VOLBEAT Frontman: Performing With KING DIAMOND 'Was One Of The Best Experiences'

Vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen of Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT has issued the following update:

"At this year's Sweden Rock Festival, I had one of the best experiences and I'm still very much up in the air about it; it was a great emotional ride. King Diamond gave me an amazing opportunity, to go on stage with him and sing 'Come To The Sabbath'.

"The show was fantastic and King sounded better than ever. I have been a huge KING DIAMOND / MERCYFUL FATE fan since my school days in Denmark. He was the first frontman in a metal band that I really became a fan of. At a very early age, I was already on my knees for Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi. But when the Danish newspapers started to write about KING DIAMOND and his new record, 'Them', I knew that I was about to discover something unique and special.

"A few minutes after reading the newspapers, I jumped on my bike and headed to my local record shop. 15 minutes later, I was holding the record in my hands and a new young KING DIAMOND fan was born and I have been following him and buying all his records since.

"I remember asking my dad if I could have some money for a KING DIAMOND concert ticket, he said, 'Sure, but how will you earn the money for the train ticket and merchandise?' he asked smiling. I responded I would figure it out, smiling.

"I ended up selling my BMX Raleigh bicycle, my dad got a little pissed about that in the beginning, but he ended up thinking that was real dedication and a good smart move from my side, because now he also had to buy me a new bike so I could get to school.
"Even my first tattoo was a MERCYFUL FATE cover ('Don't Break The Oath'). I was still in school and not old enough to get a tattoo, and I was begging the local tattoo artist to give me this tattoo. In the end, he said, 'Okay I'll do it if you. Come NOW, but don't tell anyone.' I said, 'I cannot do it now because I'm about to have my exam in school in less than an hour.' He didn't care, so I said, 'Fuck school, I'm on my way.' I didn't take my exam, but I got something that was so much more important to me, my first tattoo.

"The first time I met King in person was around 1996 or 1997, at that time, I had released my first two metal records and some demos with my previous band, DOMINUS. As an eager fan, I was telling him how much he inspired me. And now here in 2012 he still inspires me a lot in VOLBEAT.

"King has been to a few VOLBEAT shows in the U.S. to check us out and hang out and also to say hello to his good friend, Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE),who is currently helping VOLBEAT on our U.S. tour, which also is a great compliment for me and VOLBEAT.

"If you, as a reader, haven't met King in person, then let me tell you about him, he's the most dedicated man to his music and one of the nicest guys in this scene I have ever met. I am proud to calling him my friend.

"The King is back!"

Check out video footage of Poulsen's performance with KING DIAMOND below.