Per Yngve Ohlin: A Retrospect of Martyrdom and the Exploitation of the Dead

     Let me start by saying that I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist. My understanding of mental health primarily stems from my personal encounters. Similarly, I do not consider myself a fervent follower of second wave black metal. Although I have engaged with various bands within this genre, I often find myself at odds with their ideologies and rarely resonate with their perspectives. Nonetheless, amid my divergence, the saga of Mayhem emerges prominently when delving into the genre's history. The narrative encompassing Euronymous' murder and the church arsons undeniably exudes a captivating allure, rooted in its extremity and historical context. Yet, amid the fascination evoked by such an intense period and band, the narrative, creativity, life, and death of Per Yngve Ohlin—also known by his artistic pseudonym, Death—captivated my attention in a distinct manner. Despite the profound disparities between our beliefs and lifestyles, his passing impacted me in a manner unlike any other incident within the realm of black metal. It wasn't until perusing through some letters sent to a friend and the opportunity of a brief conversation with his brother that I figured out why that was. 

Anders Ohlin and Pelle Ohlin

    Per Yngve Ohlin was born on January 16th, 1969, in the town of Vasterhaninge, 22 km from Stockholm, Sweden. Described as having a vivid imagination by his brother, Anders, early on in his life he was singled out for being different, going as far as having the parents of other kids make sure theirs wouldn't hang around him. After a near-death experience due to bullying, in which Per was almost pronounced dead, the young man grew an almost obsessive fascination with death and his own mortality. Although he already held a keen interest in horror movies and vampire fiction, his fascination took a new turn when he became deeply engrossed in the concept of experiencing death while still alive; an idea that he believed to some degree he was experiencing. In the letters addressed to his friend, Old Nick, he delves into his profound relationship with death and how this connection serves as inspiration for his lyrics, music, artistic endeavors, and thought processes. Regrettably, this influence doesn't merely shape his creative path in terms of music and lyrics, but also profoundly impacted his on-stage self-expression.  Dead gained notoriety for his extreme acts of self-mutilation during live performances, along with unconventional behaviors in his daily life, such as smelling a dead crow before performances and burying his clothes before shows so he would smell like "the stench of death." 

   

    In any alternative context or music community, such actions would understandably raise concerns among fellow peers. When he killed himself, due to his image and persona, there were two ways that his death was taken. One perspective involved the mainstream media sensationalizing his unconventional behaviors during his tenure with the band. Conversely, within the black metal community, he was depicted as a scene hero for his exceedingly intense suicide. This sentiment extended to the point where Euronymous utilized a photograph of his lifeless form for a Mayhem live album cover. I will not be providing the information needed to find the album cover. Despite it being easily found, there has been a continuous effort on behalf of Pelle's colleagues and family to make sure people stop distributing the photo.

    Dead's narrative has been recounted and documented on numerous occasions. Yet, during the course of my research for this paper, I was taken aback by the limited references to the manner in which he endured mental and artistic exploitation throughout his life, only for his image to be further exploited following his death. The most prominent facet of this tragedy essentially lies in how his mental health challenges were harnessed to enhance the band's reputation by a band member who Pelle should have been able to depend on. Remarkably, even today, his personal struggles are harnessed to cast him into an almost messianic figure within the subgenre. However, delving into his correspondence with Old Nick and the messages relayed by Anders Ohlin, it made me understand the reality behind the sensationalistic articles and fanfare. The fact that, behind the eventual extreme undertakings in the genre after Pelle's death, lays the death of someone's brother, friend, and son. 

    

Per Yngve "Dead" Ohlin

    Pelle, more than a figure in black metal ethos, was a young man who harnessed in his talent of writing a way to express his darkest emotions. Simultaneously feeling disconnected from life, he fostered profound connections with those closest to him. Behind his profound struggle with depression and his tragic ending, there exists a young man who didn't quite fit in yet managed to etch his name into the annals of metal history. Instead of solely viewing Dead through the lens of his death and unusual actions, I prefer to regard him as an individual who, during his brief existence, managed to convey a darkness that few could verbalize but many could empathize with. In doing so, he helped countless others feel less isolated.

Suicide Hotlines:

Argentina: +5402234930430

Australia: 131114

Austria: 017133374

Belgium: 106

Botswana: 3911270

Brazil: 212339191

Canada: 5147234000 (Montreal); 18662773553 (outside Montreal)

China: 85223820000

Croatia: 014833888

Denmark: +4570201201

Egypt: 7621602

Finland: 040-5032199

France: 0145394000

Germany: 08001810771

Holland: 09000767

India: 8888817666

Ireland: +4408457909090

Italy: 800860022

Japan: +810352869090

Mexico: 5255102550

New Zealand: 045861048

Norway: +4781533300

Philippines: 028969191

Poland: 5270000

Russia: 0078202577577

Spain: 914590050

South Africa: 0514445691

Sweden: 46317112400

Switzerland: 143

United Kingdom: 08457909090

USA: 18002738255

Sources:

Bosetti, Andrea. “Mayhem Vocalist Dead Is Brought Back to Life through a New Collection of His Letters.” VICE, 8 Nov. 2017, www.vice.com/en/article/kz3n7z/mayhem-vocalist-dead-is-brought-back-to-life-through-a-new-collection-of-his-letters.

Nick, Old. “Letters from the Dead in Memory of Pelle Ohlin (1969 1991) Edited by the Old Nick .” Internet Archive, 1 Jan. 1991, archive.org/details/lettersfromthedeadinmemoryofpelleohlin19691991editedbytheoldnick.