Mercyful Fate Musicians


Vocals

King Diamond
Real name is Kim Bendix Petersen (born in 1956). Danish, currently lives in Dallas, Texas. The early bands are unknown to me.
Member during: all the time
Other bands: Brainstorm (before), Black Rose (before), King Diamond (during breakup and now)

Guitars

Hank Shermann
Real name is Rene Krolmark. Danish. He was a leader of the legendary Brats that was the most important pre-MF band. At that time he called himself Hank De Wank. Maried (to Kari Marie Wood).
Member during: all the time
Other bands: Brats (before), Fate (during breakup), Zoser Mez (during breakup), Gutrix (now)
C. Volsing
Mysterious person. Probably played with the band very shortly.
Member during: early demos
Other bands: ?
Benny Petersen
This is the original second guitar player who recorded most of the demos, but was later replaced by Michael Denner. Wrote one song (Burning The Cross).
Member during: most demos
Other bands: Jackal (after)
Michael Denner
First met Hank in the second line-up of Brats. Later Hank and King helped him record demo track for Danger Zone (you can find them on Return Of The Vampire LP). After that session Timi and later Michael joined MF. Michael is married and has a child (or two children). He left the band to have more time for his family.
Member during: Melissa - Into The Unknown
Other bands: Jezebel (before), Brats (before), Danger Zone (before), King Diamond (during breakup), Zoser Mez (during breakup)
Mike Wead
One of the members of KD between "The Eye" and Spider's Lullabye (that lineup was supposed to record Spider's Lullabye, but before that it broke up). Joined MF during Into The Unknown tour as a replacement for Michael Denner (when Michael's wife had a child) and finally replaced him when he finally left the band.
Member during: Into The Unknown tour - now
Other bands: Hexenhaus (before and now), King Diamond (before), Memento Mori (before), Abstrakt Algebra (before), Hemisfear (now)

Bass

Hank Shermann
See above. Hank played bass for a short time when the band didn't have a bass player.
Member during: all the time
Other bands: Brats (before), Fate (during breakup), Zoser Mez (during breakup), Gutrix (now)
Timi Hansen
Also known as Timmi Grabber. Came from Michael Denner's Danger Zone before Micheal did it himself. May be married (not surely), has a child (few children possibly). Left the band to have more time for the family.
Member during: most demos - In The Shadows
Other bands: Danger Zone (before), King Diamond (during breakup)
Sharlee D'Angelo
One of the members of KD between "The Eye" and Spider's Lullabye (that lineup was supposed to record Spider's Lullabye, but before that it broke up).
Member during: In The Shadows tour / The Bell Witch - now
Other bands: King Diamond (before), Illwill (now), Witchery (now), Hemisfear (now)

Drums

Kim Ruzz
One of the original members, but we don't know much about him. He's believed he's a postman now. I've also been told he plays in a reggae band in Danmark for fun.
Member during: demos - Don't Break The Oath
Other bands: ?
Snowy Shaw
Listed as a band member on In The Shadows but he didn't play then. Left the band to play in Memento Mori.
Member during: In The Shadows tour / The Bell Witch - Time
Other bands: King Diamond (before), Memento Mori (after), Illwill (after/now)
Bjarne T. Holm
Joined the band during the Time tour, replacing Snowy Shaw. Actually he first met the band some time around 1981... He was the first drummer approached by Hank when MF started! He was busy then with another project, so he didn't join the band then.
Member during: Time tour - now
Other bands: Fate (before), Zoser Mez (before, played in 4 songs), Gutrix (now)
"Old Nick"
Drummer of Michael Denner's three-piece band (which appears to be Danger Zone). Appears on Return Of The Vampire in two tracks recorded by Danger Zone plus King and Hank.
Member during: never (was a member of Danger Zone, not MF)
Other bands: Danger Zone
Morten Nielsen
Studio musician who played on In The Shadows LP.
Member during: never (studio musician)
Other bands: Furious Trauma (after)
Lars Ulrich
Performs one guest appearance (Return Of The Vampire '93) on In The Shadows.
Member during: never (guest appearance)
Other bands: Metallica

Keyboards

King Diamond
See above. King plays Harpsichord and some other keyboards since Time.
Member during: all the time
Other bands: Brainstorm (before), Black Rose (before), King Diamond (during breakup and now)
Johnny Marshall
Studio musician who played Harpsichord on In The Shadows LP (on Is That You, Melissa).
Member during: never (studio musician)
Other bands: ?

Paweł Więcek <coven@vmh.net>
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