Music and the Devil | Halloween 2024

10/31/2024

Marlene and Henry explore the notorious 27 Club which is a list of actors, musicians, artist and athletes who have died at the age of 27. The majority have departed this life as a result of substance abuse, homicide and strange accidents. Many claim there is significance tied to the number of their age to Illuminati and occult groups. This is a far cry from Elvis' hip gyration that were thought be the "work of the devil". So what is truth, and what is urban legend?

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Many rock groups have identified with occult imagery

It's not unusual to pair rock music with the devil, especially heavy metal music. The first that come to minds are Black Sabbath, Kiss and performers like Alice Cooper who lean heavily on the imagery of the occult. This is a far cry from Elvis' hip gyration that were thought be the "work of the devil".

The 27 Club is a death list of actors, musicians, artist and athletes who have died at the age of 27. The majority have passed as a result of suicide, substance abuse, homicide and strange accidents. Many claim there is significance tied to the number of their age to Illuminati and occult groups.

Twenty-seven is a number sacred to satanists and saturnists, and included in worldwide rituals that outsiders are unaware of. These ceremonies are practiced in secret at the highest level of church and state. The Cube is the perfect representation of the number 27 (expressed as 3 × 3 × 3, with identical factors grouped in threes). According to some, the number of the beast – 666 – should be turned upside down (as the cross is reversed in Satanism), which then gives the number 999, whose digits added together equals 27.

There are 27 chapters in the Bible's New Testament. There are 27 letters in the Kabbalah, 27 channels to God and 27 names for God according to the Bible.

Robert Johnson became one of the earliest members of the 27 Club

There is one musician who predates the rockers from the 60s, and that's Robert Johnson, whose story dates back to the 1930s. He was born the illegitimate child of a farm hand in Mississippi in 1911. His mother was married to another man, but her husband fled the area to Memphis due to his own romantic peccadillo. Most of their 10 children eventually ended up with him. His mother remarried when he was 7 years old.

Johnson married when he was 17 years old, but by the time he was 19, his 14-year-old wife had died in childbirth, and he turned back to music. Though he was persistent in playing at juke joints and other places, he just wasn't well received, and he left town.

He reappeared a few months later, and the guy who had been booed offstage now sounded like an expert blues guitarist. He was supposed to have gained his skills after he made a deal with the devil. Supposedly everything changed after he went to a crossroads at Highway 49 and 61 at the Dockery Plantation. This was where he sold his soul in exchange for mastery over the guitar.

In 1936, he recorded his first single, Terraplane Blues and before he could really enjoy his new fame he died on August 16, 1938. It would take 30 years before his death certificate was found, and it did not list a cause of death, and no autopsy had been performed on the body. The reason for his death at the age of 27 is varied, including a belief he was poisoned by a jealous husband.

Many years after his death, someone checked the back of his death certificate and found a note saying the owner of the plantation where Johnson died thought he’d been killed by syphilis. Most likely it was congenital syphilis, which occurs when a mother with untreated syphilis passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy or at birth.

Johnson's bad luck extended to his wives. He married Virginia Craft in 1929, and she died the following year along with their child. In 1931, Caletta Craft became his second wife, and she was dead in 1933, shortly after giving birth to their child. Their son Claud did survive and died in 2015.

Tommy Johnson like Robert Johnson was rumored to have made a deal with the devil for expertise in playing the guitar

No one knows exactly where Robert Johnson was buried.

Whatever the real cause, whispers swirled that the devil came to collect his end of the deal sooner than Johnson anticipated.

Lyrics from his song Me and the Devil Blues are: "Early this mornin’, when you knocked upon my door/And I said, ‘Hello Satan’. I believe it’s time to go."

Another guitarist who was not 27 when he died, but was rumored to have made a deal with the devil was Tommy Johnson (no relation to Robert Johnson). He was known for his falsetto voice and complex guitar parts. According to his brother LaDell Johnson he went to a lonely crossroads before midnight. A big, black man came up to him, took his guitar and tuned it. After this, just like Robert Johnson, his playing excelled. The selling of his soul for talent was also reported by David Evans in his 1971 biography of Johnson.

