Original Mercyful Fate Guitarist Michael Denner Says He Wasn’t Invited to Participate in the Reunion

If you’re wondering why original Mercyful Fate guitarist Michael Denner won’t be participating in the band’s reunion next year, the answer is simple: nobody asked him!

Denner tells Denmark’s Metalized (by way of Google translate):

“I was not asked and got the news just two days before it became public news. I think it’s too bad for fans of the original Mercyful Fate, not least since I’m in the [best] shape of my life.

“But now it’s just about putting it behind me, looking forward and looking forward to the release of the upcoming Denner’s Inferno album.”

Denner’s claim is both surprising and not surprising at all.

On the one hand, he was part of the band’s 2008’s mini-reunion, in which they re-recorded several classics for Guitar Hero, and he was also part of the band’s 2011 appearance at one of Metallica’s thirtieth anniversary shows.

On the other hand, he didn’t play on the band’s last two albums, Dead Again and 9, and both of the aforementioned reunions in which he did participate were put together by third parties (Guitar Hero and Metallica, duh) and didn’t require extensive touring. In other words, if the other members of the band generally don’t dig Denner’s vibe anymore, it would be easy to put those feelings aside for a one-off performance or a couple of studio sessions, but it would be a much bigger ask to spend an extended period of time with him. And given that Denner’s successor, Mike Wead, went on to join King Diamond’s solo band, it also seems safe to assume that there’s a loyalty issue, too (the same way Black Sabbath recruited Ozzy drummer Tommy Clufetos to replace Bill Ward, for example).

Are you bummed that Denner won’t be part of the reunion? Indifferent? Actively glad for some reason? Quick, get thee to the comments section to discuss!