Black Diamond Heavies

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. 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" is reminiscent of and has been compared[by whom?] to singer Tom Waits. 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. In 2007, with the band now signed to Alive Records, Black Diamond Heavies released their first studio album, Every Damn Time. In 2008, Black Diamond Heavies released their second studio album under Alive Records, A Touch Of Someone Else's Class. 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. 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. 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. Jim Diamond (music producer) of Ghetto Recorders mixed Solitary Pleasure. On March 13, 2025, guitar and harmonica player Mark "Porkchop" Holder died at 52. Studio albums EPs Live albums "A Touch of Someone Else's Class – Black Diamond Heavies | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2021. "Alive Naturalsound Records | Black Diamond Heavies". Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2011. "AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2021. "Plug In Music | Black Diamond Heavies | Alive as Fuck<! -- Bot generated title -->". Pluginmusic.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2021. "Alive Naturalsound Records | James Leg<! -- Bot generated title -->". Archived from the original on March 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2011. "Mark "Porkchop" Holder: Blues Artist Played Around the U.S. and Europe". Chattanoogan.com. March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025. Black Diamond Heavies discography at Discogs