Like Robert Johnson he was born in Mississippi, and around 1914 was playing at local parties with his brother. In 1916, he moved close to the Dockery Plantation, where Robert Johnson years later was said to have made his unholy pact. Tommy Johnson died in 1956, from a heart attack and battled alcoholism throughout his life.

Brian Jones, another member of 27 club, died under questionable circumstances

A high-profile musician who died during the 1960s was Brian Jones, a guitarist and little-known founder of The Rolling Stones. His leadership role in the band was overshadowed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards who partnered to write songs.

Jones suffered from alcoholism and an addiction to drugs, especially cocaine. In June, 1969 he was fired and replaced by Mick Taylor. Less than a month later he was found dead in his swimming pool in what was deemed an accidental drowning. Even after so many years, the 27-year-old's death is still shrouded in mystery. The site of his death was Cotchford Farm, built in the 16th century. It was at one time the home of A.A. Milne the author of Winnie the Pooh.

His initial cause of death was listed as drowning then changed to death by misadventure. He had some drugs and beer in his system and fresh water in his lungs. However it's believed that someone like him who had a high tolerance for drugs and alcohol, and was a good swimmer, would not have died in the pool. Some suspect he was drowned in a trough of water near the garden. Biologists who examined his death record find that the stresses on his tissue and heart indicated he knew he was being murdered.

A month after Jones death, his girlfriend Anna miscarried their daughter Joanna.

Police opened and close investigations into Jones' death three times.

On the day before his death Jones had kicked out a crew of construction workers who supposedly were on the farm to maintain it, but were instead freeloading off Jones.

Supposedly Frank Thorogood who headed the construction crew confessed in 1993, on his deathbed that he did kill Jones, but nothing was done officially.

Present day all the players in the affair are dead and definite answers will never be supplied.

Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson was another member of 27 Club

Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson was the co-founder and lead singer of blues band Canned Heat. He died on September 3, 1970, at the age of 27, due to a heart attack, likely caused by a combination of factors including his heavy smoking and poor health.

Wilson suffered from anxiety and depression. According to some, he had a couple of suicide attempts in his past. Some sources say he never actually attempted suicide, and these were simply assumptions made after his death by some who knew him. He suffered from insomnia and started to use the barbiturate Secobarbital, or "reds" as they were known on the street.

In the summer of 1969, Wilson was hospitalized for depression. Wilson was hospitalized again in the spring of 1970, as Canned Heat was scheduled to record an album with John Lee Hooker. Wilson reportedly attempted to drive his car off a freeway in Los Angeles, getting an injury to the top of his head.

On September 2, 1970, Canned Heat was scheduled to leave for Germany to begin a European tour. When he missed his September 2 flight, this did not raise any alarms. On September 3, Wilson was found dead in his sleeping bag on a hillside in Topanga Canyon where he often slept. He was 27 years old. An autopsy identified his manner and cause of death as accidental acute barbiturate intoxication. Some believe it was suicide, but he left no note. Four additional pills were found in the pockets of his pants which were laid out next to his body.

Jim Morrison, another 27 Clubber supposedly died from heart failure but it's believed he died from an overdose.

Two weeks later, Jimi Hendrix, 27, was found dead in his London flat. Due to the mix of drugs and alcohol in his system his cause of death was ruled accidental.

Two weeks later Janis Joplin, 27, was found dead in a Hollywood motel room. Her death was attributed to a suspected heroin overdose along with alcohol intake. Joplin's tour manager later found out of other heroin users who had bought their supplies from the same dealer, and had also overdosed.

On July 3, 1971 two years to the day of Brian Jones' death, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead inside a bathtub of his apartment in Paris. Not only did he share the same death day as Jones, he was also 27 years old. No autopsy was performed, and the official cause of death given was heart failure, even though it’s believed he died from an overdose.

Leslie Harvey was electrocuted on stage in 1972.

On May 3, 1972 Leslie Harvey, a guitarist with Stone the Crows was electrocuted when on stage at the Top Rank in Swansea. He was the only one in position on the stage, and his last words to the audience were: "There's a technical hitch." Once he touched the microphone and the guitar, he fell to the ground. Later it was found someone had messed with the wires, and the equipment was not grounded.

