Overview
Per Yngve "Pelle" Ohlin, professionally known as Dead, was a Swedish musician, most famous as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. His unique persona, pioneering use of corpse paint, and tragic suicide at age 22 left an enduring legacy on the black metal scene.
Early Life and Background
- Born 16 January 1969 in Västerhaninge, Stockholm County, Sweden, to Anita Forsberg and Lars Ohlin.
- Suffered from sleep apnea and a ruptured spleen as a child, the latter reportedly due to bullying, which led to a fascination with death.
- Parents divorced soon after his birth.
Musical Career
- Founded Swedish death/thrash metal band Morbid in 1986, releasing the demo December Moon.
- Joined Mayhem as lead vocalist and lyricist in 1988, relocating to Norway.
- Known for pioneering corpse paint and extreme stage antics, such as burying stage clothes and self-harm during performances.
- Influenced by bands like Black Sabbath, Bathory, Metallica, and others.
Personality and Reputation
- Recognized for his morbid personality, obsession with death, and introversion.
- Wore funeral announcement shirts and collected dead animals for inspiration.
- Peers described him as difficult to understand, intensely introverted, and possibly affected by Cotard's syndrome.
- Avoided technology, preferred longhand writing, and was fascinated with the occult and vampirism.
Mayhem and Scene Impact
- Mayhem concerts involved extreme antics, including blood, rotten flesh, and expelling "poseurs."
- Dead influenced the black metal scene with his atmosphere-focused performances.
- Band interactions were tense, particularly with guitarist Euronymous, leading to mutual antagonism.
Death and Aftermath
- On 8 April 1991, Dead died by suicide in the band's house near KrĂĄkstad, Norway.
- Left a suicide note emphasizing feelings of alienation and detachment from humanity.
- Euronymous photographed his body and used the images to promote Mayhem's image.
- Rumors circulated about Euronymous making jewelry from Dead's skull, which was later confirmed by band members.
- Dead's suicide marked a shift in the black metal scene and caused internal rifts in Mayhem.
Discography Highlights
- With Morbid: December Moon (1987), Live in Stockholm (2000), Year of the Goat (2011).
- With Mayhem: Live in Leipzig (1993), The Dawn of the Black Hearts (1995), Live in Zeitz (2016), and other live/demo recordings.
- Split album: A Tribute to the Black Emperors (1994).
Legacy
- Dead is regarded as a formative figure in black metal and is remembered for his influential artistry and tragic story.
- Ranked No. 48 in Roadrunner Records' Greatest Metal Front-Men of All Time.