Varg Vikernes

Varg Vikernes
Vikernes in prison, August 2008
Born	Kristian Vikernes (1973-02-11) 11 February 1973 (age 51) Fana, Bergen, Norway
Other names	Count Grishnackh Greifi Grishnackh The Count Greven Gandalf The White Louis Cachet Varg Qisling Larssøn Vikernes
Occupations	Musician writer
Years active	1988–present
Known for	Early Norwegian black metal scene church arson Murder of Euronymous
Spouse	Marie Cachet ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	8
Musical career
Genres	Black metal dark ambient folk
Instrument(s)	Guitar bass drums synthesizer keyboards vocals
Formerly of	Kalashnikov Uruk-Hai Old Funeral Satanel Burzum Mayhem
Musical artist
Criminal information
Criminal charge	First-degree murder, arson, and possession of 150kg of explosives (1994) inciting racial hatred (2013)
Penalty	21 years in prison (1994) 6 months probation and a €8,000 fine (2013)
Website	thuleanperspective.com burzum.org
Signature

Louis Cachet (born Kristian Vikernes;^[a] 11 February 1973), better known as Varg Vikernes (Norwegian: [ˈvɑrɡ ˈvìːkəɳeːs]), is a Norwegian musician and author best known for his early black metal albums and later crimes. His first five records, released under the name Burzum from 1992 to 1996, made him one of the most influential figures in the early Norwegian black metal scene.^[3][4][5] He was convicted of murder and arson in 1994 and sentenced to 21 years in prison, being released after serving 15 years.^[6]

A native of Fana in Bergen, Vikernes began playing guitar at the age of 14 and formed his first band, Kalashnikov (later known as Uruk-Hai), by 1989.^[7] Around the same time, he would go on to join the band Old Funeral, in which he briefly played guitar from 1989 until his departure in 1991. He recorded multiple tracks with the band, which were featured on the Devoured Carcass EP, as well as various compilation albums released years later. In 1992, Vikernes, along with other members of the scene, was suspected of burning down four Christian churches in Norway. Vikernes denied committing the arsons, though he supported them. In 1992–1993, he also recorded bass for Mayhem's debut studio album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994).

In August 1993, Vikernes fatally stabbed Mayhem guitarist Euronymous during an altercation at the latter's apartment, and was arrested shortly after. In May 1994, Vikernes was convicted of first-degree murder, church arson and possession of explosives. Vikernes said the killing was self-defense and unsuccessfully argued for the charge to be reduced to voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum penalty under Norwegian law. During his incarceration, Vikernes launched the neo-Nazi organisation Norwegian Heathen Front,^[8] had two books published, and released two ambient albums as Burzum.^[9] In 2009, he was released on parole,^[10][11] after which he moved to France with his wife and children, where he has continued to write and make music. He was also an active video blogger on his YouTube channel ThuleanPerspective, before the channel was deleted.^[12]

Described by Sam Dunn as "the most notorious metal musician of all time",^[13] Vikernes remains controversial for his crimes as well as his political and religious views. He promoted views which combined Odinism and Esoteric Nazism, and openly embraced Nazism during the mid-to-late 1990s. He has since disavowed the ideology and its associated movements, although critics continue to label his views as far-right. Vikernes calls his beliefs "Odalism" and defends a "pre-industrial European pagan society" that opposes the Abrahamic religions and systems such as capitalism, communism, materialism, and socialism.^[14]

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