The band was managed by Peter Grant, Led Zepplin’s manager, and had released three albums that featured raunchy, blues-based rock. They released a 4th album, but without Harvey, the band dissolved. Harvey joined the 27 Club.

Ironically before Harvey founded Stone the Crows in 1969, he was part of The Blues Council, a Scottish band who had made one record. In March, 1965 their tour van crashed and Fraser Calder the singer and bassist James Giffen were killed. The members then disbanded.

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan joined the 27 club in 1973

Less than a year later, on March 8, 1973, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, founding member of The Grateful Dead died from internal bleeding. By 1971 he was advised by his doctors to stop touring due to liver damage caused by his alcoholism. He was 27 when he died from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Badfinger, formerly known as The Iveys, were a Welsh rock band formed in 1961. The members were Pete Ham (guitar), Mike Gibbins (drums), Tom Evans (bass), and Joey Molland (guitar).

On April 24, 1975 Pete Ham committed suicide by hanging in the garage studio in his home. At that time the band was beset by a host of problems. He joined the 27 Club.

Six months after Peter Ham killed himself, Gary Thain bassist for the rock band Uriah Heep died of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose. The 27 Club welcomed a new member.

John "Bonzo" Bonham died from an overdose in 1980

The 1980s also had its share of musicians who met an early and untimely death.

The English rock band Led Zepplin formed in 1968, from the former band Yardbirds, and are considered one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

On September 24, 1980 John "Bonzo" Bonham the drummer was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant, Rex King to attend rehearsals. During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple vodkas (from 16 to 24 US fl. oz.) with a ham roll. He only took a bite of the ham roll. He continued to drink heavily after arriving at the studio, until the rehearsals were ended late that evening.

After midnight, Bonham, who had fallen asleep, was taken to bed and placed on his side. At 1:45 pm the next day, Benji LeFevre, the band’s tour manager, and John Paul Jones found Bonham dead. The cause of death was asphyxiation from vomit; the finding was accidental death.

In 1983, Tom Evans followed his bandmate Peter Ham to the grave when he committed suicide by hanging himself in the garden of his home in New Haw, Surrey. He missed the 27 mark by a few years.

Three months before his death, at a show in Nuremberg, the concert came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the third song, when Bonham collapsed onstage and was rushed to the hospital. Speculation suggested that his collapse had been the result of excessive alcohol and drug use, but the band claimed that he had simply overeaten.

In December, 1980, a bare two months after Bonham died, Led Zeppelin disbanded. Bonham was 32 years old when he died.

The band though, already had a history of tragedy. In 1976, Keith Relf who used to play for The Yardbirds (which later evolved into Led Zepplin) was electrocuted while playing in his basement, on an ungrounded electric guitar. He was 33 years old.

Mia Zapata joined the 27 club in 1993

The Inner Circle Band, a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1968; like other bands, they separated after the death of one of their members. Vocalist Jacob Miller died in a car accident on March 23, 1980, at the age of 27. The accident also claimed the life of one of his sons.

The next member of the 27 Club was Russian rock musician Alexander Bashlachev. On February 17, 1988 he fell from the 9th floor window of an apartment. Though never verified as such, it's believed it was suicide since he suffered from depression. Sadly his son Yegor who was born a few months after his death, committed suicide in 2021.

The Gits were a punk rock band that played the Seattle music scene in the early 1990s. On July 7, 1993 singer Mia Zapata was raped and murdered after leaving a local bar, The Comet. The band broke up after her death, and despite hiring a private detective to aid in the investigation, nine years would pass until a new lead came in via a DNA check, by the Seattle Cold Case Unit. Jesus Mezquia was linked to the crime in 2003 from DNA taken from a saliva sample left on Zapata's body, since he had bitten her breast. In 2004 he was sentenced to 36 years in prison. She was 27 year old.

Kurt Cobain is one of the better known member of the 27 Club

The myth of the 27 Club hit the mainstream with the death of Kurt Cobain on April 8, 1994. He shot himself in the head, in the garage of his Seattle home. There was a history of suicide in Cobain's family; two uncles and his great-uncle all killed themselves, however it was Kurt's age that was significant.

