History of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal: Diamond Head

Diamond Head formed in Stourbridge, England, in 1976 by schoolmates Brian Tatler (guitar) and Duncan Scott (drums). They soon recruited Sean Harris (vocals) and a few months later, Colin Kimberley (bass) joined their ranks. Barely out of school and vehemently opposed to joining the cover band pub circuit, the fledgling young band also had the heyday of punk rock to contend with and were forced to develop their sound in relative seclusion through endless rehearsal and songwriting sessions.

Still unable to attract any record company attention three years later, despite occasional gigs in and around the English Midlands, the group decided to take matters into their own hands, issuing a couple of self-financed singles, "Shoot out the Lights" and "Sweet and Innocent." These were soon followed by a self-produced full-length album, which they recorded between February and April 1980 and made available via mail order through their own Happy Face Records.

By naïve inexperience or artful design, the LP was packaged in a conspicuously anonymous white sleeve, lacking so much as song titles, and sent to members of the British music press. As it turned out, a copy of the nameless LP (later commonly referred to as the "White Album" or "Lightning to the Nations", after its first song) soon found its way into the hands of Sounds metal editor Barton, who was so floored by its contents he quickly proceeded to interview the band for the respected music weekly. Soon being heralded by most everyone in-the-know as an undeniable masterpiece, the album quickly passed into legend as one of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal's most seminal documents. Indeed, between Tatler's towering power chords and Harris' delicate yet muscular voice, Diamond Head had stumbled upon the perfect synthesis of un-godly, Sabbath-sized riffing and Zeppelin's epic musicality.

If only the rest of the story was as remarkable. Encouraged by such a euphoric response, Diamond Head quickly signed with MCA, issued the Four Cuts EP, then set out on a relentless touring schedule that included a legendary appearance at the 1982 Reading Festival. But the dream began to shatter as soon as they entered the studio to begin recording a follow-up album.

The album "Borrowed Time" was a disaster and sounded nothing like the "Lightning to the Nations." The sound was more commercial and didn't go over well with the Diamond Head faithful.

Borrowed Time quickly fulfilled the prophecy in its title and tumbled from sight. As initial expectations gave way to disappointment and pressure began to mount, the band started work on their third album. But they would splinter in half during the sessions for 1983's erratic Canterbury, with the rhythm section of Kimberley and Scott both fired and/or quitting. Another commercial failure, the LP's chances were further curtailed by a pressing error that resulted in 20,000 faulty copies. A slot in that year's massive Castle Donington Monsters of Rock Festival couldn't staunch the bleeding, and a frazzled Tatler (by now standing on the brink of a nervous breakdown) finally pulled the plug. Diamond Head effectively ceased to exist.

Metallica brought interest back by covering Diamond Head's "Am I Evil" as a B-side to their "Creeping Death" single. Diamond Head re-formed in 1993 and a new album, Death & Progress followed. The album failed to ignite interest and the group disbanded once again.

Diamond Head's history is certainly among the most peculiar in all of rock. One of the most remarkable talents to arise out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the band's career never fulfilled its early promise, yet their legacy still ranks among the most influential of the genre.