Mayhem interview done with Necrobutcher in June 2010-06-26 via telephone after the Brazil-Chile football game (World Cup 2010). Local time: some minutes after midnight. This interview is never published before (in full). Done by me.
Me: So how did you
like the football game?
N: Yes… Brazil over Chile 3:0, it was little bit boring but…
Me: Too much
predictable?
N: Yes, little bit predictable. I think Brazil has the best
team, or maybe Argentina… or maybe Germany also. I do not have any favors, I
just like to watch good quality games, so…
Me: So lets start
with our interview. Mayhem will be back for the 3rd time in Estonia.
Do you remember anything from last two gigs?
N: Yes, of course. First of all we are excited to come back
to Estonia in 6 years since the last visit. Both times we have been there we
have worked with Kaido, his band Manatark opened up for us on European tour in
2004. He put up a show with us… or was it earlier, I do not remember anymore. At least it was Kaido both times.
Unfortunately in the middle of the set somebody put on some tear gas and we had to cut little break
inside the set to air out the tear gas before we could continue with our set.
Me: It was in 2001,
first time in Tallinn.
N: Yeah it was ok. We were refused on the Russian border the
day after so we had to extend our stay 2 more days in Tallinn which was nice.
We had good time. In 2004 I remember we had some problems because the trailer
of our bus was not good, they confiscated our trailer and equipment on the
port, so we were able to do the show later in small club that I think Kaido was
responsible of. Small club, it was ok experience.
Mayhem with an unidentified death-head in 2001
Me: But what inspires
you to continue with Mayhem? You started in 1984.
N: You know, music is my life. I started to play in a band
when I was 12 years old with a neighbour kids around. And couple of years later
we replaced the people who could not play, with more dedicated musicians, and
in `84 I met Oystein – Euronymous- and
brought him into the band and we changed the name from Musta – Finnish
word for black – to Mayhem in ` 84. And
I have been going from there. .. and what inspires me to go on… is that I do
not know anything else. This is my life and I am responsible for this
position playing in the band and stuff, it was natural for me and I can not
think any other life. I am still happy with it, I still enjoy it. I feel actually
little bit privileged to be able to work with my main biggest hobby. Not many
people are able to live from exactly what they want to do, so…
Me: By the way your stage name Necrobutcher is
very brutal. Did you have it from the very early days or when did you find this
name?
N: Yes it was in 1984 when we started with Mayhem. All the
other bands they had names, synonymes, so this name Necrobutcher is put
together. Its not the right grammatics, you cant actually put these two names
together… so I was thinking that it was bad. First of all Necrobutcher is on
the limits, on the edge and putting these together, which is not correct grammatically gives it even more sinister
feeling to it. I thought that was good back in the day. I do not mind today,
lot of people call me Necro,
Necrobutcher, Butcher… I do not think about it anymore in this way. It’s
a name I have been living now with 26 years…
Me: But the other
band members they were influenced by Hellhammer demos I think? Maniac, Messiah,
Euronymous…
N: Yeah, that’s correct (laughing)...
and then Hellhammer . We were heavily inspired by Hellhammer back in the days.
Actually the first time I heard about Hellhammer after they had changed the
name to Celtic Frost.
Me: So did you read
about Hellhammer in Metal Forces magazine because they had an article about
Hellhammer back in `84?
N: I read an article about them but I did not know the music and what was
going on. It was later when I heard “Morbid Tales”.
Me: It came out June
`84 I think.
N: OK, so we found Hellhammer right after that. We were
heavily inspired, so… had all or at least some demos they released. So yeah you could say we were inspired by
them with the names, synonymes… that’s correct.
Me: But their demos
were recently re-released 2 years ago (“Demon Entrails”). So do you have these
also on CD or vinyl?
N: Yeah, I think what I have on CD is a bootleg. I do not
have the release from the label that Thomas Fisher gave out himself….
Me: Speaking about
old tapes. Do you still have those tapes from 25 years ago?
N: Oh yeah. I never sold or gave away anything that had any
meaning to me in my life. I have a lot of – people would call it – junk, but….
Some people collect newspapers, some collect sport cards, I collect Mayhem. I
do not buy all bootlegs I see, If I see it on vinyl then I buy bootlegs of my own band
unfortunately.
Me: This is what I
wanted to ask. There is so many Mayhem bootlegs released on the market. What do
you think of this? Which is your fave?
