Sven Erik Kristiansen

Sven Erik Kristiansen (born 4 February 1969) is a Norwegian musician. He is best known as the former vocalist in the black metal band Mayhem under the stage name Maniac.[1]

Sven Erik Kristiansen
Maniac live with Mayhem in 2004
Background information
Birth nameSven Erik Kristiansen
Also known asManiac
Born (1969-02-04) 4 February 1969
OriginNorway
GenresBlack metal, doom metal, hardcore punk, noise, dark ambient
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, bass
Years active1986–present
Associated actsMayhem, Skitliv, Shining, Bomberos, Wurdulak, Sehnsucht

With Mayhem

Kristiansen joined Mayhem in 1986 after the departure of the band's original vocalist Messiah and left in 1988, he was then replaced by Dead, who was later replaced by Kittil after Dead’s suicide in 1991. When Hellhammer decided to revive Mayhem in 1995 after the deaths of both Euronymous and Dead and the imprisonment of Count Grishnakh, he invited Maniac to return as the band's vocalist.[2]

He was known for giving extremely intense live performances and would often cut himself onstage, frequently landing him in intensive care units. However, in a later interview Kristiansen stated "...when we realized that the cutting had become a phenomenon people came to watch, I quit doing it."[3] He has also stated that the coverage Mayhem has received is disproportionate.[3][4]

Kristiansen was in the band until 2004 when he was asked to leave due to his erratic behavior.[5] In the only press release about the split, he also cited lack of time as being a vital factor. In 2016 Kristensen briefly rejoined Mayhem onstage during the Inferno Festival in Oslo, Norway.[6]

Personal life

Kristiansen has three children: a daughter with his wife, Eri Isaka (aka Vivian Slaughter), a son with his ex-girlfriend, Hilma, and a daughter from a previous relationship.[7] He has said that since he became a father, he has become more conscious of what he exposes himself to and is less destructive.

For several years, Kristiansen was a self-admitted alcoholic. According to him, the turning point was one day when he found himself hanging by one arm out of a fourth floor window, with no idea how he got there.[3] He is married to Vivian Slaughter, bassist and vocalist for the Japanese band Gallhammer.[8]

Discography

Mayhem

Skitliv

  • [Kristiansen And Kvarforth Swim In The Sea Of Equalibrium While Waiting...] (2007) (demo)
  • [Amfetamin (MCD)] (2008) (EP)
  • [Skandinavisk misantropi] (2009) (Studio Album)

References
  1. Moore, Bruce. "Interview with Skitliv frontman Sven Erik "Maniac" Kristiansen". puregrainaudio.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  2. Hammer, Jonathan Selzer2017-10-25T13:58:00 297Z Metal. "Ex-Mayhem/Skitliv frontman Maniac resurrects his seminal Damage Inc fanzine". Metal Hammer Magazine. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  3. Mic Norway Maniac: My last years with Mayhem; retrieved September 11, 2008.
  4. "Maniac: My last years with Mayhem (Part 2) - Listen to Norway". www.listento.no. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  5. "MAYHEM Bassist Says Former Singer MANIAC 'F*cked It All Up In The End'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2006-01-16. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  6. "MAYHEM Rejoined By Two Former Vocalists And A Former Drummer Live - Metal Injection". Metal Injection. 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  7. "Maniac: My last years with Mayhem (Part 2) - Listen to Norway". www.listento.no (in Dutch). Retrieved 2017-05-31.
  8. Editorial (2018-02-14). "Gallhammer's Vivian Slaughter Explores Electronics as Viviankrist". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
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