In a new interview for Songfacts, Greg Prato talks to King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque about a number of topics. He talks songwriting in the excerpt below:

Q: How does the songwriting work primarily in the band?

A: “Primarily, it's just me and King who writes the songs. Actually, the major part of the songs are written by King. Out of ten or twelve songs, I write maybe four or five songs, and then of course, he writes all the lyrics. He's the major part of the songwriting, definitely. And what we do is usually King has an idea about the story, then we slowly put everything together music-wise. Then he's trying to get the songs in the right order to fit the story he's got in his head. So it's a big jigsaw kind of thing with the songs and the lyrics to make it fit the way it does.”

Q: So there haven't been any songs that you contributed lyrics to?

A: “No. I never really had anything to do with the lyrics. But I'm sure that's the way King wants it!”

Read more at this location.

The world's biggest heavy music touring festival, the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival enters its eighth year with another fantastic heavy metal and hard rock lineup, featuring 13 bands performing on the Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage and the Victory Records Stage.

The Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage feature five-time-nominated, two-time Grammy winning legends Slayer as headliner, as well as additional performances from King Diamond, Hellyeah, and The Devil Wears Prada. The Victory Records Stage will feature headliner Whitechapel as well as Thy Art Is Murder, Jungle Rot, Sister Sin, Sworn In, Shattered Sun, Feed Her To The Sharks, Code Orange and Kissing Candice.

Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage performer and heavy metal hellion King Diamond states, "This is going to be one hot and hellish summer! Slayer and King Diamond on the same stage - it does not get more devilish than this! We will be putting on a one hour set with the full King Diamond stage production. As for a set list, I'm not gonna reveal that here, but it will be built around "Dreams of Horror". The Puppet Master will be there with Grandma, and we will even go as far back in time as to 1777 (hint). You're all in for one hell of a show if you come to this Sabbath!”

The festival will kick off on June 26th at Sleep Train Amphitheater in San Diego, CA and ends at Gexa Energy Amphitheater in Dallas, TX on August 2nd. See below for all confirmed tour dates.

 

 

June
26 - San Diego, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheater
27 - San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheater
28 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater
30 - Auburn, WA (Seattle) - White River Amphitheater

July
1 - Boise, ID - Idaho Center Amphitheater
3 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Amphitheater
4 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
5 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks
7 - Council Bluffs, IA - Harrah’s Council Bluffs
8 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
10 - Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis) - Kilpsch Amphitheater
11 - Clarkston, MI (Detroit) - DTE Energy Amphitheater
12 - Tinley Park, IL (Chicago) - First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
15 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
17 - Camden, NJ (Philadelphia) - Susquehanna Bank Arts Center
18 - Burgettstown, PA (Pittsburgh) - First Niagara Pavilion
19 - Hartford, CT - Xfinity Theatre
21 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
22 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook (Bank of NH Pavilion)
24 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
25 - Boston, MA - Xfinity Center
26 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach
29 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
31 - San Antonio, TX - Whitewater Amphitheater

August
1 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Amphitheater

* Lineups in each city may vary. Go to this location for full lineup details.