N: In the beginning I thought it was some sort of tribute to
the band. Over the years now I see that some bootlegs are made only to earn
profit for people who make them, not fans because hey misspell the tracks, use
wrong info, bad sound quality and shit. Those I do not care too much about. The bootlegs that are completely identical to
our newest CDs, is also something that I think is bad, bad for business. But
the bootlegs that fans have released , have original posters, good pictures, that
has something to do with the release, maybe some old photos, maybe they go to
the studio and clean up the sound a bit, those bootlegs I think are ok.
I know the reason why this has happened. Back in the days after Euronymous and Dead
died there was a problem with the rights to the songs. Since these rights were
not fixed, lot of people took advantage and started to sell bootlegs. I was not
able to stop it immediately. We did not have all the paper works in order, we
never cared about paper works. When Euro and Dead died it was big problem to register all the songs and stuff. Now 17
years later after Euronymous has died we can register “De Mysteriis Dom
Sathanas” and” Deathcrush” albums properly and finally get the rights back. I
think Mayhem is like every band that gets screwed with the first record deal...
Me: About those bootlegs.
Maybe you have noticed that some the bootlegs have information “last rehearsal
with Dead”, but do you remember when was exactly your last rehearsal with Dead
singing and did you record it?
N: Let me think… last rehearsal must have been in November 1990. It was when
we left to the small tour in Germany and Turkey… and we rehearsed before that
tour. And then January, February, March, April…. 3 first month of that year
(1991) do not know if we rehearsed that much, I can not right now remember if
we rehearsed , we probably did but we did not tape it. We did not tape
rehearsals in November. So the last rehearsal with Dead is not taped, recorded,
so if any bootleg claims it, then its wrong.
Me: Dead was from
Sweden, but how did you speak with each other? In English or is Swedish and
Norwegian so close that you understand words…
N: Yeah, language is so close that we can understand. Same
goes with Denmark. So in Norway, Sweden and Denmark we all understand each other.
Me: So in the band
you did not speak in English?
N: No.
Me: So speaking about
old times do you still have old contacts from 80s?
N: Absolutely. If you have good friend you keep in contact.
The same way with me. All my friends from all over the world, I still have
contacts with shitloads of them. Alex from Agressor (French band), Mammarella Roberto from Monumentum, some of
the Swedish people, some of the German people like Sodom guys, Destruction
guys…
Me: Actually I have
one foto with you, Euronymous and Angelripper in Essen in a pub. Its from `86.
N: That’s correct it was in `86, we hanged out with guys
from Assassin, we met with Kreator and Sodom and some other bands back in the
days. Lot of the people we had contacts in 80s we still are in contact., like
Bob Bachus from Asphyx, people from Australia, some new friends… some cool
people you keep, some go another way, quit the music business. And some people
come back again. Lot of bands reform like Killjoy with Necrophagia, Asphyx is
back…
Me: …with very strong
album. Martin van Drunen is doing great vocals. I really love this last Asphyx
album (“Death… the brutal way”)
N: Ok, good. We played together couple of times, last time
we saw them last April when we did tour there.
Me: About your “Live
in Leipzig” live album. This was recently re-released by many different labels in
Europe and in America, so I was wondering who got the original master tape
nowadays?
N: It was Roberto Mammarella from Avantagarde Music back in
the days when he had label Obscure Plasma records. The deal was that he could
print 1000 copies and he would pay for that by sending some copies of his band
Monumentum. Then in 90s he released it on CD on his new Avantgarde Music. Then
about 3 years ago I got letter from Roberto that he sold the rights to Snapper
Music in England which again sold rights to different companies.
Me: But what about
these two studio tracks from 1990? Are these also included in this master tape?
N: No no. I think I have them somewhere.
Me: This is a black
gold in the business… these two tracks. This is very good stuff.
N: He he yeah …its safely in my place.
Me: About promo
pictures of Mayhem. In the old times especially you paid a lot of attention to
visual side. I mean you had interesting outfits and corpse paint. I was wondering if you still have those photo
negatives left? Or are they disappeared?
N: Yes, I have. All the photo sessions that we had with
photographers that we hired ourselves, they all left their negatives to me.
Then in newer days like in 2000s there
is more professional photographers and
they and record companies keep negatives
and stuff like that. But the old photos from the 80s and 90s I have maybe 90%
of negatives.
Me: But back in 80s
and early 90s did you make photos from original negatives or did you copy them?
N: Original negatives, yes.
Me: Because I have
seen different photos and some seem to be photocopies.
N: Of course. All the people then photocopied because they
did not have access to negatives.
Me: Its like a black
market.
