Sven Erik Kristiansen
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| Sven Erik Kristiansen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sven Erik Kristiansen |
| Also known as | Maniac |
| Born | February 19, 1967 |
| Origin | Norway |
| Genre(s) | Black metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar |
| Associated acts | Mayhem, Skitliv |
Sven Erik Kristiansen (born February 19, 1967) is a Norwegian musician. He is best known as the former vocalist in the black metal band Mayhem under the stage name Maniac.
[edit] Personal life
Kristiansen has two children, a daughter with a previous relationship and a son with his current girlfriend, Hilma. He has said that since he became a father, he has become more conscious of what he exposes himself to and less destructive.
For several years, Kristiansen was a self-admitted alcoholic. His turning point, he says, was one day when he found himself hanging by one arm out of a fourth floor window, with no idea how he got there. After this incident, he claims that he has not had any alcohol whatsoever. [1]
[edit] With Mayhem
He joined Mayhem in 1986 after the departure of the bands original vocalist Messiah (Eirik Nordheim). He was in the band until 1988, when he was replaced by Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin). When Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) decided to revive Mayhem in 1995 after the deaths of both Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) and Dead, he invited Maniac to return as the band's vocalist.
He was known for having extremely intense performances. When he had a particularly good feeling about the audience, he would cut himself, frequently landing him in intensive care units. However, "...when we realized that the cutting had become a phenomenon people came to watch, I quit doing it." [2] He has also stated that the coverage Mayhem has received is disproportionate. [3]
Maniac was in the band until 2004 when he was forced to leave. He had developed extreme stagefright, and relied heavily on alcohol to get him through performances. In the only press release about the split, he also cited lack of time as being a vital factor.
[edit] Other Projects
He is currently a member of the hardcore punk band Bomberos as well as the side project Skitliv. In addition, he is a session member of the band Shining.
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