Currently touring Europe, King Diamond has announced the departure of their backing vocalist, Myrkur , to be replaced by Hel Pyre , bassist of Nervosa , who will assume her predecessor's role. In addition to singing, the Greek singer will also play keyboards during the shows.
The announcement was made through a statement released on the Danish singer's official profile last Tuesday, the 13th, where he thanks Myrkur for his dedication and expresses his enthusiasm for the addition of Hel Pyre to the band, which will perform in future shows between June and August of this year [transcription via Igor Miranda Site ]:
“We have an important update regarding King Diamond’s upcoming European tour: Myrkur will no longer be part of the band as a backing vocalist. We thank her for her time and talent, and she will return for future collaborations. Taking over this role on the tour is the incredible Hel Pyre, who will be responsible for backing vocals and keyboards on all dates. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team and can’t wait for fans to experience her powerful presence on stage. Europe, get ready: this tour will be unforgettable.”
Following the announcement, Hel Pyre also spoke out about the news: “I’m so happy to announce this! I’ll be joining King Diamond on the European tour this summer as a backing vocalist/keyboardist. The last time was in 2017 and I’m incredibly honored to be a part of it again!”, she said excitedly.
The collaboration between Hel Pyre and King Diamond is nothing new.
In 2017, during King Diamond's Latin American tour, Hel Pyre replaced the singer's wife, Livia Zita-Bendix , in performances in Brazil and Mexico, as well as at the Psycho Las Vegas Festival.
The Meista – Brews & Tunes channel , the musician explained how the invitation to perform with the vocalist came about. She highlighted that the opportunity arose both from her activity on social media – having even posted a cover of “Waiting” in 2016 – and through Livia (via Igor Miranda Site ):
“It was a dream come true. I’ve been a huge fan since I was a child. The invitation came about through social media, but we also had a mutual acquaintance. I was a very close friend of King Diamond’s wife, Olivia, and so we met and became friends. He knew my work, my type of voice, and, as I’m a huge fan, I could sing all the songs from all the albums. Then, the opportunity arose and they told me: ‘We need you because Olivia can’t sing due to her pregnancy.’”