N: I have shitloads of videos, tapes, some video with Dead rehearsing…
Me: What about lyrics
that Dead wrote?
N: Yeah I have some, some are given away to National Rock
Museum here in Norway because they have big profile on Mayhem there. They have
made replica of the rehearsal place we
had in 1989 inside of the museum.
Me: You have another
museum also in Oslo and its called Neseblod.
N: Yeah yeah.
Me: I haven’t been
there but I have seen pictures and it looked nice.
N: Yes, they copied the idea that we had back in the days
when Oystein opened the shop Helvete. It’s the same type of idea of
recordstore. They buy collections from people like Metallion, its very
expensive there…. Personally I do not sell anything to them. They have enough
already… (laughing)
Me: ok, now
Necrobutcher as metal fan. How big is your collection? And what is the holy
grail in your collection?
N: Well, I started to
collect vinyl, cassettes, tapes in the
beginning of 80s. So I bought everything I came over which was interesting in more extreme music. I would say from Motorhead,
some hardcore, some punk, some crazy electronical stuff and stuff like that. In
late 80s I actually stopped buying lot of albums, so I have maybe 350-400
vinyls which is not so much but I have what is essential. Then the CD showed up
in late 80s. I was one of the last within my friends who bought CD player. I
did not like the format. I liked more vinyl format because its more to look at,
its more personal. So I did not like CDs
too much but of course I had to buy CD player myself…
Me: So what is your
top record in collection (fave or rare or hard to find)?
N: Hard to find… that’s
a tough one… I have shitloads of albums that mean lot to me. 7” “Another Beer”
from Bulldozer, that’s very rare. The 1st single of Canadian band Slaughter
“One foot in the Grave”. That’s one of my favourites… let me think…the 1st
Bathory with yellow head, that was first 1000 copies with yellow head…
Me: What about Venom?
N: Venom, I really loved them back in the days, so I got
everything that came my way... I have complete Venom collection when it
comes in terms what they have released
officially through Neat records and through licensing (Roadrunner to Banzai to
Metal Blade and Italian label called Magma or something)… so I have 8 versions
of “Black metal” on vinyl, all the colours and small variations of the vinyl itself,
1st edition with lyrics and poster. I have complete 7” collection,
which means all the 3 “Warhead” 7” versions,
all 12”, all maxi single EP`s.
Me: I think “Die Hard”
is the best.
N: Yeah I like “Die Hard” 12” with “Acid Queen”.
Me: It’s the best
from Venom I think.
N: I would say actually the best from Venom is the 1st
demo.
Me: Yes with the old
vocalist…
N: No, well… I do not remember the different vocalist, I
remember it with Cronos actually. It’s a studio recording they made I think
around the time… around 1980, could have been 1979 too.
Me: “Raise the Dead”
was one song off this demo I think…
N: That could be, I do not remember… “Black Metal” album and
“Die Hard” single that came after that are the highlights of their career. Cool
thing is that we played with Venom 3 weeks ago in Bulgaria.
Me: So what was the
event?
N: It was just a concert. Venom was headlining and we opened
for them.
Me: Last week there
was this satellite connection with big four from also Bulgaria: Anthrax,
Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth.
N: Yeah I saw the posters….. so I never sold anything (from Venom collection), so I have all
the…
Me: …also old
T-shirts?
N: Yes of course all the T-shirts that have holes and are
worn out. I put them into trash cans but I still keep them.
Me: Because Venom had
very good merchandise list with scarves, T-shirts…
N: Me and Euronymous went to see them live in Hammersmith in
1985.
Me: Really to London?
N: Yeah, so we were 17 years old, went to England.
Me: I read somewhere that you had the biggest Venom
collection in Norway in 80s. Any comment?
N: Yes, I agree (laughs)…
and I still probably have because most of the stuff is almost impossible to
get. If you were not there, when it happened when Neat records gave out albums…
to find them today is probably impossible.
Me: Financial suicide
to buy all this…
N: Yeah that would be true.
Me: Lets go back in
time again. In 1990 you recorded in studio 2 tracks: The Freezing Moon and The
Carnage. These are very good songs but you only recorded two tracks. Your
memories from this session? When was it happening? Exactly which studio?
