Black Diamond Heavies

Black Diamond Heavies
John Wesley Myers in 2008 playing for Black Diamond Heavies
Background information
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Rock, blues rock, punk rock, soul, blues
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Alive
Members	John Wesley Myers (bass keys, Fender Rhodes, organ, and lead vocals 2004–present) Van Campbell (vocals/drums, 2004 – present)
Past members	Mark "Porkchop" Holder (†)(guitar and harmonica, 2004 – 2006)

Black Diamond Heavies is a United States blues rock band originating from Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of John Wesley Myers aka Reverend James Leg, formerly of The Immortal Lee County Killers, on bass keys, Fender Rhodes, organ, and vocals with Van Campbell on drums.

Style

After the departure of Mark "Porkchop" Holder, the guitarist, Black Diamond Heavies set out on a venture to take on the blues from a new perspective, with the only instruments being a keyboard and drums. Myers' soulful, "raspy growl" ^[1] is reminiscent of and has been compared^{[ by whom? ]} to singer Tom Waits.

History

You Damn Right EP

Black Diamond Heavies formed in 2004 as a three piece band: John Wesley Myers on the keyboard and vocals, Mark "Porkchop" Holder on guitar, harmonica and lead vocals, and Van Campbell on the drums. They soon after started performing and in 2005 the Black Diamond Heavies self-released their first EP, You Damn Right. In 2006, Holder left the band after becoming discouraged with the hardships of life on the road. Myers and Campbell decided to continue the band as a two-man act. Soon after, in the summer of 2006, the band was given a record deal with Alive Records. ^[2]

Every Damn Time

In 2007, with the band now signed to Alive Records, Black Diamond Heavies released their first studio album, Every Damn Time. ^[2]

A Touch of Someone Else's Class

In 2008, Black Diamond Heavies released their second studio album under Alive Records, A Touch Of Someone Else's Class. ^[2] For their second studio album Black Diamond Heavies turned to Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys who produced the album while it was recorded at his Akron Analog Studio. ^[3]

Alive As Fuck

In 2009, Black Diamond Heavies released their first live album, Alive As Fuck, recorded during a gig at the Masonic Lodge, in Covington, KY,. This album was released under the Alive Records label. ^{[2] [4]}

Solitary Pleasure

In December 2010, Myers recorded a solo album, Solitary Pleasure, under his pseudonym, James Leg. The album was released on April 5, 2011, by Alive Records. ^[5] Jim Diamond (music producer) of Ghetto Recorders mixed Solitary Pleasure.

On March 13, 2025, guitar and harmonica player Mark "Porkchop" Holder died at 52. ^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Release date	Title	Label	Notes
2007	Every Damn Time	Alive Records
2008	A Touch Of Someone Else's Class	Alive Records
2011	Solitary Pleasure	Alive Records	As James Leg
2012	Painkillers	Alive Records	As James Leg, With Left Lane Cruiser

EPs

Release date	Title	Label
2005	You Damn Right	Self-Released

Live albums

Release date	Title	Label
2009	Alive As Fuck	Alive Records

References

1. "A Touch of Someone Else's Class – Black Diamond Heavies | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 June 2021.
2. "Alive Naturalsound Records | Black Diamond Heavies". Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
3. "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 June 2021.
4. "Plug In Music | Black Diamond Heavies | Alive as Fuck<! -- Bot generated title -->". Pluginmusic.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
5. "Alive Naturalsound Records | James Leg<! -- Bot generated title -->". Archived from the original on 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
6. "Mark "Porkchop" Holder: Blues Artist Played Around the U.S. and Europe". Chattanoogan.com. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.

External Links

• Black Diamond Heavies discography at Discogs