Mayhem - Black Metal Band

Mayhem is one of the most important Norwegian black metal bands in the history of the genre. Founded by bassist Necrobutcher and drummer Manheim, Mayhem soon recruited guitarist Euronymous and vocalists Messiah and Maniac, to record the mediocre EP Deathcrush in 1987. Following its release, Manheim, Messiah and Maniac left the band, prompting new vocalist Dead and drummer Hellhammer to take over, which led to an immediate increase in musical performance quality.

Dead committed suicide in 1991 by shooting himself in the mouth with a shotgun. The shells were given to him by Varg Vikernes of Burzum renown. Upon discovering the scene, Euronymous took numerous pictures and allegedly collected bone fragments from Dead's skull. Some rumours even claim he made a stew out of bits of Dead's brain. Infuriated by Euronymous' behaviour, Necrobutcher left the band soon after, and his position as a bassist was filled by Varg Vikernes. Blackthorn was also recruited as an additional guitarist, and Attila Csihar joined the band as vocalist.

With this line up, and the collective song writing of Euronymous, Varg Vikernes and Blackthorn, Mayhem would go on to compose and record their greatest work, the masterpiece De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. After the recording, but before the official release, Varg Vikernes killed Euronymous in his appartement, effectively ending the band Mayhem. Ironically, Euronymous had firmly expressed his hope that black metal would incite young people to violence, torture, murder and pain in multiple interviews.

Later releases of the band under "The True Mayhem" moniker (ex. Esoteric Warfare) may safely be disregarded and ridiculed.