Intervju - Brian Tatler, Diamond Head What are you currently up to? Is there a new Diamond Head album in the works? Are you involved in any other music projects? Sean, Karl, Eddie and I have completed a new Diamond Head album but we have not secured a deal for it yet, I have been producing a band called "Onepointwentyone". When did you start playing guitar and who influenced you in the early days? I started when i was about 15. My brother (David) could play and he started me off. My favorite guitarists were Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Eddie Van Halen and Bill Nelson. Any fun and special memories from the recordings of your classic album "Lightning to the nations"? And who came up with the idea of releasing it in its original white cover? The white cover was just because it was suppose to be a promo album to get a deal, but we were giging alot so we sold them at gigs too.I remember hearing my guitars double tracked for the first time and thought they sounded great. It was all done in a week so it was hard work but rewarding. What were your influences back then and what influences you these days? Then it was Zeppelin, Sabbath, AC/DC, Priest, UFO, Purple and Rush. Now I listen to hundreds of diferent bands but donīt write so much as I used to. How much did Geoff Barton help you out? I would say a fair bit. He championed us in Sounds and brought a lot of attention to us. He really liked the first album and went over the top whenever possible. What was it like opening up for Iron Maiden, AC/DC and Black Sabbath? Any fun stories? AC/DC was great! We were BIG fans and it was our dream come true. Their drum roadie even tuned our drums up for us in our soundcheck, because Dunc didnīt know how to. Bon Scott gave us a bottle of whiskey from their dressing room and thought we were great. In Newcastle the crew had forgoten all the gells for the lighting rig so AC/DC and us went on to a white only light show and it was great, but very hot. Tell us about the band Radio Moscow? We tried but failed to secure a deal. After five years of writing, recording and giging, all the record companies wanted me to reform Diamond Head. I didnīt make a penny in five years from Radio Moscow. What was/is it like having mega rock and rollers Metallica playing your songs and citing you as a major influence? It mustīve helped out a bit moneywise or...? Of course! Itīs wonderful having your songs selling all over the world. I Donīt have to work again, unless I spend it all foolishly that is. Itīs nice to be an influence. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Did Lars Ulrich really follow you guys around back in the day and what did you think of it back then? Yes, he came over from San Fransisco and introduced himself backstage at Woolich Odeon in 1981. We invited him to stay at our houses because he had nowhere to stay and he was such an enthusiastic fan. We liked him and were impresed that he had gone to all that trouble to see us. We took him in the car with us all squashed up to a few gigs, but he never told us he planned to form a band or even play drums. I had a few letters from him later, thanking us for our hopitality and in one he told me he had formed a band and it was called Metallica, but i had no idea what was going to happen. God bless īem I say! You had Dave Mustaine and Toni Iommi helping out on the album "Death and progress"! What was that like? I went to Tony Iommi`s house and we wrote a song together and it was heartening to discover that he writes in much the same fashion as me. He had a cassette with riffs on it, like me, and we listened to each others tape until we liked something and then worked on it and kept taping versions until we had an arrangement. Diamond Head is always looked upon as the ultimate NWOBHM band. It must feel really good? Anything you wouldīve liked to have done differently? Yes, been more succesful. I would have liked Peter Mensch to have managed us or Rod Smallwood. I always felt that we only got so far because of our managment. They should have let us go at some point. It would have been better for everyone. What does the future hold for Diamond Head and yourself? God knows? I hope Diamond Head will continue. We have yet to play so many countries and places. Diamond Head - Official website

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