MAYHEM

Biography
Mayhem is a black metal band formed in 1984[2] in Oslo, Norway. They are regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene. Mayhem's career has been highly controversial, primarily due to the suicide of vocalist Dead, murder of guitarist Euronymous, and their violent stage performances.

Over time Mayhem has evolved through a variety of black metal styles, delving at times into areas of dark avant-garde industrial and electronica

Early years (1984–1987)
During 1986, Mayhem recorded their first demo, entitled Pure Fucking Armageddon

Inspired by groups such as Venom, Slayer, and Celtic Frost,[4] Mayhem was founded in 1984 by guitarist/vocalist Øystein Aarseth (aka Euronymous), bass guitarist Jørn Stubberud (aka Necrobutcher), and drummer Kjetil Manheim (aka Manheim). The band name is taken from the Venom song, "Mayhem with Mercy."[5] This lineup recorded and released the demo Pure Fucking Armageddon. Euronymous concentrated solely on guitar following the hire of a vocalist in 1986. During 1986 and 1987, Sven Erik Kristiansen (aka Maniac) and Eirik Nordheim (aka Messiah) were recruited as vocalists. This lineup recorded the band's first album, Deathcrush, and released it through Euronymous's newly formed label Posercorpse Music.

The initial 1,000 copy release of Deathcrush quickly sold out. It was later repressed in 1993 by Posercorpse Music, which was renamed Deathlike Silence Productions as a joint venture with Euronymous's Oslo specialist record shop Helvete. Euronymous's plans for this new outlet included that it was to be "...like a black church in the future. We've thought about having total darkness inside, so that people would have to carry torches to be able to see the records."[citation needed]

By mid-1988 both Manheim and Maniac had left the band: Manheim left to find a mainstream job, and Maniac left due to depression

Members
Current
* Necrobutcher – bass guitar (1984–1991, 1995–present)
* Hellhammer – drums (1988–1993, 1995–present)
* Attila Csihar – vocals (1993, 2004–present)
* Morfeus – guitars (2008–present)

Former
* Messiah – vocals (briefly in 1986)
* Manheim – drums (1984–1988)
* Torben Grue – drums (briefly in 1988)
* Kittil Kittilsen – vocals (briefly in 1988)
* Dead – vocals (1988–1991) (deceased)
* Occultus – vocals, bass guitar (briefly in 1991)
* Count Grishnackh – bass guitar (1992–1993) (incarcerated)
* Blackthorn – guitars (1992–1993)
* Euronymous – guitars (1984–1993), vocals (1984-1986) (deceased)
* Nordgaren – guitars (1997–1998)
* Maniac – vocals (1986–1988, 1995–2004)
* Blasphemer – guitars (1995–2008)

Discography
* 1987: Deathcrush
* 1994: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
* 1997: Wolf's Lair Abyss
* 2000: Grand Declaration of War
* 2004: Chimera
* 2007: Ordo Ad Chao