Wordless Wednesday: In Memory of Per Yngve Ohlin

January 16 1969 - April 8 1991

Wordless Wednesday

Monday's Music: The Master of Viking Metal

Tomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg AKA Quorthon: 17 February 1966 – c. 7 June 2004

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Quorthon was found dead at only 38 years old. 

He didn't die from a drug overdose or "misadventure," as has been the sad case with many musicians. He had heart problems, likely cardiomyopathy. His heart simply stopped working. He was found dead in his apartment after no-one had heard from him for a week.

Quorthon is considered one of the creators of the Scandinavian black metal genre as well as being the father of the Viking metal genre. He initially utilized horror/dark/occult themes in his music but switched to writing songs about Scandinavian history, legend, and mythology.

Quorthon cautioned people not to allow themselves to become too wrapped up in the theatrical imagery of the metal genre. He expressed his feeling that it was necessary to remember that it was theatre, and that he personally kept in mind that he was just a regular person who enjoyed creating theatre. 

Quorthon was distressed to receive letters written in blood and on occasion containing dead, mutilated animals or photographs of women engaging in obscene acts using crucifixes. He wanted to escape the image as "the baby-eating, blood-drinking God of the bat-cave". He expressed the feeling that it was sick and wrong to harm small animals in such a fashion, and that he really didn't care to see unsolicited photographs of people engaged in obscene acts.

Offstage, Quorthon was polite, soft-spoken, evidently very intelligent, and refreshingly lacking in stereotype "rock star" attitudes and behaviors.

I believe the older fellow in the video is his father, Börje "Boss" Forsberg. While Boss was owner of the Tyfon Grammafon label and produced Quorthon's early work with Bathory, Quorthon received no particular special favors. He worked under a very tight budget. In one case, he recalled creating a particular echoing effect by playing his guitar in the bathroom at the studio.

Following Quorthon's death, his sister, Jennie Tebler, wanted to remix certain of her brother's songs to create a duet between herself and him. However, she stated in one interview that she couldn't stop herself from crying when she heard his voice, so she ended up using only the guitar tracks. The person who created this video has envisioned what the remix might have sounded like had she been able to go through with the project.

The talented siblings created this song together not long before Quorthon's death. He played all of the instruments and mixed the track. It's a shame they couldn't have done more work together.

The world is a poorer place for the loss of Quorthon, a fine musician and a fine human being. But it is a richer place for the fact that he was here. May he rock Valhalla!

~DJ Adam~

For the KHEL 666 Krew

Candlemass: The Curse of Candlemass

I featured this video in a post at Encyclopedia Netherworld and figured I'd best share it here too, or there would be hell to pay!

~DJ Wanda~

Minilogue: Even the Wind Seemed in Deep Sleep

Dozer: Through the Eyes of Heathens

Great stoner metal from Sweden with Dozer, as the Ogre King's quest continues.
Follow my quest to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Hopefully at least some of it won't be a steaming pile!
~DJ Tempest~

Ace of Base: All That She Wants

Mörk Gryning - Journey

A to Z Blogging Challenge: Q is for Quorthon

Tomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg AKA Quorthon

February 17, 1966 - June 7, 2004

 

A to Z Blogging Challenge:

Q is for Quorthon

by

Opal Zushaquon

 

Talented Swedish multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer Ace Forsberg is one of the most underrated and most misunderstood musical talents. He was on the forefront of the Scandinavian extreme metal scene, but he didn't personally take the imagery seriously. It was theatrics, and he seemed quite bemused that anyone would take such things to heart.

Quorthon was a very private person. He never talked about his personal life. When asked his real name, he enjoyed using such pseudonyms as "Per Vars" (perverse.) He had a dry, off the wall sense of humor, which tended to be a bit bawdy.

Those who met Quorthon said that he was very unaffected by his renown. He was polite and gracious. He enjoyed helping young people trying to become successful in music.

Quorthon was very interested in Scandinavian history and mythology. These interests form the basis for many of his songs.

Unfortunately, Quorthon had serious heart problems, which ended his Earthly life at only 38 years of age.

Cie Cheesemeister, our infamous and rather cagey leader of Team Netherworld, liked Quorthon so well that he was the inspiration for one of her first Netherworld characters, along with fellow Swedish metal tunesmith The Spooky Guy (Per Yngve Ohlin.)

But enough from me. It's time for you to listen to Quorthon's band, Bathory.

 

~Opal~

 

Cross-posted to:

KHEL 666

Undead in the Netherworld

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

There is a serpent in every Eden
Slick as grease and cold as ice
There is a lie in every meaning
Rest assured to fool you twice

In this age of utter madness
We maintain we are in control
And ending life before deliverance
While countries are both bought and sold

Holy writtings hokus-pokus
Blaze of glory and crucifix
Prepried costly credit salvations
TV-preachers and dirty tricks

Don't trust nobody
It will cost you much too much
Beware of the dagger
It caress you at first touch
O, all small creatures
It is the twilight if the gods

When the foundations to our existence
Begins to crumble one by one
And legislations protects its breakers
And he who was wrong but paid the most won

Even the gods of countless religions
Holds no powers against this tide
Of degeneration because we have now found
That there is no thrones up there in the sky

Run from this fire
It will burn your very soul
Its flames reaching higher
Comed this far there is no hold
O, all small creatures
It is the twilight if the gods

(Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods
Twilight of the gods)

In Celebration of Quorthon's Birthday

Today is the 47th chronological birthday of the inimitable Quorthon, a favorite citizen of the Netherworld. Hail! Let the celebration commence!

Thomas "Ace" Börje Forsberg was born February 17, 1966 in Stockholm and died June 7, 2004 in Stockholm. He was a pioneer of the Death Metal and Black Metal genres. A highly talented musician, he played numerous instruments and often mixed his own tracks.

Quorthon suffered from what sounds like cardiomyopathy. He was only 38 years old at the time of his passing.

In spite of his rather private personality, Quorthon was known to be very considerate to his fans, never acting as though he were some sort of "rock star." He considered himself to be a musician, not a "diva" in need of worship. He had a sense of humor about the sometimes ridiculous rumors that circulated about him and the sometimes outlandish (and pornographic) pictures that some fans would send him.

Gone too soon but not forgotten, the talented Mr. Forsberg's music will live on forever.