10 Most Heated Music Industry Feuds Of All Time

Although not nearly as widely reported on as Oasis vs. Blur or Biggie and 2Pac’s rivalry, the story of Varg Vikernes and his Mayhem bandmate Euronymous (real name Øystein Aarseth) is one of the most disturbing music feuds of all time.

Unlike most disagreeable musicians, who come to blows over plagiarism, music rights, romantic affairs or record sales, the Norwegian black metal band’s implosion centred around the remains of their dead band member, Per Yngve Ohlin. Aarseth wanted to make a necklace out of his skull, but Vikernes disagreed, and, fearing that Euronymous was planning to kill him, decided to stab his bandmate 23 times in August 1993.

Vikernes has claimed that he acted in self-defence, and that Aarseth was plotting to torture him and videotape it prior to the stabbing. Upon being arrested, authorities discovered 150kg of explosives and 3000 rounds of ammo at his Varg’s house, which he was allegedly going to use to blow up an anti-fascist enclave in Oslo. A self-confessed proponent of church burnings and far-right white supremacist, Vikernes also ran into trouble with the law in 2013, when he was arrested by French authorities under suspicion of terrorism.