MERCYFUL FATE parts ways with bassist JOEY VERA
17-01-2024
Reformed Danish metal legends MERCYFUL FATE and their American bassist Joey Vera have “mutually” decided to part ways.
MERCYFUL FATE frontman King Diamond said in a statement: “Our friendship and respect for each other will always remain the same, and we all sincerely wish each other the absolute best for the future.”
MERCYFUL FATE completed its first North American headlining tour in over two decades in November 2022. Stepping in on bass for MERCYFUL FATE at these shows was Becky Baldwin, a British musician who has previously played with FURY, TRIAXIS and CONTROL THE STORM. She filled in for Vera, who was unable to make the trek due to a scheduling conflict with his longtime band ARMORED SAINT.
In 2019, it was announced Vera would be replacing original MERCYFUL FATE bassist Timi Hansen for the band’s summer 2020 European festival appearances due to Hansen‘s cancer diagnosis. Hansen passed away in November 2019 and MERCYFUL FATE‘s 2020 summer festival appearances were rescheduled for 2021, and then to 2022.
MERCYFUL FATE‘s North American tour, which featured support from KREATOR and MIDNIGHT, followed the band’s headlining performance at the 2022 edition of Psycho Las Vegas.
MERCYFUL FATE is currently working on a new album and recently gave fans a taste of the new material when they debuted a song called “The Jackal Of Salzburg” in Germany in June 2022 as well as at Psycho Las Vegas. The band’s current lineup is rounded out by Hank Shermann and Mike Wead on guitars, and Bjarne T. Holm on drums.
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