Brian Tatler Joins Metallica For A Rare Full Length Performance of “Am I Evil” – June 26, 2024
It may be one of the most recognizable opening riffs in all of heavy metal.
But the band who wrote it achieved limited commercial success. They did however influence countless other heavy metal bands – the most important of them being Metallica.
During a concert in Oslo, Norway on June 26, 2024, Metallica brings Brian Tatler on stage and does something they have rarely done: perform Am I Evil in its entirety. Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield sounds absolutely great here.
Diamond Head
Am I Evil was written by Diamond Head’s guitarist Brian Tatler and vocalist Sean Harris. The song was released in Great Britain in 1980 on the album Lightning To The Nations on a small recording label with limited distribution.
Even though they were popular within the U.K. in the early eighties, Diamond Head were virtually unknown outside of Great Britain.
A lack of sales, poor management and creative differences, would cause Diamond Head to fire their drummer and bass player and then break up in 1985. Harris and Tatler would later regroup with other musicians, and break up again over the next two decades. Today, Tatler is Diamond Head’s sole remaining original band member (when he is not playing guitar for Saxon).
Possibly the two most important reasons for their lack of a commercial breakthrough was that the band did not appear live in the United States until 2002, well after they had recorded most of their classic metal songs. Also, Harris’ mother and her partner managed Diamond Head when the band was getting popular in the U.K.. The band turned down offers for experienced management when they were at their best and had potential to breakout internationally, to be loyal to Harris’ mother.
It was Metallica’s cover version of Am I Evil appearing on the B-side of 1984’s Creeping Death single gave Diamond Head worldwide attention.
As Metallica’s popularity was growing rapidly in the mid-1980s, Am I Evil sounded like a Metallica written song that was emblematic of their heavy repertoire. But fans checking the credits on the single were puzzled upon seeing the names Tatler – Harris.
Early in their career, Metallica would perform Am I Evil in concert regularly and announce to audiences that the song was by Diamond Head. However, because of the length of the song – 7:45 – they would almost always truncate it and perform only the first half.
Metallica has always given full credit to Diamond Head as being important influencers and Metallica would go on to record several Diamond Head songs in the eighties and nineties.
Diamond Head should have made it big on their own as their songs are full of great hooks. They did not. But at least they have secured their place in metal history, thanks in large part to Metallica.
