Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate is an influential Danish heavy metal band often cited among the influences in the black metal, thrash metal, power metal, and progressive metal genres. The band was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980 from the remaining members of Hank Shermann’s band Brats and King Diamond’s band Black Rose. In early 1981, they helped Michael Denner with demos for his band Danger Zone. Soon, Shermann, Denner, Diamond, and Denner’s bass player Timi “Grabber” Hansen realized their potential as a unit and started performing as Mercyful Fate. The band experienced the usual member changes for a new band, as Denner left (and later returned). In addition, the drummer position was a revolving door, but Kim Ruzz finally established himself as the drummer.
