Diamond Head - Am I Evil? (Live in 1979) 

"I don't think you were ready for this, but your kids are going to love it."

Yes, the Quality is bad, but this footage is a historic masterpiece.

Holy shit. I've been listening to Metallica's version for over 30 years... since it was released in '87... bought the CASSETTE. This is the first time I've heard this version. THIS IS FUCKING GOLD.

These guys were insanely ahead of their time. I'm sure this scared the shit out of people back then lol

The quality of the footage makes it seem like they were pioneering this style in the 1950s :D

True black metal fans additionally reduce the quality setting to 144p.

The singer looks like a combination of Jim Morrison and Robert Plant

Look everyone it's Black Sabbath with Robert Plant on vocals!

Back when camera men didn't know the difference of a bass and guitar, and zooms in on the bassist when guitar solo is engaged. Lol

I think this group shld be considered as one of the pillars of heavy metal very underrated

This is live, with real vocals, imperfections are what life is about, and making no apologies. Theres nothing wrong with the footage or the sound. This was all analog with tube amps, done live . Clearly these lads have amp-le talent and left an impression on the metallica boys , and lead singer Sean Harris here looked up to Robert Plant. Great history, Its left an impression on me.

This is one of the sickest riffs in history, tell me I’m wrong

This is the Missing Link between the Yardbirds and Metallica...

This is truly amazing it’s pretty much the formula for every 80’s thrash metal song and beyond by a band no one really knew about in 1979.

Imagine a young boy from Denmark watching this and saying that this is the coolest shit that he ever saw before...

The camera man is a wizard. He made the guitar solo come out of the bassists right hand and he made the vocals come out of the microphone hanging on the kick drum.

This was hardcore heavy acid death thrash metal in 1979....pure gold. Diamond Head...one of metal's originals. \m/

Not only did Metallica take this song from them, Cliff and James took their guitars from them as well.

Black Sabbath + Led Zeppelin + Deep Purple = Diamond Head. Diamond Head + Diamond Head = Metallica

Focusing on everyone else but the guitarist during the guitar solo is evil

Why nobody is talking about Brian Tatler's legendary guitar solo? Such a fine guitarist, very talented

I see Cliffs bass and James Flying V influence and I see why they covered this tune. This is awesome footage .. evil Morrison

Born in 73 big fan of Metallica since 86!!!!! 😯😯😯😯🙏🙏🙏🤩🤩🤩 Thank you!

sunburst Rickenbacker and a white flying V -- these guys influenced those LA to SF boys for sure.

Guitarist: 'Plays awesome solo' Cameraman: 'Zooms in on the bass'

I hope they get royalties every time I listen to Metallica on Spotify

As Marty McFly said in 1955: guess you aren't ready for this, but your kids are going to love it.

Kinda confused as to why the 151 thumbs down ... this is classic metal at its finest ! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

I am sorry but Diamond Heads are way ahead of their time. I arrive here in the U.S.A. in 1980 of January, and this is one of the song I heard and I fell in love with it. And Metallica the 4 concert was the shit. I love the originals. Who is still listening this in August 2020 hit the like button. I am 47 now but back then I was only 7 years old. Thanks, Love the song and the group.

who here discovered Diamond Head before 2020? 🔥

I was 2 in 79 and probably throwin up the horns in pampers!!!!

If I ever meet the person who had the foresight to record these early performances, I am buying them a beer

The Cameraman is definitely Evil... he is man with no steady hand...

Killing it in 1979, still killing it in 2020.

Someone give that drummer more cymbals please.

This is easily the best thing I am going to encounter on RU-vid for quite a while

Heavy Metal history right here.

I saw them 1983 in Mannheim/Germany supporting Black Sabbath and was impressed. Best Band i ever heard as Opening Act.

The beginning of the 1980s.

Point the camera at everyone who is not doing the guitar solo to protect everyone’s daughters.

Damn, I feel like I just opened buried treasure watching this. Amazing stuff man.

I can only imagine how devastatingly powerful it must have been to be in that studio.

The drummer looks so confused, like he just met these guys, took a big round of coke with them and decides to play drums for them but then the effect of the drugs disappear in the middle of the performance.

Diamond Head time warped back to 1959 to record this performance.

Oh my god, these videos are their weight in gold. No overdubs, no tricks, only pure nwobhm of the first order.

Was fortunate enough to have seen diamond head on numerous occasions back in the day. Amazing band. The white album was way way ahead of its time. Gutted they never went on to be the giants of metal they should have become. One of life's great mysteries. Still listen to them now though so thank you DIAMOND HEAD. 🤘🤘🤘🤘❤️.

It sounds like the singer is using a PA system from a McDonald's drive thru.

The guitar work in this is insane. Unbelievable. I'm so glad I found this video

Total classic. NWOBHM at it's best. Great riffs and without this, thrash would never have been born.

Diamond Head the band that should have been on top of the rock/ metal community but never was. Can't wait for the next album!

the music is like 10 years ahead of the era itself. AWESOME!!!!!!!

