I Conducted This Interview With Kjetil Manheim who was MayheM's founding drummer and stayed with the band until 1988 when he departed. He appeared on both demos and was also on the Deathcrush mcd/lp. the interview was conducted on April 30th 1999.
1.) In the very start how did you and the other founding members of mayhem come together?
Necro and I go back since we were kids. At the age of 12 we started a band together with some friends. After some time it became obvious that the band didn't have anything we wanted, and the others in the band wasn't very good. Necro and I broke out and started to look for a singer and guitarist for a new band, playing music we wanted to play. We tried several, with no luck until Necro got to know Euro. After that one thing led to another, and Mayhem was there to stay.
2.) What was your time Like when you were in mayhem and how do you think the band went after your depatature?
It was a great time. We had lots of fun, and the three of us together with good people around like Messiah and Maniac, made music we really believed in. The fact that we soon had a core of fanatic fans around the world didn't make it worse :-)
To your other q. I must say that Mayhem are doing it well. It's been a while since I left, and even if some of the material on Mysterious is from themes we worked on in the 80'ies, I have nothing to do with the music after we released Deathcrush. The new Hellhammer is remarkable on the drums, and they still have what I call the Mayhem sound in what they do. I saw them live last fall, and talk from time to time with Necro, in my opinion they're a very good band!
3.) If you had the opportunity, would you Like to be a Member of Mayhem once more?
Well, it would be wrong of me to say no, but it is not a question to be discussed. I'm not what I used to be on the drums, and Mayhem are doing great with the new drummer (which in fact have been a member longer than I now). Mayhem are going their own way. If I was to enter the black metal scene again, I think it will be with my own crew.
4.) How fo you feel about the changers In the black betal scene in the last few years?
hmmm... some I like, some I don't. I agreed with Euro when he described the scene, but then that was some years ago. Core Black metal is still good, and once in a while you hear new underground material which impresses me. I like a lot of softer versions of the genre, but the only thing I hate is when the scene is entered by substitutes and wannabies who has a marketing director from some money machine to make all their dessitions and try to make this a coca cola like campaign. Black metal is not a family thing, will never be..
5.) What do you think about The commercial views of bands such as Cradle of Filth And Dimmu Borgir?Do you think they're A bad influence on the scene?
First: I don't think it's possible to be a bad influence on core black metal fans and bands. They will do their thing despite every effort to make it a pollished and socially accepted music genre.
Second: the band you mention are ok. They're doing their thing, and that's it. This isn't a war, it's just different kinds of music. In my opinion they don't play pure black metal, and that's it.
The drummer in Mayhem is also the drummer in Dimmu Borgir, I respect him, and therefor respect Dimmu. I've actually bought Dimmu's last release.
6.) What's your definition of Black Metal?
Hehe, that's a hard one. I think Black metal is satanism, and dark music. It may very well have synth in it, but it must not have a soft vocal. The music is dark and agressive. And it is both extremly fast, and at normal speed. Bands like Celtic Frost, Mayhem and early Napalm Death is what I place in the genre as core.
People may say that Venom is it. And yes, Venom used the words first. But No one followed Venoms music - the new bands, Mayhem included, established the music genre we know as black metal today.
7.) do you prefer a melodic black metal band with female vocals and violins + keyboards, or just raw fast extreme black metal? And Why?
I like all kinds of music, from Australia espescially Nick Cave. In the black metal genre I lke the more agressive form because it is what makes me feel alive. The use of synth is ok, but what I read out from your q. it is a very soft form of metal you describe. Let me put it this way: I like heavy metal bands like Black Sabath, AC/DC, Motörhead etc. But I don't like Cinderella and Kiss - does that give you an
answer?
8.)How Do you feel About christian bands In the scene, Do you think they belong there?
Christian black metal bands are pure bullshit! Christians are hypocrits and the worst kind. They don't belong in satans music enviroment, it is all preaching and I hate it!
9.) How do you feel about all the violence America is causing in places such as Kosovo and Iraq, Do you think there's going to be World War III and The Apocalypse?
It's not America, it is Nato. Norway is in there with troops too. I think it is the right thing to do. World war? no, I don't think so. And the Apocalypse, hehe well that would be interesting wouldn't it. The Armageddon happening in our times. I'll give it a thought and come back to you later. Until then I party on, and don't care a bit about the serbs.
10.) Thank you for taking the time to answer are there any things you would like to say to the fans out there to end this interview?
I guess I should thank them for being so lojal to Mayhem since we started in the early 80'ies. And that I hope they stay lojal and support Necro and the others keeping Mayhem what it always been, The core black metal band.
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