How well do you know Mercyful Fate? Quiz

Answer: The Oath

These are lines from the song "The Oath" from the second Mercyful Fate album "Don't Break The Oath" released in 1984. Actually all of the lyrics in this song are used in traditional black mass ceremonies (documented in the 1960s). King Diamond simply arranged the words into the music and took credit for the lyrics.

Answer: A Dangerous Meeting

Mercyful Fate often re-worked their songs and kept changing the lyrics. The "Death Kiss" demo version appears on the CD re-issue of Mercyful Fate's "Don't Break The Oath" as a bonus track. The "Walking Back To Hell" version appears on a demo and in some very early live shows.

Answer: Devil Eyes

In the song "Devil Eyes" (from the 1982 mini-LP) the riff during the part where King sings "Oh yeah, I love my eyes, oh yeah, those evil eyes.." was borrowed from the song "Burning The Cross" (on the 1981 demo). If you got this right you're a real Fate fanatic.

Answer: True

Brainstorm was King's first band in 1976 where he played guitar. Black Rose was his next band where he began doing vocals. Danger Zone was a band that King did session vocals for on their early 1981 demo (that featured Michael Denner who would soon-after disband Danger Zone and join Mercyful Fate). King joined Brats in early 1981 and rehearsed with them until they split and Mercyful Fate was formed.

Answer: FALSE

He did not, nor did any of the band members. The girlfriend of their Manager came up with it, and they then purposely misspelled it just to be different and to give it an 'olde english' look and feel.

Answer: TRUE

That was one reason why I liked Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. Unlike bands like Venom and Slayer who were Satanic but only in an image sort of way, King Diamond actually WAS and IS a practicing Satanist and always was upfront about it. There were many many Satanic bands in the '80s but they never came out and stated they were Satanist like King did.

They always distanced themselves from questions about religious beliefs.

Answer: Desecration Of Souls

"On A Night Of Full Moon" appeared on the 1981 demo and the lyrics eventually changed during the chorus and a few other small places and became the song "Desecration Of Souls" that was recorded for their 1984 LP "Don't Break The Oath". Prior to being called "On A Night Of Full Moon" it was called "Some Day" with totally different lyrics and rehearsed by the Brats in early 1981.

Answer: Guitarist Hank Sherman started showing up to practice in pink shorts with non-metal riffs

King has stated in interviews that Hank started showing up in pink shorts and very non-metal attire and was playing his new music, which was of a completely different direction than Mercyful Fate was going. Between his new "look" and his non-metal guitar ideas, King decided to end Mercyful Fate.

When he did, Kim Ruzz, the drummer, retired from music and became a postman. King brought Michael Denner (guitar) and Timi Grabber (bass) with him to form the King Diamond band. Hank Sherman went on to form a weak rock band called Fate that lasted the late '80s and vanished.

Answer: Satan's Fall

If you got this wrong, you really aren't a Mercyful Fate fanatic. lol. "Satan's Fall" is the 11 1/2 minute epic on their debut LP "Melissa" released in 1983. At the time it was unheard of to have so many riffs and time changes crammed into one song. How they memorized the solo's note for note is amazing. Live performances of this track are as impressive as the studio version on the LP.

Answer: FALSE

"Halloween" was a song on the debut King Diamond LP "Fatal Portrait" from 1986. It was not a Mercyful Fate song, thus it was never performed before 1986. You should have known that. ;)