95% of the Text & Pictures courtesy of The Gallery
The initial composition of the band was Øystein Aarseth on the guitar, under the nickname of Euronymous, Jørn Stubberud, also known as Necrobutcher on the bass and Kjetil Manheim on the drums. A while before Dead’s appearance, who would haunt the band’s history, Nils Svensson was responsible for all vocals, followed by Stele. They would be replaced by Maniac, who also saved the band after Dead’s death. In all this chaotic layout a honourable mention goes to Kittil Kittilsen, who had been MAYHEM’s singer from 1987 until 1988, joining the band after Maniac left and stayed until Dead’s addition.
Their influences, according to them, were bands like VENOM, MOTORHEAD, SLAYER, BLACK SABBATH and BATHORY. Everything seemed “ideally” dark, what could go wrong?
the band was in the process of finding the perfect frontman. The one who would fit to the image they wanted to have, the one to skyrocket their scenic performance. And they did find him, but he did not last long…
Chapter One: You cannot be more Dead than that…
Per Yngve Ohlin (also known as Dead) had such an obsession with death that the underworld would envy him and do everything in its power to stay connected and in touch with him. Dead looked too good to be true. He had the whole package, but with it came an abundance of personal and psychological issues.
He would sniff dead animals to keep death’s scent in his nostrils, he would bury his clothes in the dirt and dig them out a few minutes before going on stage, as he wanted to present himself as a corpse. He did not hesitate to injure himself during live shows and he would throw chunks of dead animals to the crowd.
Per Yngve ”Dead” Ohlin
Stian Johannsen “Occultus”, who took over the vocals after Dead’s demise, had said about him that “He did not see himself as a human, he thought he was a being from another world. He had many visions, he believed that the blood was frozen in his veins, that he was dead. He knew he was going to die”.
Many tried to understand him, but it was probably unnecessary. Why analyse it when you have in front of you the person that brings your darkest fantasy to life, without even asking him to do so?
 |
| Per Yngve ”Dead” Ohlin |
Dead stayed with the band from 1988 until 1991, until the fine morning of the 8th of April 1991, when he decided to end his life in a way that would make Alfred Hitchcock flee in terror. Dead’s depression was on its peak, and, feeling only hatred and contempt for this poor world, he sliced his wrists, cut his throat and, because he was probably not entirely sure about the positive outcome of his actions, he shot his brains out with a shotgun. The note that was found next to him started “Sorry about the blood” and continued “Nobody will understand me, but as a brief explanation, I am not human, this is a dream and I am about to wake up” …
What he probably never imagined was that Euronymous would pick up his camera and take a few photos for the band’s family book.
Oh! He would also take a few pieces of his skull to make necklaces, so that the other members of the band could wear them during their shows, like good luck charms. Do you think this is morbid? But, wait, there is more…
One of photos in discussion would be the cover of MAYHEM’s live bootleg “Dawn Of The Black Hearts”, released on the 17th of February, 1995. I will not even say anything about the photo, you know Google and you know your stomach, happy hunting.
Chapter Two: Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are not.
A while after Dead’s suicide things got a bit weird and, naturally, members started to quit. Necrobutcher decided to walk to avoid killing someone (as we have heard in one of his most recent interviews) and the band continued their rehearsals with Occultus doing the vocals, while they started recording the album “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”. All this joy was very short lasting as Occultus called it quits after Euronymous threatened to kill him. What a sweetheart.
At the end of 1992 we had two new additions to the “Young and Restless” serial of a band. Attila Csihar of Tormentor and Varg Vikernes (Count Grishnackh) of Burzum were the newest recruits, with the last one writing the fatal act in MAYHEM’s story.
 |
| Euronymous at his record store ”Helvete” (Hell) |
Varg would try to take everything a step further and make a difference, something that would not seem very exciting to someone that wanted to keep the band’s reigns. After all, in 1993, Euronymous had made some serious business investments, creating Deathlike Silence Productions and opening Helvete record store.
In the events that followed, Varg decided to torch anything with a cross on it. He burned every church that stood in his path and, surely, made every fan of the band raise their glass to his name. Up until January of 1993 he had burned at least seven central churches, while he dared to burn one on Christmas day of 1992. He never accepted his actions as satanic, on the contrary, he regarded them as a “revenge” against Christianity and its influence.
Chapter Three: The Murder of Euronymous.
At the start of 1993, the police and the media had started to pay a lot attention to Helvete and the band, so Euronymous decided to shut up shop.
There was a lot of hostility between Varg and Øystein, and the relationship between the later and the Swedish Black Metal scene was on a tight rope.
On the night of the murder, Varg drove with Blackthorn from Bergen to Oslo. Blackthorn stayed in the car and Varg went upstairs by himself, to face Euronymous.
On the 10th of August 1993, Varg stabbed Øystein to death in his apartment in Oslo, although he declared that he was in self-defence after a very violent argument that broke between them. On the 19th of August 1993 he was arrested and convicted to 21 years in prison, not just for the murder but, as we have mentioned, he had not left a single church “undecorated”.
Varg Vikernes (Count Grishnackh) of Burzum
Chapter Four: And Now What?
After the murder, Hellhammer and Necrobutcher decided to continue with the band and work on the release of “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”.
There are many opinions and countless speculations as to the true nature of the incidents before and after. No-one can know for sure, besides the ones that lived it. Euronymous’ family asked Hellhammer to remove the parts where Varg could be heard playing the bass, but he never followed that request. The album was officially released in May of 1994 with Euronymous on the guitar and Varg on the bass.
For a number of people out there, Varg is regarded as traitor, even to this day, because he killed Euronymous and there are many who have sworn to avenge his untimely death. His loss is considered to be particularly felt in the Black Metal scene.
Chapter Five: Where do I Start?
So you came this far, and might now wonder where to start. The band have changed pretty much over the years. But if we focus on the first 10 years, then "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” is the obvious one. A 10/10 Perfect album.
If you want to know how Mayhem with Pelle ”Dead” sounded like, then the live album ”Live in Leipzig” is the best one in my opinion.