This thread involves sheep and litigation and Mayhem (the band)

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Sheep Head Breaks Music Fan's Skull

OSLO, Norway - A flying sheep's head hit a concertgoer and fractured his skull at a concert of metal band Mayhem.

The band, part of Norway's death metal music scene, was carving up a dead sheep as part of its stage act when the animal's head flew off lead singer Maniac's knife and struck Per Kristian Hagen, 25.

The show was Thursday in Bergen, 487 kilometers (302 miles) west of the capital, Oslo.

"My relationship to sheep is a bit ambivalent now. I like them, but not when they come flying through the air," Hagen told The Associated Press Monday from his hospital room. "I have a headache now." He is expected to recover.

Hagen, a Mayhem fan, filed involuntary assault and battery charges against the band. The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

Mayhem member Rune Eriksen, whose stage name is Blasphemer, said the incident was unfortunate.

"The whole thing was an accident, but maybe it would be an idea for another show," he said.

Eriksen promised Hagen a free ticket to the group's next performance.

Police detective Carl-Petter Leganger told the AP an investigation has started, but "nothing suggests this was a conscious act."

teeny (teeny), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

Several points:

a) what would a band you loved have to do to make you sue them?

b) Aww, Blasphemer is sorry. I bet he feels really bad.

c) "My relationship to sheep is a bit ambivalent now."

teeny (teeny), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

Both sides seem to be taking this pretty well.

Nick A. (Nick A.), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

I dunno. "Its an idea for another show" doesn't seem to be a very sorrowful comment.

I think that the whole thing is hilarious, myself. Especially the sound bites on both sides.

-
Alan

Alan Conceicao, Monday, 10 March 2003 21:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

Another article here

Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 10 March 2003 21:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

well, i hope they do the socially responsible thing and cook the sheep and give it to the homeless afterwards. heh.

i can't believe they still do crap like this.

your null fame (yournullfame), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

"He still likes their music and now hopes to recover before Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band start their concert tour." - From the second linked article (also hysterical and including a photo of pig-part-flinging).

Ralph Myerz? Mayhem fans listening to 'radio-friendly downtempo?' Perhaps this wasn't an accident ;-)

Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

b... b... but how can MAYHEM still be going when their lead "singer" and main man EURONYMOUS was murdered by rival metaller COUNT GRISNAKH of BURZUM?

DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

My God, that's one of the funniest pictures ever!

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

He looks like The Crow, and the pig meat looks photoshopped in...

Anyway, with vocalist Per Ohlin and guitarist/songwriter Øystein Aarseth dead (and session bass player Vikernes in jail and session vocalist Czihar back to Hungary), drummer Jan-Axel Blomberg re-hired the old vocalist and bass player from Mayhem's demo days, and a new guitarist (Rune Eriksen).

Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

Can I just note that a news story listed on that last linked page had the headline: "Woman who nursed puppies has no regrets?"

nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 00:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

b... b... but how can MAYHEM still be going when their lead "singer" and main man EURONYMOUS was murdered by rival metaller COUNT GRISNAKH of BURZUM?

Money.....

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 00:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

Not to mention "Ballet dancer admits murder fantasies, but denies killing prostitute".

I love Norway!

Siegbran (eofor), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 00:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Look at the Norway picture links though; it's all quite beautiful.

teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 02:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

four years pass...

It is making me laugh, to say "Jan-Axel Blomberg" on this thread. You are his mother, or just saying "Hellhammer", probably ok? You think? >_<

Pål Útlendi, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 08:50 (sixteen years ago) link

b... b... but how can MAYHEM still be going when their lead "singer" and main man EURONYMOUS was murdered by rival metaller COUNT GRISNAKH of BURZUM?

Uh, Euronymous was never the lead vocalist of Mayhem, he was the guitar player at the time of his murder.

Mayhem's gone through several vocalists anyway....

