#dmds

The front cover of “De Mysteriis…” shows the dome of Trondheim (the dome that Grishnackh wanted to blow as rumours said). Who was responsible for choosing this motive and why?

Ah yes, my favorite Mayhem song:

“I think “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” is a good representation of the guys who are dead, Pelle and Øystein. I think about it regularly. It’s weird to think that they played two gigs in Norway and four abroad, just six concerts. And they never even saw the record come out. I’m here, years later, traveling the world playing those songs. I’ve played them hundreds of times. I think about them sometimes, and about how little they got. They never really got it going, but we’re still out there rolling on. When we play those songs on stage I often think about Øystein, if there’s something there he would have liked. Some venues and festivals have some special charm, you come in and think, “hey, this is nice...” Some days when the audience is really into it and it’s a cool place and it’s all good, I think, “ Øystein should’ve seen this... I wish he was here now.” It’s the same with Pelle, but it’s more with Øystein. When I’m sitting backstage in some club somewhere in the world, I think about them. Would they be proud, too? I imagine them looking down on me with these huge smiles. They’re so happy they could just go on and die and not give a fuck about anything, and leave the hard work and toil to me. Not getting paid much, going through a hell of un-luxury and labour, and they’re just reaping the legend. They pat me on the shoulder now and then and tell me, “Good work.” I know if I had died, Pelle would be out there thinking the same about me. Maybe not Øystein, but I know Pelle would. Why do you think he wrote a suicide letter when he did it? He still wanted something. Many people who kill themselves don’t want anything, that’s why they do it. But he had something. He talked about “going to the other side”, but it wasn’t just that. He wanted to be remembered as a legend, too. His character, his alter ego. He would be really proud and happy to see that it’s all been sliding on. He even wrote it in his suicide note, “I’m leaving some lyrics for you guys...” Think about it, “Life Eternal”?”