Saxon guitarist Brian Tatler has opened up about the future of Diamond Head, the band he founded in 1976.
When asked directly about the current status of Diamond Head, Tatler acknowledged that juggling both bands has proven more challenging than he initially expected.
When asked, “Where does that leave Diamond Head? There are fans who’d want to know what the status of the band is currently,” Tatler gave an honest assessment of the situation.
“Yeah, I mean, when I first joined Saxon in 2023, I thought, ‘It’s okay, I can do both,’ and I said to the guys that I still wanted to do Diamond Head. It’s been my life since 1976,” he said. “I didn’t want to just call it a day, but I think because Saxon’s very busy, it took me a little bit of time to realize, ‘Hmm, it’s going to be hard to do both.'”
Tatler went on to explain what this means for Diamond Head going forward.
“I think Diamond Head will have to go on a bit of a hiatus until there’s either a suitable break or there’s an opportunity that we all want to do and we all can do, and then we would do something,” he continued. “But in the meantime, I’m busy with Saxon and I’m really enjoying it.”
The comments suggest Diamond Head’s activity will remain on hold for the foreseeable future. No concrete timeline has been offered for the band’s return.
Tatler’s situation reflects just how demanding his Saxon commitments have become since he first stepped into the role. What began as a temporary arrangement has steadily evolved into a full-time position. That leaves little room for the band that defined his career for nearly five decades.
Tatler received the call to join Saxon in March 2023, stepping in to replace founding guitarist Paul Quinn, who had stepped back from touring duties. Quinn publicly gave Tatler his blessing, describing him as a great player and writer whose addition clearly worked for the band.
Since joining, Tatler has become a fully integrated part of Saxon’s creative machinery. He contributed songwriting to the band’s 2024 album, Hell, Fire and Damnation, and has continued to play a role in the recording of Saxon’s upcoming 25th studio album, slated for release in January 2027. Saxon frontman Biff Byford has confirmed that Tatler is in the band full-time.
The weight of that commitment is all the more striking given Diamond Head’s place in heavy metal history. Tatler is the founding guitarist and primary creative force behind one of the most influential bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Diamond Head’s impact has been felt across generations, most notably through Metallica’s early and vocal championing of the band’s music, which helped introduce Diamond Head’s sound to a global audience.
For fans of Diamond Head, the news is a sobering reminder of how the demands of one legendary band can reshape the future of another. Tatler has not ruled out a return, but for now, Diamond Head’s next chapter remains firmly on hold.