N: Yes we went to studio where we recorded “Deathcrush” ,
its called Creative Studios. Its about 20 km south from Oslo., about 5 km from
where I live, still in the same area. We picked the studio since we knew it and
I remember it was Swedish compilation album called “Projections of Stained Mind”
, they wanted 2 tracks. So because of that we went into the studio and recorded
these 2 tracks. Dead brought dead bird, that he had found couple of weeks
before, in the plastic bag so he could sniff into the plastic bag before
singing… so its kind of funny. I remember right after the session I told Euronymous
that guitars were too low, but he disagreed. But of course two days later he
also found out that guitars were too low… but then we did not have any more
money.
Me: So there is only
one mix of it?
N: Its only one mix.
Me: Did you
photograph the session? Did you take photos there? I never saw any.
N: I have never seen any photos from that session. So we
probably did not take any photos.
Me: I ask this because
DSP released Merciless album and you Mayhem guys visited them when they recorded
album in studio and I saw pictures where you Mayhem guys are sitting in the
studio.
N: Yeah I saw it too, its on the inner sleeve of “The Awakening”
album.
Me: In 80s you
partied with bands from Finland and
Sweden. I heard that Mayhem guys did not allow to take any photos in those
parties. Can you comment it?
N: (laughing)…. I
think this is not in general because we took shitloads of photos. .. so I do
not know where and who said such things. But it could be right, maybe we were
parting somewhere, heavy partying, we had girlfriends and there were other
girls there or something like that. Maybe this how rumour came later. To give
me this question now 20 years later … that’s the only thing I can think of. We
never had any rules not taking photos in the parties.
Me: It was not so
serious question, just a side note. Actually I heard this story from Finnish
band Abhorrence who visited you in `89 I think. So this is the source of the
information.
N: Alright, I do not know. Maybe.
Me: But now we are
reaching the end of our small interview and I have some little bit personal
questions. Have you visited Osterhaninge cemetery after 1991?
N: Yes I have. I have been to Pelle`s grave 3 times
actually. Of course in the funeral., then 3 years later I was in Stockholm with
a car so I went there. In the end of 90s
I also went there. In these days I am in
contact with his brothers.
Me: But his brother
is also doing some kind of metal band? Or did some years ago.
N: Yeah that could be, I do not know too much about that unfortunately. I met 2 of his
brothers in November last year. Very nice guys.
Me: Thank you
Necrobutcher for sharing all this info with Estonian metal fans.
N: Its my pleasure. If you have more question we could meet
up in festival for a small chat.
Me: I do have. I can
not ask all the questions for this interview. It will be too long…
N: I understand that you know what you are talking about.
Its always pleasure to talk to people who have strong interest and are able to
ask so much interesting questions. I appreciate it. Its cool to talk to somebody
there who has so many information… you know… to fill in the blanks. Just a
pleasure.
Me: I find this very
interesting also. Pleasure is on my side.
N: The way you ask the questions I understand you do. It’s
the kind of interview I do with most pleasure.
Me: Ok, that’s very
good. But now this part will not go to the interview ( well… ). I ask about old
tape trading. In an old interview I read you like one band called Krieg. Its like a German word for war. But I never heard
anything about this band…
N: There is an explanation. I recorded this demo from friend
of mine called Metalion (Slayer magazine). And he had written the name Krieg on
the cover. But it was not the right band. It was American band called
Deathstrike.
Me: Deathstrike I
know. Master / Deathstrike.
N: Exactly, it was before they became Master they were
called Deathstrike. And their demo was actually an album “Fucking Death” .
Me: Yes, yes I know
this.
N: So I said in interviews we liked band Krieg , but it
turns out it was not. It was Deathstrike. And I still like Deathstrike a lot.
Me: That’s surprise
because I was wondering what is this band. I have read many fanzines, have also
collection of bands and I never saw this Krieg anywhere.
N: So that’s the explanation for that…( laughing )
Me: But do you have
some kind of list what do you have in collection?
N: No, I never made a list. But I think I have something like…
not so many… 200 tapes. That was the way
we did back then.
Me: There were no
CD-R nor MP3s back then.
N: Exactly, nothing like that. And to produce a vinyl album
required a lot of money.
Me: Speaking about
vinyls… did you check your basement very well?
Is there left any…
N: ( laughing )
Me: You know what I
want to ask?
N: Yeah yeah…I do not have any boxes with “Deathcrush” laying around, or anything else. I have some
extra copies of some newer stuff Season Of Mist had released. But I do not have anything for sale anymore.
Me: But not this ONE?
N: No, but I have number 001.
Me: Yes, this you
told last time when we met in Tallinn 9 years ago.
N: So I do not change that much, after so many years I still
talk about number 1.
Me: Ok, thank you again
for this small interview and see you in few days here.
N: See you on Saturday. Bye!
