MERCYFUL FATE was presented with the "honor award" at the Danish
Metal Awards 2006, which were held last night (Saturday, November
18) at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark. Original members Michael
Denner (guitar), Hank Shermann (guitar), Timi "Grabber" Hansen
(bass) and Kim Ruzz (drums) appeared in public together for the
first time in 22 years to accept the award (vocalist King Diamond
was unable to attend the event due to the fact that he currently
resides in Dallas, Texas).

MERCYFUL FATE will always be remembered for their unquestionable
mark on the history of metal, with their new innovative sound,
complex arrangements, memorable melody, and their influence on bands
that later took the genre to new heights, according to Wikipedia.

In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a
medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc."
Entitled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's
Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the
Coven" and "Evil".

Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new
version of "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album,
which came out in 1993.

Stay Heavy!
Phil