This was recorded on an old Black and White television via VHS tape , the age and recording is why it looks so old. Most 1970's working class households in Britian didn't have coloured TV's yet alone video recorders, the fact someone did record and save this is a miracle....🤘🏻💎👍🏻 Edit: I could be wrong but it could be the fan recorded with a old camcorder pointed at the TV?? There was a screen reflection 00.7 - 00.11ish and it has been edited since..

This is raw like a high school dance back in the 70s love it

This is the beginning of all Heavy music.

And so is the birth of HEAVYMETAL 👤👍🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Honestly, my favorite Metallica songs all ended up being covers and what I like most about them are all the bands they turned me on to.

True pioneers in not just metal, but innovators that without which thrash metal wouldn’t exist.

i cant imagine what people in 1979 was thinking about this, amazing

Thank you, RU-vid algorithm. It's nice to see where this amazing song originated.

This singer reminds me Joey Tempest from Europe in the beginning of their career, excellent band, thanks for uploading this jewel.

Seen these a few times in the early 80s supporting Judas Priest and iron maiden at the Birmingham odeon ... They always had a loyal following

First time I listened to this I fell in love with thrash metal

My mother was a witch, she was burned alive Thankless little bitch For the tears I cried Take her down now Don't wanna see her face Blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace Twenty-seven, everyone was nice Got to see them, make them pay the price See their bodies out on the ice Take my time Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil, I am man, yes Watched my mother die I lost my head Revenge now I sought To break with my bread Takin' no chance You come with me I'll split you to the bone Help set you free Twenty-seven, everyone was nice Got to see them, make them pay the price See their bodies out on the ice Take my time Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil, I am man, yes I am Oh oh On with the action now, I'll strip your pride I'll spread your blood around I'll see you ride Your face is scarred with steel, wounds deep and neat Like a double dozen before you Smell so sweet Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil, I am man, yes I am My soul is longing before, await my heir Sent to avenge my mother, sleep myself My face is long forgotten, my face not my own Sweet and timely whore, take me home Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man, yes I am I'm with the action now, I'll strip your pride I'll spread your blood around, I'll see you ride Your face is scarred with steel, your spirits dance Like a double dozen before you, no romance Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man Yes I am

what the fuck am i listening to? why have i never heard these guys before? now i need their whole catalogue.

This is great. These guys were on to something way ahead of their time. They truly were tapped into a Rock style that just had not been tapped into before. True pioneers in Rock. Mad respect for them. Many pioneers in Rock just don't get the real respect they truly deserve for their contributions in Rock. I can only say that it is truly great that we are able to see this performance by these guys. Color footage would be cool , but not matter what, this is a great video.

wow, 40 Years ago... and still one of the best Metal-Songs in History. Its nice to see, if Brian Tatler, he wrote this Song, plays together with Metallica.

In Norwegian Black Metal they still use the same recording gear.

Pre-Metallica "Am I Evil" Seriously though despite being grainy this footage is entertaining, and historically amazing. Salutes to Diamond Head 🤘🏽🤘🏽💯💯

OH MY GOODNESS I DONT THINK A SINGLE PERSON REALIZED HOW AHEAD OF THEIR OWN TIME THEY WERE WITH THIS SONG!!!

Brian was 18 years old in this! I mean wow..... this band should have gone somewhere

This video was recommended to me and I don’t know why.

And so, Metal was born

Wow, that was awesome.Strange when people talk about early Metal their name is hardly mentioned...HUMMMM!!!!!!

I hear "Seek and Destroy" MASSIVELY in this tune. Huge obvious influence on Metallica.

When they're dressed like this, my brain is in more of a Sabbath mindset, and I suddenly hear the influence more strongly

Wow. I bet crowds at that time were clueless as to the greatness of this.

diamond head rules such an underrated band but in my opinion theyre legends

Totally legendary.... am i right? Brian was only 16 years old at that time? Amazing...

How did I miss this band going up; they are pioneers of rock.

Never heard of this band - RU-vid recommend this vid just now - this is bad-ass!! 🔥🔥🔥

Someone needs to edit this so Ed Sullivan introduces them.

It's amazing how tight they sounded even before their first record! Of course, they'd already been playing for 3 or 4 years at this point, but still...

Great Metallica cover. The production makes it seem old. You guys killed it! Top notch editing from the younger generation!

"Twenty-seven, everyone was nice. Gotta see 'em pay the price. See their bodies out on the ice. Take my time."

James Hetfield should learn those dance moves

If the Oxford English dictionary ever publishes a book containing meanings of popular phrases in the English language, they should put a photograph of this band beside the phrase "criminally underrated"

This is the shit .This is a 70's Rock Band in its truest form.

Way ahead of their time!

Led Zeppelin if a metal band

They seemed very confident.

One of the baddest guitar riffs ever

Super classic

This Is gold, Jerry! Gold!!!

I've been a Diamond Head fan for years and never knew that Sean played guitar. Stunning!

Diamondhead brought me here 🤘🔥🤘

Pionner of heavy metal...

Wow.. They were covering this song couple years before its been officially produced by Metallica.. Magnificent!!! 😆😆😆

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER...!!!

It's the wonder of nature baby!

In ‘79!!!!! Wild!!!!!!!!!