Glen Benton, the outspoken frontman of Deicide, recently shared a vivid account of his first encounter with Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth, the notorious founder of Mayhem and a key figure in the black metal scene. Benton pulled back the curtain on what Euronymous was really like, painting a picture that’s equal parts surprising and... cringe.
Euronymous remains a polarizing figure in metal history, infamous for his extreme views, controversial behavior, and a legacy entwined with the darker side of the genre. He was known for incendiary statements, his involvement in church burnings, and the grim aftermath of his bandmate Per "Dead" Ohlin’s tragic suicide.
Among his provocative actions was a letter he wrote, blasting numerous metal bands for not being "true" enough to the genre. Deicide was one of his targets. Reflecting on this, Benton shared the story of their unexpected meeting in an interview with Justin Morsay.
Benton’s description of Euronymous was far from reverent, instead offering a humorous glimpse into their brief interaction:
“I meet the guy. He’s like four foot five, wearing this ‘Party City’ vampire cape made out of polyester. And he’s carrying this table leg, like he yanked it off his mom’s dining room table and just stuck some nails in it. The whole thing was ridiculous.”
Benton couldn’t help but chuckle as he continued:
“It was comical, honestly. I probably could’ve picked him up with my pinky. We talked for a few minutes, and I was just like, ‘Yeah, okay, you’re weird,’ and went on my way.”
For Benton, the encounter underscored just how theatrical and over-the-top Euronymous could be - a claim also made by former bandmate Varg Vikernes of Mayhem - even as he attempted to project an air of "evil" and "menace". While their meeting may have been brief, Benton’s colorful recounting reveals a side of Euronymous that few would have imagined—equal parts self-righteous prick and unintentionally humorous beta male. Almost as cringe as Watain frontman Erik Danielsson, although not quite there yet.
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