Sad news today as Heavy Metal legend and former Mercyful Fate bassist Timi Hansen has died after a long battle with cancer. His death was confirmed by his former bandmate, Mercyful Fate singer King Diamond, who shared the new on Facebook. The 61-year-old Hansen played in Mercyful Fate from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1992 to 1993. He was also a member of Kind Diamond from 1985 to 1987. Timi had to bow out of the previously announced 2020 Mercyful Fate reunion tour due to his illness. Hansen went public with his diagnosis in early August after it was announced that he wouldn’t participate. Filling in for him will be Armored Saint, Fates Warning, and Motor Sister bassist Joey Vera. On August 1, Timi released a statement via the Facebook page of Livia Zita-Bendix, wife of Kind Diamond, saying: “There are many questions about why I won’t appear as part of the Mercyful Fate reunion in 2020. The honest explanation is simply that I am currently fighting a fight against cancer. But believe me, I will fight everything I can to be ready. “It’s my big dream to be on stage again playing the old Mercyful Fate numbers in front of all of you very loyal fans. If this wasn’t going to happen, I’d like to ask you to take good care of Joey Vera. I totally agree with King that he is a perfect ‘stand-in,’ so take good care of him.”

We send out sympathies to Timi’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time.

King wrote in a Facebook message earlier today: “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.”