Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo. Formed in 1984, the group originally featured guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (originally known as "Destructor"), bassist and vocalist Jørn "Necrobutcher" Stubberud and drummer Kjetil Manheim. The band's current lineup includes Necrobutcher (who rejoined in 1995 after originally leaving in 1991), drummer Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg (since 1988), vocalist Attila Csihar (first from 1992 to 1993, and since 2004), and guitarists Morten Bergeton "Teloch" Iversen (since 2011) and Charles "Ghul" Hedger (since 2012).
History 1984–1993 Mayhem was formed in 1984 by Necrobutcher with Euronymous and Manheim. After two years of rehearsals, the trio released its first demo Pure Fucking Armageddon in early 1986. Shortly after its release, the group became a four-piece when Eirik "Messiah" Norheim took over vocals from Euronymous. Within a year, the vocalist had been replaced by Sven Erik "Maniac" Kristiansen, who performed on the group's first EP Deathcrush. Both Maniac and Manheim left shortly after the EP's release, and were briefly replaced by Vomit members Kittil Kittilsen and Torben Grue, respectively.
During early 1988, Euronymous and Necrobutcher rebuilt Mayhem with the addition of new vocalist Per "Dead" Ohlin and drummer Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg. The new incarnation remained stable for circa three l years, recording several live releases, but did not issue a full-length studio album. On 8 April 1991, Dead died by suicide at a house shared with Euronymous and Hellhammer. Due to his death, and the guitarist's subsequent actions (including taking photos of his body, one of which was later used as the cover for a bootleg release), Necrobutcher left Mayhem.
After a brief stint with Stian "Occultus" Johannsen, the band returned in late 1991 with Attila Csihar on vocals and Varg "Count Grishnackh" Vikernes on bass. This lineup recorded Mayhem's long-awaited full-length debut De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, which featured material written by Dead and Necrobutcher. However, before it could be released, Vikernes murdered Euronymous on August 10, 1993, stabbing the guitarist 23 times after growing tensions and business disputes. The group consequently disbanded, with De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas receiving a release in 1994.
Since 1995 In late 1995, Mayhem was reformed with a lineup including Hellhammer, former members Maniac (vocals) and Necrobutcher (bass), and new guitarist Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen. This incarnation remained intact for almost nine years, issuing the group's second and third full-length studio albums, Grand Declaration of War and Chimera. In November 2004, Maniac left the band and was replaced by another former vocalist, Attila Csihar. One more album followed, Ordo Ad Chao, before Blasphemer left in August 2008 claiming that he "simply [didn't] see any future for me in the band anymore".
Blasphemer was replaced on tour by Krister "Morfeus" Dreyer starting in October 2008, who was joined by French guitarist Silmaeth starting in March 2009. Just under two years later, Silmaeth was replaced by Morten Bergeton "Teloch" Iversen, and in 2012 Morfeus was replaced by Charles "Ghul" Hedger.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsNecrobutcherall Mayhem releases, except De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994),Co–wrote some of the music and lyrics. and Life Eternal (2008)Hellhammerdrumsall Mayhem releases from Studio Tracks (1990) onwardsAttila CsiharvocalsTeloch2011–presentguitarall Mayhem releases from Esoteric Warfare (2014) onwards, except retrospective live releasesGhul2012–present
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsEuronymous1984–1993 Nils Brekke Svensson1984 vocalsnoneStåle Redalen Per Nilsenguitar Kjetil Manheim1984–1987Messiah1986vocalsDeathcrush (1987) , The Dawn of the Black Hearts (1995) – Bonus tracks only, Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando (2021) – guest appearance on 1 trackManiac and Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando (2021) – guest appearance on 1 trackKittil Kittilsen1987–1988 noneTorben GruedrumsDead1988–1991 vocalsOccultus1991Helvete (The Occultus Sessions 1991)Count Grishnackh1992–1993bass Blackthorn1992–1993rhythm guitarDe Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) (songwriting only)Blasphemer1995–2008all Mayhem releases from Wolf's Lair Abyss (1997) to Ordo Ad Chao (2007)Alexander Nordgaren1997–1998 guitarnoneSanrabb2004 Ihizahg2004–2005 Morfeus2008–2012 Silmaeth2009–2011
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1984 – early 1986Euronymous – guitar, vocals Necrobutcher – bass, vocals Manheim – drumsPure Fucking Armageddon (1986)Early – late 1986Messiah – vocals Euronymous – guitar, vocals Necrobutcher – bass, vocals Manheim – drums, piano, vocalsDeathcrush (1987)Late 1986 – late 1987Maniac – vocals Euronymous – guitar, vocals Necrobutcher – bass, vocals Manheim – drums, piano, vocalsLate 1987 – early 1988Kittil Kittilsen – vocals Euronymous – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Torben Grue – drumsnoneEarly 1988 – April 1991Dead – vocals Euronymous – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsStudio Tracks (1990) Live in Leipzig (1993) Dawn of the Black Hearts (1995) Out from the Dark (1996) Live in Zeitz (2016) Live in Jessheim (2017) Live in Sarpsborg (2019)Mid–late 1991Occultus – vocals, bass Euronymous – guitar Hellhammer – drumsnoneLate 1991 – August 1993Attila Csihar – vocals Euronymous – lead guitar Count Grishnackh – bass Hellhammer – drums Blackthorn – rhythm guitarDe Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) Life Eternal (2008)Band inactive August 1993 – late 1995Late 1995 – November 2004Maniac – vocals Blasphemer – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsWolf's Lair Abyss (1997) Live in Bischofswerda (1998) Mediolanum Capta Est (1999) Grand Declaration of War (2000) Live in Marseille 2000 (2001) European Legions (2001) Chimera (2004)November 2004 – August 2008Attila Csihar – vocals Blasphemer – guitar, bass Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsOrdo Ad Chao (2007)October 2008 – March 2009Attila Csihar – vocals Morfeus – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsnoneMarch 2009 – February 2011Attila Csihar – vocals Morfeus – guitar Silmaeth – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsFebruary 2011 – late 2012Attila Csihar – vocals Morfeus – guitar Teloch – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsLate 2012 – presentAttila Csihar – vocals Teloch – guitar Ghul – guitar Necrobutcher – bass Hellhammer – drumsEsoteric Warfare (2014) De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive (2016) Live in Guatemala City (2017) Live in Montreal (2018) Daemon (2019) Atavistic Black Disorder/Kommando (2021)
Recording +AlbumVocalsGuitar 1Guitar 2BassDrumsPure Fucking ArmageddonEuronymousNecrobutcherManheimDeath RehearsalManiacEuronymousDeathcrushManiac (3 tracks) Messiah (3 tracks)Studio TracksDeadHellhammerOnly Death is RealLive in LeipzigDe Mysteriis Dom SathanasAttila CsiharEuronymousBlackthornCount GrishnackhThe Dawn of the Black HeartsDeadEuronymousNecrobutcherWolf's Lair AbyssManiacBlasphemerLive in BischofswerdaMediolanum Capta EstGrand Declaration of WarLive in Marseille 2000ChimeraOrdo Ad ChaoAttila CsiharLife EternalEuronymousBlackthornCount GrishnackhEsoteric WarfareTelochGhulNecrobutcherLive in ZeitzDeadEuronymousDe Mysteriis Dom Sathanas AliveAttila CsiharTelochGhulLive in Guatemala CityLive in SarpsborgDeadEuronymousLive in JessheimDaemonAttila CsiharTelochGhulAtavistic Black Disorder / KommandoDaemonic RitesLive in SkiMessiahEuronymousManheim
References
External links Mayhem official website