King Diamond

The band was launched with the single "No Presents for Christmas", in 1985. It was followed by the album Fatal Portrait, which featured the guitar talents of Andy LaRocque, who would become King Diamond's longest running collaborator. In 1987, the band released Abigail, which is often considered his best solo work. The album tells the tale of an 18th-century house that is inherited by a young couple who soon discover its dark secrets. Abigail was followed by "Them" and its sequel Conspiracy, which also told of a demon-possessed house, this time maintained by a demented old woman who drinks tea made from human blood. King Diamond has written all of the lyrics and the bulk of the music for the band with Andy LaRocque being the next biggest contributor. Since the band formed, Diamond has written 81 songs that have appeared on studio albums while LaRocque has written 37. Diamond has also co-written a number of songs with members. He has written five with LaRocque and Mike Denner respectively, one with Matt Thompson, and one with Chris Estes. LaRocque and Snowy Shaw have also co-written one song while Estes and Pete Blakk have each written one song on their own.