It seems Diamond Head fans might need to practice a little patience, as guitarist Brian Tatler is currently living his best rockstar life with Saxon!
In a chat with Mark Kadzielawa of 69 Faces Of Rock (and later, Metal Journal), Tatler, who joined Saxon in early 2023, spilled the beans on why Diamond Head is on the back burner. Apparently, juggling two legendary bands is tougher than a mosh pit in a phone booth!
"It's gonna be difficult to do a new Diamond Head album," Brian confessed, explaining that since joining Saxon, he's been swamped learning their tunes and diving headfirst into their latest album, 2024's "Hell, Fire And Damnation." With all the touring and new material for Saxon, Diamond Head has had to take a "backseat." He's even had to hit pause on booking Diamond Head gigs to avoid any awkward clashes with Saxon's jam-packed schedule.
But fear not, Diamond Head devotees! Brian insists the band isn't throwing in the towel. "Diamond Head is not finished," he clarified. "It's just... on hold. It's just on hiatus." He's enjoying his Saxon adventure, but the love for Diamond Head is still there. "Who knows? I think everybody still really, really likes doing Diamond Head. So we'll just see what's further on down the road, really."
So, while "Live And Electric," the new Diamond Head live album, drops on July 11, don't hold your breath for a new studio album just yet. Brian's plate is full, and he's "not craving to do Diamond Head again" right now, happily embracing the "challenge and the change" of playing with different musicians.
And for those dreaming of an original lineup reunion? Brian says it's a long shot. While the original four members live practically next door to each other, they've drifted apart, with Brian, Colin Kimberley (bass), and Duncan Scott (drums) occasionally grabbing a curry, but Sean Harris (vocals) is out of the loop. Plus, Colin sold his bass gear ages ago and hasn't really played since 1992 (except for that one time Metallica's Lars Ulrich got them to reunite for a show!). So, it seems that legendary lineup might remain a fond memory.
In the meantime, it's all about Saxon for Brian!
