Per Yngve Ohlin, better known as ‘Dead,’ was born on January 16, 1969, in Sweden. He became known for his role as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem from 1988 until his death in 1991. He was the vocalist of the Swedish death/thrash band Morbid before joining Mayhem.
Dead was a well-known figure in the Norwegian black metal scene, and his influence still lingers in the genre today. His stage presence and dark lyrics led Roadrunner Records to rank him No. 48 out of 50 of The Greatest Metal Front-Men of All Time.
A Troubled Mind and Strange Behavior
Dead had a deep obsession with death and the macabre. He collected dead birds, wore shirts featuring funeral announcements, and helped shape the use of corpse paint in black metal.
Many people who knew him described him as introverted, melancholic, and difficult to connect with. Some even speculated he suffered from Cotard’s syndrome, a rare disorder where a person believes they are already dead.
He showed signs of severe depression and self-harm. He was often cutting himself in front of friends. Most people around him were concerned, but his bandmate Euronymous seemed to encourage these behaviors.
Dead also had unusual interests including vampirism, the occult, and ancient rituals. He disliked technology and preferred writing letters by hand instead of using computers.
Conflict with Euronymous and the Tension in Mayhem
By 1991, Dead was living in a remote house near Kråkstad with Euronymous and Hellhammer, where Mayhem rehearsed. Tensions grew between Dead and Euronymous and often led to conflicts and strange incidents.
Dead disliked synth music, and he left to sleep outside in the freezing woods when Euronymous played it in the house. Euronymous followed him and fired a shotgun into the air to provoke him.
According to Varg Vikernes, Dead once stabbed Euronymous during an argument. Vikernes also claimed that he sent Mayhem ammunition as a Christmas gift, though he denied that the shells were used in Dead’s suicide.
Some people, including Mayhem’s former drummer Manheim, believed Euronymous deliberately left Dead alone in the house, knowing he might take his own life.
Dead’s Suicide and Euronymous’ Reaction
On April 8, 1991, Dead slit his wrists and throat with a hunting knife before shooting himself in the forehead with a shotgun.
His suicide note included the words, “Excuse the blood, but I have slit my wrists and neck. It was the intention that I would die in the woods so that it would take a few days before I was possibly found. I belong in the woods and have always done so.”
Euronymous discovered Dead’s body but did not call the police right away. Instead, he went to a nearby store to buy a disposable camera and took photos of the corpse. One of these photos was later used as the cover of the bootleg live album ‘The Dawn of the Black Hearts’ in 1995.
The Aftermath and the Black Metal Scene
Dead’s suicide caused a major split in Mayhem. His bandmate Necrobutcher cut ties with Euronymous after being disturbed by his actions and attitude toward Dead’s death.
There were rumors that Euronymous made a stew using parts of Dead’s brain, though this was denied. However, it was confirmed that pieces of Dead’s skull were made into necklaces, and they were given to musicians in the black metal scene.
His funeral was held on April 26, 1991, at Österhaninge kyrka in Sweden, and he was buried in Österhaninge cemetery.
Dead’s death marked a turning point in black metal. It led to more extreme events in the Norwegian scene. Some believe that his suicide set off a chain reaction of violence and chaos that defined the genre’s darkest period.
