King Diamond is the band that King Diamond (Kim Petersen) formed after the split up of Mercyful Fate - following the departure of Hank Sherman. He was joined by most members of the then defunct Mercyful Fate. The style has lost most of its proto-black metal style and became a Power/ Heavy metal band. The Satanic focus was replaced by a focus on horror stories. Apart from two albums, each of the albums contained a story told throughout the songs; some stories span more than one album. Only Fatal Portrait and The Spider's Lullaby deviate here, in that only half of the songs form a story while the other songs are independent. His extremely high falsetto vocal style is notable.

Current line-up
King Diamond - Vocals, Keyboards (1985-) (Black Rose (Dnk), Mercyful Fate, Danger Zone (Dnk), Brats)
Andy LaRocque aka Anders Allhage (1985-) - Guitars (ex-Death, ex-E.F. Band, Illwill)
Mike Wead aka Mikael Wikström (2000-) - Guitars (Mercyful Fate, Abstrakt Algebra, Memento Mori, Witch (Swe), ex-Candlemass, Maninnya Blade, Hexenhaus)
Hal Patino - Bass (1987-1989, 2000-) (Force of Evil, ex-Blakk Totem, ex-Maltese Falcon, ex-Palladion, ex-Doctor Butcher)
Matt Thompson - Drums (2000-) (Batcastle, ex-Autumn Silence, Shaolin Death Squad, ex-Michael Harris)

Guest vocals:
Livia Zita

Former/past member(s)
Guitars :
Michael Denner (1985-1987) (ex-Mercyful Fate, Force of Evil, Zoser Mez, Iron Space, Brats, Danger Zone (Dnk))
Pete Blakk aka Peter Jacobsson (1987-1990) (ex-Blakk Totem, ex-Geisha, ex-Trazer)
Glen Drover (1998-2000) (Eidolon, Megadeth)
Michael Moon aka Mikael Myllynen (1987 tour) (ex-Madison)
Herb Simonsen (1995-1998)
Floyd Konstantin (1985) (ex-Geisha, ex-Destiny (Swe))

Bass :
Chris Estes (1995-2000)
Timi ``Grabber`` Hansen (1985-1987) (Mercyful Fate, Danger Zone (Dnk))
David Harbour (2000) (ex-Chastain, ex-Equimanthorn (US), ex-Michael Harris, ex-Leather, ex-David T. Chastain)
Sharlee D'Angelo aka Peter Andreason (1990-1993) (Arch Enemy, ex-Dismember, ex-Facelift, Illwill, Mercyful Fate, ex-Sinergy, Spiritual Beggars, ex-Witchery (Swe))

Drums :
Mikkey Dee aka Michael Delaouglou (1985-1989) (Motörhead, Helloween (as guest), ex-Dokken, ex-Geisha)
Snowy Shaw aka Tommy Helgesson (1989-1994) (Illwill, ex-Dream Evil, ex-Mercyful Fate, ex-Notre Dame, Memento Mori)
Darrin Anthony (1995-1997)
John Luke Herbert (1997-2000) (Chastain, Leather)
Chris Whitemeier (1988)

Keyboards :
Roberto Falcao (1988-1990)