KING DIAMONDplayed its first show with new bassist, Swedish musicianPontus Egberg(THE POODLES,LION'S SHARE,ZAN CLAN), on July 25 at Gröna Lund in Stockholm, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of the entire concert can be seen below.

Egberg joinedKING DIAMONDfollowing the recent departure ofHal Patino.

Patinoreleased a statementon July 20 callingKING DIAMOND's frontman and namesake "a tired, bitter, old man" and denying that he has a drug problem, despite the singer's implications to the contrary.

AfterKingannouncedHal's exit fromKING DIAMOND,Patinoposted a messageof his own claiming that he was offered a "totally ridiculous" salary for the band's five shows this summer, calling the move "disrespectful" and insisting that he quit the band in disgust two days beforeKingannouncedPatinowas "relieved of his duties" as the bassist forKING DIAMOND.Kingthenresponded with a lengthy postingon hisFacebookpage, accusingPatinoof "putting out extreme lies" aboutKing's character and slammingHalfor asking for more money at the last minute after the rest of the band and the crew already accepted the same salary as they had received for last year's European tour.

KING DIAMONDin December 2012 signed a new three-album worldwide deal withMetal Blade Records. The band is expected to begin work on a new CD later in the year for a 2015 release.

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