Mayhem broke through in the late 80's as the world's most brutal black metal band and attracted attention for burnt wooden churches, murders and suicides.
The band's stormy years have been portrayed in documentaries and most recently in the feature film "Lord of chaos", directed by Swedish Jonas Åkerlund.
Lost millionsMayhem still has a large audience and does recurring world tours. But everything has stopped during the corona pandemic.
- We in the band have lost around three million kroner. Then we have a crew that has lost a lot of income. In addition, there are debts in the picture, says guitarist Morten Bergeton Iversen, with the artist name Teloch, to NRK.
Morten Bergeton Iversen believes that the Norwegian government has focused too much on support for domestic cultural workers and organizers, and that the artists who earn their money abroad have been forgotten.
- We have fans around the world who are learning Norwegian. There is a great deal of interest in Norway thanks to Mayhem. That we suddenly stand here without support is very strange.
"Hope the authorities can give some light"Norway's Minister of Culture Abib Q. Raja has responded to the criticism and says that the artists must turn to the countries where their concerts have been canceled.
- Norway takes responsibility for its citizens and events, he says.
Morten Bergeton Iversen says he does not have too high hopes of receiving any state corona support.
- Since we play in a black metal band, we always look darkly at the future. But we can only hope that the authorities can give us some light.
From the breakthrough years, only drummer Jan Axel Blomberg, better known as Hellhammer, remains in the band. The rest of the members have been replaced several times during the 36 years that the group has been active.