Bo Jackson Overdrive, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 15:17 (sixteen years ago) link

Ordo ad Chao is so fucking great

J0hn D., Tuesday, 1 January 2008 16:25 (sixteen years ago) link

I'll have to check it out. I was put off doing so by negative comments from a person whose taste I normally trust.

moley, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 19:15 (sixteen years ago) link

Coincidentally I listened to this through for the first time the other day. It's mighty mighty good. I know it's a cliche to make a beeline for the epic, but Illuminate Eliminate really is as good as any 10-minute black metal song has any right to be (which is fucking awesome).

Just got offed, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 19:59 (sixteen years ago) link

three months pass...

Wednesday 23 April 2008

We're really sorry to announce that MAYHEM guitarist / songwriter Blasphemer has decided to leave the band. Here's the musician's comment:

"It is with these written words that I hereby retract myself from my position as the guitar player of Mayhem.

The main reason behind this conclusion lies in the fact that I simply don't see any future for me in the band anymore, at least not a future I'd like to participate in over the coming years. I've been playing my part in the band now for more than 13 years already, having composed, produced and released several albums with great vision, dedication and craftsmanship, to arrive at this crossroad of opposites. Sooner or later, all things comes to an end, and in my case, this circle is complete.

For some of you this might not come as the biggest surprise, as I've clearly stated in several interviews that I was not sure what the next step would be. These "hints" were partly rooted in the fact that our latest album fulfilled all of the expectations, visions and aspects of negativity that I felt I wanted to express with this band, and also, of similar importance, that I felt tired of both the touring aspects, amidst its turbulence and personal differences, and also my role in the band.

It has been a dark, devoted and spellbinding journey, and as some beings and entities develop, others remain the same. I've developed my essence. No questions. However, the legacy of MAYHEM will / must always remain what it always has been, and I wish to thank all parts involved and to wish them all the best for the future. I also would like to thank my followers over the years, from "Wolf's Lair..." to "Ordo...", my vision has been clear. I'm also sure the band will continue with a respectful formation, and that an eventual album will be placed "up there", where it (should) belong.

I have now personally chosen to focus on other paths in terms of creativity and vision. My "child of heart" AVA INFERI has already a busy schedule for the future and our third album is being crafted as we speak. I will also re-surface with new will and blood in a future extreme project. You have not heard the last of me, on the contrary. It's all about to begin.

Note that the few already scheduled shows will go on as planned WITH me.

Rune Eriksen/Blasphemer".

StanM, Wednesday, 23 April 2008 19:49 (fifteen years ago) link

Too bad, he was the main reason that Mayhem has not tarnished the memories of the Dead/Euro days and still remained interesting and unpredictable with every release.

Siegbran, Thursday, 24 April 2008 14:25 (fifteen years ago) link

seven years pass...

Saw Mayhem last night at music hall of williamsburg. Totally random, my barber gave me the ticket because he couldn't go. Since it was a Tuesday I had the whole upstairs bar area pretty much to myself (maybe there were thirty other people, but no line at the bar.) Most ppl wanted to be close to the action I guess.

Even though hellhammer is a garbage human he is an amazing drummer.

Treeship, Wednesday, 25 November 2015 13:35 (eight years ago) link

I'm going to see them tonight. I"d be lying if I said I wasn't excited - this was one of the first black metal bands I got into. I remember seeing the Dawn of the Black Hearts album in a store (this was a really awesome record store in Tallahassee called Vinyl Fever) and almost throwing up when I saw the post-suicide pic of Dead. wound up buying it a month later and loving it. and then loving De Mysteriis, Wolf's Lair Abyss, and pretty much most of their albums after (including this year's Esoteric Warfare).

agreed on Hellhammer - I love his drumming but his homophobia is gross. I'm just glad he's not the frontman.

I can't wait to see Attila. and I peeked at the setlist - had no idea it was going to be so Deathcrush/De Mysteriis heavy. that makes me happy. though I wouldn't have minded hearing more off of this year's album. It's great - play it!