Two months after Cobain died, Kristen Pfaff bassist for the band Hole (who Courtney Love was a frontwoman for) was found dead in a bathtub from "acute opiate intoxication".

Pfaff and Richie Edwards were the next inductees into the 27 club.

Within months of Kristen Pfaff’s death, Edwards was the guitarist with the Manic Street Preachers. He disappeared on February 1, 1995 and was declared legally dead on May 18, 2009. He was on Prozac when he disappeared. His vehicle was found at the Severn View service station which is close to the Severn Bridge a known suicide site. As of this date he’s never been found.

Chris Cornell died in 1997 from problems with multiple addictions

On July 23, 2011 Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27, however she also suffered from a history of bulimia and substance abuse. Her family had feared her committing suicide due to these factors. Ironically she had expressed to friends a fear of becoming one of the 27 Club.

As for really strange deaths, during a mid-performance in 1994, Ramon Barrero, a Mexican musician famous for playing the world’s smallest harmonica, inhaled the harmonica and choked to death.

Chris Cornell, 52, was best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell struggled with depression and had multiple addictions that he was able to manage until 1997, when Soundgarden disbanded and his first marriage was failing. At that point, Cornell turned to oxycodone and other substances. Both of his parents were alcoholics.

Shortly after midnight on May 18, 2017, Cornell's bodyguard found him unconscious in the bathroom of his hotel room. He was lying on the floor with an exercise band around his neck and blood in his mouth. Police ruled out foul play by reviewing a hotel surveillance video, which showed nobody entering or exiting the suite after Cornell's bodyguard left at around 11:35 p.m.

Iron Maiden's album The Number of the Beast was burned in protest c.1982

So did all these members of the 27 Club make a deal with dark forces in exchange for fame and fortune? Did the others who died at another age, either by their own hand or prematurely give something of themselves in order to escape anonymity, and receive accolades and applause; especially, those involved in the heavy metal or rock music scene? Is the description of youthful and artistic rebellion, a cover for decadence and corruption?

In 1982, Iron Maiden released their album The Number of the Beast, the records were burnt in the street in protest when they were touring.

Ozzy Osbourne one time frontman for Black Sabbath found himself in court in 1986, following the death of a 19-year-old fan who shot himself after allegedly being influenced by the Osbourne’s song, Suicide Solution. Ultimately the suit was dismissed, since it was found that the young man suffered from mental health problems and alcoholism.

Osbourne died in July, 2025 from Parkinson's Disease.

Judas Priest was sued for subliminal messaging in their song

In 1985, two young men in Reno, Nevada drank a large amount of alcohol while listening to the Judas Priest song, Better By You, Better Than Me. During the night one of them placed a 12-gauge shotgun under his chin and shot himself. The other one pick up the shotgun and did the same, however he survived, but was left badly disfigured. He told authorities that prior to the joint suicide attempt they were listening to the Judas Priest song, when they decided they were better off dead.

It was later asserted that a subliminal message had been inserted into the song stating, “Do it!” repeatedly, and that it was this phrase that had been the trigger for the young men’s tragic actions. The case was dismissed the same as Ozzy Osbourne’s suit. Three years after the suicide attempt the surviving man fell into a coma from a drug overdose, and died. He had also suffered from depression.

Elyse Pahler was sacrificed by three teens who belonged to a band & wanted the devil to grant them musical talent c.1995

In 1995, Elyse Pahler, 15 was lured to a remote spot to smoke pot by Royce Casey, 17, Jacob Delashmutt, 16, and Joseph Fiorella, 15 where they tortured and killed her.

She would be considered missing for 8 months until Casey confessed to the crime. He was driven by the fear that his two companions in crime were planning to kill him. He took authorities to where her body could be found. Part of his confession included information that they belonged to a band named Hatred, and they believed that ritual murder would "enhance their music". The ultimate goal was to "receive power from the devil to help them play guitar better." They were heavily influenced by thrash metal band Slayer.

They had strangled the girl with a belt and then stabbed her several times with a large hunting knife. Further details revealed that in her final minutes, with the three killers watching her, Elyse prayed to God for help. Even worse, there was evidence to suggest that at least one of the killers had sexually assaulted Elyse in the hours following her death, although this was not proven in court. There were also accusations of necrophilia.

