BLACK Country rockers Diamond Head are warming up for a trip stateside with a big Brum gig.

The band is currently co-headlining a five-date UK tour with master rock guitarist Uil Jon Roth which will include a date at Birmingham's O2 Academy 2 on Friday October 4.

The gig will be Diamond Head's first in the second city in three years and their last UK show before the band heads to America for a 15-date tour of America's west coast.

The shows will be sure to feature the band's signature tracks which propelled Diamond Head to the top of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 70s and inspired some of the biggest names on today's rock scene.

One fan certain to be catching the American shows will be rock legend Lars Ulrich who formed Metallica following a trip to Britain to follow a Diamond Head tour.

When Diamond Head's guitarist Brian Tatler discovered the young Lars had nowhere to sleep after a gig on the tour he offered the budding drummer a bed for the night at his Wollaston home - an act of generosity which placed the Stourbridge-based band at the heart of the Metallica story.

Decades later Metallica still records cover versions of Diamond Head tracks and Brian is a regular guest performer at Metallica's massive arena gigs.

Meanwhile Diamond Head are set to embark on the US tour to promote a new greatest hits compilation entitled Am I Evil: The Best Of which features all their classic tracks.

Brian Tatler said: “Diamond Head is excited to be returning to the United States for a full West coast tour staring in Vancouver and finishing up in Texas. Special guests for all the dates will be NWOBHM legends Raven."