Timi "Grabber" Hansen, Bassist Of Mercyful Fate, Dead At 61

Earlier this year, it was announced that seminal black metal forefathers Mercyful Fate would reunite for a series of festival shows. However, the line-up that was announced did not include Timi "Grabber" Hansen, bass player on such classic albums as Melissa and Don't Break The Oath, as well as on King Diamond solo albums like Fatal Portrait and Abigail.

Now, it has been revealed that Timi has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 61.

King Diamond made the following statement regarding Hansen's death:

"I just found out that I lost one of my dearest friends, who has been fighting cancer for a long time, in such an incredibly brave way. He was not just my roommate on the early Mercyful Fate tours, but he was always my favorite bass player of all times.

"I was fortunate to have been able to visit him at his apartment with some other good friends, and we had a great afternoon that will never be forgotten. When I last talked to Timi on the phone on October 24th, I could understand that things had gotten tougher than they ever were, and yet he said 'we fight on'.

"I feel so so sad for his entire family, you have my absolute deepest sympathy.

"Rest in Peace my dear dear friend."

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Timi's bass playing style was crucial to the development of Mercyful Fate's sound. On the band's earliest albums, the elaborate guitar acrobatics of Hank Sherman and Michael Denner were driven by the powerful, gut-deep rhythms of Timi and drummer Kim Ruzz, who helped give the Fate's music the punch it needed to drive home their themes of satanism and morbidity.

Everyone at Kerrang! sends their condolences to Timi's family, friends, bandmates and loved ones during this difficult time.

King Diamond is currently out on a North American tour. Catch him live at one of the following dates:

November

02 - Dallas, TX - Bomb Factory
04 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
05 - Orlando, FL - Dr. Phillips Center
07 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
08 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
10 - Philadelphia, PA - The Tower Theater
11 - Baltimore, MD - The Lyric
12 - Montreal, QC - M-Telus
14 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
15 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora Theatre
16 - Louisville, KY - The Palace Theatre
18 - Chicago, IL - The Riviera
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Palace Theater
22 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
23 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
25 - Seattle, WA - The Paramount
26 - Portland, OR - The Schnitzer
27 - Vancouver, BC - The Queen Elizabeth
29 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield

December

01 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
02 - San Diego, CA - Magnolia
03 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim
04 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica

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