Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
King Diamond announced last week that guitarist Andy LaRocque, a bandmate since 1985, was leaving, as per theprp. Diamond went on to welcome in Gus G. (Firewind, former Ozzy Osbourne) as LaRocque’s replacement, stating that the breakup was handled with respect. Now, LaRocque has released a statement of his own.
Hi everyone !
Just a short heads up:
as many of you have seen I’ve left the King Diamond band.
Leaving a ” family” after more than 40 years full of great music, friends and lots of good memories is not an easy decision but we mutually decided to part ways in a respectful and friendly manner wishing each other the absolute best for the future!
Now is the time for me to move on with full focus and write some more music and play live with Lex Legion.
Thanks for your support,
See you out there!
LaRocque began his career in the Gothenburg hard rock bands Trafalgar and an early Swedish Erotica in the mid-1980s. Along with former Mercyful Fate members, he also contributed to the Death album “Individual Thought Patterns” and the IllWill album “Evilution”. The song “Busted to the Floor” on Falconer‘s “Chapters from a Vale Forlor”n features his lead guitar performance.
LaRocque played a guitar solo on the song “Cold” from the Swedish melodic death metal band At the Gates‘ album “Slaughter of the Soul”. The concept came from producer Fredrik Nordström, who called LaRocque. LaRocque received an audio cassette recording of the song from Anders Björler, the guitarist of At the Gates. LaRocque had to transcribe the recording because the cassette was playing at the incorrect speed at his home. Within thirty minutes of getting the cassette, two days later, LaRocque recorded a guitar solo for the song. Björler called the solo “great” and acknowledged that he was still unable to play it “properly” in an interview conducted in November 2007.