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Friday, 27 November 2015 13:24 (eight years ago) link

Saw them two years ago with Attila - it was a very enjoyable greatest hits package and Attila is a great frontman. I can imagine they're not playing much off Esoteric Warfare, those songs aren't exactly the biggest crowdpleasers.

I remember seeing them around 1999 in Rotterdam (the tour promoting Wolf's Lair Abyss) where Maniac had apparently cut himself too deeply at an earlier show (self-mutilation was his thing then), was left behind in some hospital and the caravan moved on - Blasphemer took over vocals and Necrobutcher proceeded to tell the audience in between songs what an asshole Maniac was or something...it's no sheep's head but notable anyway. I recorded that gig and I should still have that tape somewhere on the attic - given the big trade in shitty Mayhem bootlegs I might as well make a few buck off it.

Siegbran, Friday, 27 November 2015 15:19 (eight years ago) link

HOLY FUCK

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Saturday, 28 November 2015 04:56 (eight years ago) link

Funeral Fog at deafening volume is manna 2 me

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Saturday, 28 November 2015 04:56 (eight years ago) link

"Deathcrush" was as violent a pit as I've ever seen

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Sunday, 6 December 2015 02:20 (eight years ago) link

one year passes...

really feel like "Mayhem was mostly just De Mysteriis and a wave of negative publicity spun into fame" is the most boring opinion imaginable. Wolf's Lair Abyss, Ordo Ad Chao, Esoteric Warfare are all solid albums. and Mediolanum Capta Est is a good live album ratcheted up to great due to Hellhammer.

Neanderthal, Sunday, 12 February 2017 05:48 (seven years ago) link

Seeing them do De Mysteriis in full tonight.

Inquisition opening!

Neanderthal, Monday, 13 February 2017 12:51 (seven years ago) link

Guys. Go to this tour. I cannot even describe how great this was

Neanderthal, Tuesday, 14 February 2017 04:09 (seven years ago) link

Seconded (saw the Minneapolis show). Inquisition, the Columbian duo that opened was also a lot of fun.

by the light of the burning Citroën, Tuesday, 14 February 2017 04:19 (seven years ago) link

Inquisition were phenomenal. I already loved them on disc but Dagon was on fuckin' fire in person.

Neanderthal, Tuesday, 14 February 2017 05:08 (seven years ago) link

but no offense to him but like hearing De Mysteriis in full live with the full band in cloaks and Atilla sounding sick as fuck was a great goddamn night.

only regret = not hearing "Deathcrush" tonight i wanted to hiiiiiiit people so bad but it was a great show.

Neanderthal, Tuesday, 14 February 2017 05:09 (seven years ago) link

two years pass...

really digging the new one. Attila sounds just as vicious as a middle aged man

When I am afraid, I put my toast in you (Neanderthal), Saturday, 26 October 2019 01:05 (four years ago) link

On October 16th 2019, in an interview with Loudwire and Consequence of Sound, Necrobutcher revealed that he also had had plans to kill Euronymous [who was killed first by Varg Vikernes] since he was disgusted by Euronymous's treatment of Dead, and in that same interview he spoke about the Lords of Chaos movie, saying that the movie saddened him, expressing that he did not like it, although he was surprised that Hollywood cared about Mayhem enough to make the movie, and he also objected to the movie because it was based on the Lords of Chaos book, which he described as "the worst book ever".

well then

When I am afraid, I put my toast in you (Neanderthal), Saturday, 26 October 2019 01:07 (four years ago) link

four months pass...

been doing a full discography run and spending a lot of time thinking they're the best band ever

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Thursday, 5 March 2020 13:46 (four years ago) link

four months pass...

really think De Mysteriis really needed Hellhammer-ish drumming to elevate it. not that the songs aren't good, but the drums make the riffs a lot more percussive, which helps given their simplicity and blunt force nature.

Lady Antibody (Neanderthal), Saturday, 25 July 2020 01:43 (three years ago) link


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