The Danish newspaper Nyhedsavisen conducted a test
yesterday (Tuesday, January 23) to see if the
residents of Copenhagen, Denmark are generally helfpul
and accomodating with one another. As part of the
test, they had an old lady (Alice) drop a bag of
groceries from the supermarket on the street to see if
someone would take the time to assist her or everyone
would just ignore her and go about his/her own
business. The first person to help was none other than
Michael Denner of MERCYFUL FATE/KING DIAMOND (see scan
of article; Denner is in the photo on the upper
right). Denner, who was getting off a bus, spotted
Alice right away and immediately came to her aid.

Commented Denner: "When you're healthy and in good
shape, you might as well help. It is in fact a
pleasure to have the opportunity to act like a real
gentleman. But if I were on my way to an important
meeting, I'm not sure I would stop to help."

MERCYFUL FATE was presented with the "honor award" at
the Danish Metal Awards 2006, which was held on
November 18, 2006 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 was working on the new KING
DIAMOND album in Dallas, Texas).

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.