Saxon frontman Biff Byford shared insights about Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler’s career and current role in Saxon in a recent interview with Roppongi Rocks.
Byford discussed Tatler’s musical journey and Saxon collaboration. He specifically addressed Diamond Head’s missed opportunity for greater success in the early 1980s, despite Metallica’s cover versions of their songs.
“He’s doing great. He wrote a few songs on the last album; [the] ‘Hell, Fire And Damnation’ [title track], that’s mine and Brian’s song,” Byford said. “I think with Brian, because he’s not really had a platform to put his music on, he’s enjoying himself. He comes from a slightly different mental space because he’s never had as much success as he probably should have had.”
Byford elaborated on Diamond Head’s past missed opportunity: “So he’s making up for it now, really. I mean, apart from the three songs that Metallica recorded of [Diamond Head’s] — they were gonna be big, but it didn’t quite happen in [the early 1980s].”
Byford explained his choice of Tatler as Paul Quinn’s replacement in Saxon: “It was a no-brainer, really, to ask Brian. And Brian was my only choice. We had a lot of people who wanted to be the guitarist in the band. But Paul Quinn is a hard act to follow. You have to have somebody with a bit of a special something that… It surprised a lot of people, which surprised me because it’s a no-brainer, really. It’s going well. He is having a great time. He plays well with Doug. There’s no problem there. So they play well together.”
The band plans to begin recording their next album in November.
Diamond Head’s influence on metal music remains significant through their connection with Metallica, despite missing their moment in the early 1980s.
A report from Blabbermouth revealed how Metallica’s covers of Diamond Head songs, including “Am I Evil?” and “Helpless,” helped maintain the band’s legacy. These covers provided sustained royalties for the group.
MetalTalk documented a significant moment in metal history. Diamond Head recently covered Metallica’s “No Remorse” from “Kill ‘Em All.” This created a unique full-circle moment where the original influencers paid tribute to the band they inspired.
Tatler made a notable admission in Metal Injection. He acknowledged that Diamond Head might have disappeared into obscurity without Metallica’s covers. This statement highlights the lasting impact of these collaborations on Diamond Head’s musical legacy.
