Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway and regarded as one of the pioneers of the influential Norwegian black metal scene. Mayhem's career has been highly controversial, primarily due to the their violent stage performances, the suicide of original vocalist Pelle "Dead" Ohlin in 1991, multiple church burnings influenced by the band and the murder of guitarist Øystein Aarseth by former band member Varg Vikernes, then of Burzum, in 1993.