We have all heard the legend that Per 'Dead' Ohlin's skull fragments were sent to various musicians by Euronymous shortly after Dead's suicide. Now, however, we have actual confirmation that this is actually 100% fact. Who confirmed this you ask? Well of course it's none other than Marduk's guitarist, Morgan ‘Evil’ Steinmeyer Håkansson! In a recent interview with Loudwire Morgan was questioned face-to-face about the rumors and not only did he confirm that he owns skull fragments, but also lead fragments from the shot that killed Dead and a piece of his brain matter. GROSS!
When questioned about the Rumor, Marduk's Morgan ‘Evil’ Steinmeyer Håkansson said,
“Yeah, sure. I got it way back, right after he died. Back in those days they [Mayhem] were living in a house and didn’t have the best financial aspects, so they didn’t even have a telephone. So I remember I was celebrating New Year’s in 1991 with Dead back home in Sweden. Then he got back, he wrote one letter [to me], then someone told me he’s killed himself.”
Morgan continued, “So I wrote a letter [to Mayhem] and then I got the reply back from the guitar player [Euronymous] — 'Well he just shot himself and here’s a piece of his skull.' It was a shotgun, you know? So [he also sent me] two pieces of the lead and a piece of the wet brain. I’ve still got it. I keep it well protected.”
I wonder what "well protected" means. Is it in a safe deposit box down at his local bank? Maybe he had it framed and it's hanging above the mantle in his house? Either way, I personally feel that this is one gift you have to refuse. If anyone tries to give me skull fragments and brain matter, we are no longer friends. The end, no discussion about it.
When asked who else Euronymous had sent pieces to, Morgan replied, "He sent it to all these former comrades of Dead, a few of them. There were not that many people … maybe five.” Unfortunately Morgan didn't drop any names but now that the cat is officially out of the bag (or should I say now that the brain is officially out of the skull) maybe the others will come forward as well.
I don't know who else owns Dead's skull fragments, or who would want to own Dead's skull fragments but I bet I could make a few educated guesses.
