Today’s Thrashback Thursday is a two-for-one deal. Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich and King Diamond (aka Kim Bendix Peterson) are Danish countrymen. The two have been close friends for some time. Metallica even recorded their breakthrough second album, 1984’s Ride The Lightning in the studio owned by King Diamond and his band Mercyful Fate.

So strong is Metallica’s reverence for Mercyful Fate that they have, for many years, been performing a medley consisting of several of the band’s songs (“Satan’s Fall,” “Curse of the Pharaohs,” “A Corpse Without Soul,” “Into the Coven,” and “Evil”) which they simply call “Mercyful Fate.” A recorded version of the tribute appeared on Metallica’s Garage Inc.

When Metallica made a stop in King Diamond’s adopted hometown of Dallas Texas in 2008, they invited the King himself to join them onstage to lend his iconic lead vocals to the medley. Check out the footage of that performance here below.

KING DIAMOND is quite possibly the most recognizable and prolific personality ever in heavy metal. Revered by icons as big as Metallica and Pantera to inspiring new upstarts like Goatwhore; KING DIAMOND, the man and the band, have left an indelible mark on the history, and now again, the future of heavy metal.

In August of 2008, KING DIAMOND joined Metallica on stage at Ozzfest in Dallas to perform the Mercyful Fate medley made famous from the Garage, Inc. album. Additionally, KING DIAMOND was featured alongside Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister as a playable character in Guitar Hero: Metallica in 2009.

King Diamond and Mercyful Fate don’t have any tour dates scheduled at the moment, but you can keep an eye on their official site for future updates.

Upcoming Metallica Tour Dates:

5/9/2015 Las Vegas, NV — Rock In Rio USA @ MGM Resorts Festival Grounds
5/29/2015 Nürburg, Germany — Grüne Hölle Rock @ Nürburgring
5/31/2015 Munich, Germany — Rockavaria @ Olympiapark München
6/2/2015 Milan, Italy — Sonisphere Italy @ Arena Fiera Rho
6/4/2015 Vienna, Austria — Rock in Vienna @ Donauinsel Wien
8/20/2015 Bergen, Norway — Bergenhus Fortress
8/22/2015 Gothenburg, Sweden — Ullevi Stadium
8/25/2015 Saint Petersburg, Russia — SKK Arena
8/27/2015 Moscow, Russia — Olimpiyskiy Arena
8/29/2015 Reading, England — Reading Festival @ Richfield Avenue
8/30/2015 Leeds, England — Leeds Festival @ Bramham Park

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