In 1997 all three were sentenced to 25 to 26 years in prison.

In November 1996, Elyse’s parents filed a lawsuit against Slayer. They claimed that the band’s lyrics incited the three killers. They asserted that two of the group’s songs, specifically Postmortem and Dead Skin Mask – had encouraged the trio to "stalk, rape, torture, murder, and commit acts of necrophilia".

The case came to court in 2000 and was dismissed.

Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Buyers, known as the West Memhis Three c.1993

In May 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Buyers, all 8 years of age went missing. The police and a volunteer force searched though the night, and it wasn’t until the following day that a shoe was seen floating on the waters around Robin Hood Hills. The three boys were found in a drainage ditch. They were naked and hog-tied with their shoelaces. Their clothes were found wrapped around sticks and buried in the ground as a type of marker. Autopsies of the bodies found they had died from multiple injuries and drowning. One of the boys had his genitals mutilated.

The following day on May 7th, Damien W. Echols, 18, was interviewed by police. He was known for liking heavy metal music, horror films and he preferred to wear mostly black. He was interested in witchcraft. Afterward, his friends Jason Baldwin, 16, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17 were arrested.

Misskelley told police that one of the boys was likely mutilated more than the others. At the time he gave this statement, the mutilation of the boy had not been made public, this seemed to be a sure sign they were the perpetrators, even if his statement was just a lucky guess.

He ultimately confessed to the murders, which, he further claimed, also involved Echols and Baldwin. Misskelley claimed that the trio had engaged in satanic rituals that often involved orgies, initiation rites and murder. It would later come to light that Misskelley had an I.Q. of around 70.

In 1994, all three were convicted in connection to the deaths of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Steve Branch the previous year. Echols was subsequently sentenced to death, Misskelley was sentenced to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Baldwin was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Their case drew the attention of many rock and heavy metal musicians.

In 2004, examiners found a human hair on the shoe of Michael Moore that did not belong to any of the defendants.

Two private investigators zeroed in on Terry Hobbs, Steve Branch’s stepfather, because his story did not add up. He claimed that he had begun searching for the boys at 6 pm on the day they had disappeared, when in reality they had only been reported missing at 9 pm. Their suspicions were seemingly confirmed when the DNA from a cigarette they lifted from his home, was a match with the hair they found on Michael's shoe. However, it was ruled that since the boys all played together often at one another's homes, it was within reason that Hobbs' hair could have gotten on any of their shoes.

This evidence allowed the three convicts to proclaim their innocence while admitting the prosecution had enough evidence to convict them. They were set free.

So who did kill the boys? There were several suspects, but no arrests were made.

Dead with Mayhem

Some of the most brutal connections between horrendous deaths, and heavy metal music occurred during the “second wave” of the Norwegian black metal scene in the early 1990s. While the initial wave of black metal in Norway began in the early 1980s, with references to satan and satanism in their respective lyrics. They were into anything anti-Christian.

One of the most popular bands was Mayhem, which was formed in the early 1980s. Their vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin used the stage name Dead. He would wear corpse paint while performing, and would wear clothes that had been buried to give the appearance of a corpse. His bandmates soon realized that it wasn’t just an act, and that he went through bouts of depression, which included self-harm.

On April 8, 1991 Dead was found dead in a room in a house where they were rehearsing. He had slit his wrists and his throat. This didn’t kill him so he shot himself in the head. Euronymous a band mate found the body, and rushed out to get a disposable camera, and he photographed the body. Many in the black metal scene were critical of Euronymous and his actions, and claimed he was trying to profit by his bandmate’s death.

Several years later one of the photos taken was used as cover artwork for a bootleg album of the band titled Dawn of the Black Hearts.

Euronymous became one of the most controversial figures in the Norwegian black metal scene

Euronymous became one of the most controversial figures in the Norwegian black metal scene and a person of significant interest to the authorities, who had begun to undertake an active investigation into the scene, specifically due to several cases of arson at churches.

