs
played by them?
They actually covered 4 Diamond Head songs Am I Evil,The
Prince,Helpless and Its Electric which financially
has been of great benefit to Sean and myself, I like
Metallica`s versions they are very tight and powerful,
Metallica probably had a bigger budget to spend on
recording covers than we had on our originals. Our
first album Lightning to the nations was recorded
and mixed in a week.
You were part of the legendary
NWOBHM, but differently from the "top" bands
such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, etc... you
belonged to the more "elegant" wing of the
movement. Who did you get your inspiration from?
Our inspiration came from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath,
Deep Purple, AC/DC and Free, but I listened to tons
of other bands and albums my older brother Dave played
guitar and had a lot of weird and wonderful records
that I was able to listen to, I also like Punk rock
when it appeared in 1977 I would listen to the John
Peel radio show to hear all the newest bands.
What are the musicians that you
think deserve to be kept an eye on nowadays?
Muse, Wildhearts, Porcupine Tree,
Kings of leon.
Ten years after you split, you
decided to reunite in 1993 and you released "Death
and Progress". What went on before your reunion
and why did you decide to get back together?
We split up in 1985 and Sean and I got back together
in 1990 so it was only 5 years apart really,I had
my own band called Radio Moscow and Sean had been
doing a project called Notorious but I was offered
a publishing deal and Sean and I thought if we can
get on and write songs together we may have some more
mileage in Diamond Head so we started writing and
making demo`s in 1990 but the album took a while to
finish and was not released until 1993 so nearly 3
years was spent on Death & Progress.
The latest album features a new
singer. What happened to Sean Harris?
The 3 remaining members of Diamond Head decided things
had become unworkable with Sean partly because of
Seans refusal to release the album we had recorded
in 2002/03 under the name Diamond Head and partly
after he refused gigs that had been offerd,it was
not an easy decision but unfortunately a necessary
one.
Woth regards to the new singer:
how did you get to know him and why did you choose
him?
Karl saw Nick rehearsing with a local band and thought
I should call him,so I did and went to see his band
play in Wolverhampton and after that I offered him
the job, I thought he would be perfect, its been a
very good decision.
Can you tell us something about
the new album?
We are very pleased with the new album What`s In Your
Head? It's a very strong collection of songs that
stands up against many of the Diamond Head classics,
There is more info about it on www.diamond-head.net
we hope to get a release date as soon as possible.
My favourite track is Reign Supreme.
You've been on tour with Megadeth,
have you got any comment or funny story to tell us?
The tour was a fantasic experience for all of us and
one that we shall never forget, Nick got lost a few
times in Europe he often tried to see a bit of the
local city and would jump on a train or bus and head
off into the city, Then he would forget where the
gig was and could not find his way back (he did eventually
though). He can laugh about it now.
Your about to come to Italy,
where are you playing and what do you know about our
Country?
We are playing at the Sottosopra Rock Club in Padova.
In 2006 Diamond Head came over to Italy to play at
the Anomalia Club in Prato,and had a great time, Also
we were in Milan in 2005 with Megadeth.so we are getting
to know Italy a little and its a great country for
Rock music.
Back to your entire career, could
you pick the 3 best and the 3 worst things you experienced?
That a hard one ooer!!!!,3 best, 1 Reading Festival
1982,2 the release of the Borrowed Time album and
the following UK tour, 3, realsing how much money
would be generated from Metallica covering Diamond
Head songs. 3 worst, 1 having shingles and pneumonia
at Milton Keynes Bowl which went from bad to worst,
2, thefrustration of dealing with Sean after the 2002/03
album finished but never released. 3, having to sack
Duncan Scott in 1983 - he was my best friend.
If
you could, what would you change in your past?
A I would have tried to get a better manager and not
let everything stop in 1985,I would not have got married
1st time around.
What
are your plans for 2007?
Get the new album out,get as much press as possible,
tour and tour, that's all, the last lines are for
you, to try to bring the SLAM! readers round and come
to your gig in Padova.