Norway, where it all began. in the small town of Oslo, Norway. in a typical house lived a typical teenager, you might think . . . but you couldn’t be more wrong. That teenager’s name was Oystein Aarseth. He is the founder of Mayhem, and the lead guitarist. Mayhem was founded in 1984, by of course Oystein, or his band name Euronymous. Euronymous was born on March 22, 1968 and he died August 10, 1993 in Oslo, Norway. There were two other band members in Mayhem, from 1984-1992: on drums, Jan Axel, main guitarist Euronymous, and Dead who was vocals. In 1988, per “Dead” Ohlin became Mayhem’s vocalist and Jan Axel “Hellhammer” Blomberg became its drummer. By 1991, Dead, Euronymous and Hellhammer were living in a house in the woods near Kråkstad, which was used as a place for the band members to rehearse. Mayhem bassist Necributcher said that, after living together for a while, Dead and Euronymous “got on each others nerves a lot” and “weren’t really friends at the end”. Hellhammer recalls that Dead once went outside to sleep in the woods because Euronymous was playing synth music that Dead hated. Euronymous then went outside and began shooting in the air with a shot gun. Varg Vikernes claims that Dead once stabbed Euronymous with a knife. Dead was from Sweden, Norway’s next door neighbor. Pelle was only 19 years old when he joined Mayhem in 1988, and left in 1991. There was one thing Dead could not hide, his darkness and depression. As a child, he was bullied and beaten up so bad that he actually died for a moment and that moment came to define his whole life. Dead made his stage name “Dead” because he was so fascinated by death. He had dedicated his whole life to death. Dead was known for putting on a good performance, and when I say that, I mean he would always amaze the crowd with his darkness. Pelle was sweet, kind, and funny. but it was said that he did not get along with others. Pelle was loved by so many people, but sadly, he took his own life on April 8, 1991. Pelle was struggling mentally, with depression, and he was so strong for holding on for how long he did, but he eventually gave up. RIP Dead, he was known all over the world, and loved by so many. He will forever be missed tremendously.

Lets talk a little bit more about Oystein, or better known as his stage name Euronymous. Euronymous was a Norwegian musician, and a founder of the early Norwegian black metal scene. He was co-founder and guitarist of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem, and was also the only consistent member from the band’s formation in 1984 until his death in 1993. He was also founder and owner of the extreme metal record label Death Like Silence productions, and also owned his own record shop in Oslo, called Helvete, Norwegian for “Hell.” Euronymous professed to being a Satanist and was known for making extreme misanthropic statements. He presented himself as leading a militant cult like group known as the “Black Metal Inner Circle” in August 1993. He was murdered by fellow musician and fellow band member Varg Vikernes. Euronymous was the one who created a new musical genre. He had his own label, and own record shop. He invented true Norwegian black metal. He will forever be known as the creator of true Norwegian black metal. RIP Euronymous.