He also came into conflict with other people, including Kristian Vikernes a black metal musician who had joined Mayhem in 1992. The men increased in their disagreements, and in 1993, Vikernes along with Snorre Ruch went to Euronymous’ apartment in Oslo. There was a confrontation and Euronymous was stabbed to death. Vikernes said it was a case of self defense, and that he had gone to speak to Euronymous because he feared the other man was planning to torture and kill him. Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison and the black metal scene broke up.

Mayhem is not alone in their blatantly dark themes.

Some black metal bands try to outdo each other in dark imagery

Nattefrost is a Norwegian musician, and a founding member of Carpathian Forest, a black metal band. He first started with The Child Molesters another black metal band which he founded in 1990.

Morbid Angel, an extreme death metal band debuted their first album Altars of Madness in 1989. Based out of Florida according to New Times they are "are steeped in the occult and worship of the beast, but have moved towards more dark, spiritual and esoteric themes, such Sumerian deities, mythology and even ancient incantations and witchcraft."

The Electric Hell Fire Club (EHC)
Thomas Thorn, aka Buck Ryder from My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, formed this obscure alternative/electro/industrial metal band of evil hippies in Wisconsin in 1991. The EHC made music that repeatedly made references to serial killers, mass murder, devil worship, carnal lust, orgies and drug abuse. Thorn is literally an ordained priest in the Church of Satan, and even gave a eulogy for the Church's creator, Anton LaVey, when he died in 1997.

Satyricon
Norwegian black metal band Satyricon was obsessed with medieval history since its formation in the early '90s. With the first several albums focusing on forests and castles, the band developed a sound that is today as sinister as black metal.

Anti-Christian themes are common among black metal bands

Marduk
Taking the band name from an ancient Babylonian god, Marduk is a black metal band from Sweden formed in 1990. The band's themes include religious and philosophical satanism, anti-Christianity and a dark look into the past, including brutal memories of World War II. One of the band's infamous early demo covers depicts a nun using a crucifix to masturbate, and the words "F**k Me Jesus."

A few choice song titles include Jesus Christ Sodomized, Death Sex Ejaculation, Burn My Coffin, Blessed Unholy and With Satan and Victorious Weapons.

Behemoth
Hailing from Poland, Behemoth formed in 1991, which merged the mysticism and image of black metal with the force, precision and brutality of death metal that explores ancient anti-Christian themes, as well as other satanic philosophies. They produced their last album in 2022.

Does evil spread its influence through heavy metal music?

Brujeria (translates to witchcraft)
Long known as a cult band, and rumored to be made up of actual Mexican satanic drug lords. The lyrics are in Spanish and the band is known for such shocking musical tales as Narcos Satanicos (Satanic Drug-Dealers), Molestando Niños Muertos (Molesting Dead Children), Almas de Venta (Souls for Sale) and Sesos Humanos Sacrificio (Human Brain Sacrifice), among many others.

Their 1993 album was titled Matando Gueros (Killing Whiteboys), which featured a real picture of a man's decapitated, rotting head on the cover. This led the FBI to question band members on how they obtained the gruesome photo.

Dark Funeral
The band emerged from Sweden in the early '90s, with grim music promoting a masochistic and violent lifestyle such as: murders, church burnings, satanism, self-mutilation, suicide, drug abuse and even in some cases homophobia and racism. They have symphonic black metal hymns dedicated to hatred, misanthropy, devil worship and the black arts.

Deicide
This is a death metal band formed in 1987 in Tampa, Florida. From their inception they presented a musical homage to satan, offering up a confrontational, overtly satanic attack against Christianity with each album and live show. The band's name literally means the killing of God — with lyrics that are blasphemous.

Glen Benton, founding member and bassist branded an inverted cross into his forehead to prove his loyalty to the devil. Early in the band's career, Deicide was hounded by church protests, animal rights groups who alleged animal torture and even several lawsuits alleging the music influenced suicide, crime and even murder. They are scheduled to release a new album in 2024.

Many blame the satanic panic for giving hard metal bands a bad name, but in truth many bands were more than happy enough to adopt the devil and the occult as part of their images. It was only after lawsuits and weird deaths and suicides that many of them distanced themselves from this motif.

But was it just an attempt to be outré and controversial that these bands took up the black mantle, or does evil spread its influence through heavy metal music?