For time immemorial, tales of rock ‘n’ roll excess have dotted the annals of popular music history.
From the debauchery of LA glam rockers Motley Crue to the unbridled hedonism of bands like Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, tales of hard-living on the road have become part and parcel of the stereotypical rock star lifestyle.
But there is a category of musical artists that dwell well and truly on the fringes of the mainstream.
Bands so extreme that their on and off stage antics would put the aforementioned stars to shame.
From standing up to authoritarian regimes, to committing acts of terror and even murder, there are some artists who pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable to the absolute extremity.
Here is a look at some of the most outrageous and extreme musical artists of all time.
Formed in Oslo in 1984, Mayhem really hit their controversial straps when they welcomed singer Per Yngve Ohlin, better known as Dead, into the fold
Mayhem
These Norwegian black metal stars live up to their name and have courted controversy from the very beginning.
Formed in Oslo in 1984, Mayhem really hit their controversial straps when they welcomed singer Per Yngve Ohlin, better known as Dead, into the fold.
With Dead at the helm, Mayhem’s live performances shocked, with the frontman becoming known for wearing corpse paint and often cutting himself with knives and broken glass during performances.
In 1990, the band moved into an old farmhouse to begin writing for what would be their seminal 1992 album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas.
However in 1991, Dead committed suicide in the farmhouse, leaving a note that began: ‘Excuse the blood.’
The band’s guitarist and founder Øystein Aarseth, aka Eronymous, discovered the body and promptly went and bought a disposable camera to photograph the scene.
The result wound up as the cover of a 1995 live bootleg album Dawn Of The Black Hearts.
Dead committed suicide, leaving a note that began: ‘Excuse the blood’. The band’s guitarist discovered the body and promptly went and bought a disposable camera to photograph the scene and it wound up on one of their covers
After being connected to a spate of church burnings in 1993, member Varg Vikernes fatally stabbed Euronymous after an argument ensued in the victim’s Oslo apartment
Vikernes (pictured) was sentenced to 21 years in prison and was released in 2009
If that wasn’t enough, the band were also connected to a spate of church burnings that were taking place across Norway at the time.
To coincide with the release of De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, Euronymous and fellow member Varg Vikernes, aka Count Grishnackh, allegedly plotted to bomb the Nidaros Cathedral, which again appeared on the album cover.
Then, in August 1993, Vikernes fatally stabbed Euronymous after an argument ensued in the victim’s Oslo apartment.
Vikernes was arrested within days and was sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum sentence in Norway, for both the murder and church arsons.
He was released from prison in 2009, and the band continue to this day, albeit with a different lineup.
The sordid affair was made into the 2018 feature film Lords Of Chaos, starring Rory Culkin as Euronymous.
GG Allin
Born Jesus Christ Allin, this fringe dweller was dubbed ‘the most spectacular degenerate in rock and roll history’.
Born Jesus Christ Allin, this rock ‘n’ roll fringe dweller was dubbed ‘the most spectacular degenerate in rock and roll history’
A GG stage show often included self-mutilation, defecating on stage and even assaulting audience members, for which he was imprisoned on multiple occasions
The punk rocker fronted many bands during his tumultuous life, including The Murder Junkies with his brother Merle.
Known more for his outrageously transgressive onstage antics than his recorded output, a GG Allin show was strictly not for the faint of heart.
The shows often included self-mutilation, defecating on stage and even assaulting audience members, for which he was imprisoned on multiple occasions.
In 1989, GG was arrested and charged with ‘assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder’ of a female acquaintance.
GG plea bargained to the reduced charge of felonious assault and was imprisoned from December 25, 1989 to March 26, 1991.
With song and album titles such as Hated In The Nation, Anti-Social Personality Disorder and I Wanna Kill You, GG was certainly not interested in existing anywhere near the mainstream.
The controversial punk died of a heroin overdose in 1993.
Pussy Riot
This collective of Russian performance art punks was founded by a then 22-year old Nadya Tolokonnikova and featured a revolving membership of 11 women.
Never afraid to push the envelope, the group were formed in a response to what they saw as the repressive politics of President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, demanding more rights for women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Never afraid to push the envelope, Pussy Riot were formed in a response to what they saw as the repressive politics of President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, demanding more rights for women and the LGBTQIA+ community
They sprung to international attention in 2012, when five members staged a performance inside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow
They took their provocative message to the streets, staging unauthorised ‘guerilla’ gigs in public places, such as in the Moscow subway or in front of the Kremlin.
They sprung to international attention in 2012, when five members staged a performance inside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
The song ‘Punk Prayer’ was a direct response to the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church’s support of Putin in his election campaign.
It called on the Virgin Mary to ‘put Putin away’ and the performance was quickly deemed sacrilegious by the church.
As a result, three members – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich – were arrested and held in custody for five months before trial.
All three were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and sentenced to two years in prison.
Samutsevich lodged a successful appeal and was freed on probation two months after sentencing, while Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were released in 2013 after serving 21 months behind bars.
The group continue to protest the Putin regime, albeit from afar, with members having fled Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Rockb**** were not afraid to push the envelope on stage, performing nude and engaging in live sex acts with each other and members of the audience
Rockb****
When it comes to wild live performances, this group of British mostly female rockers are close to the top of the provocateur pile.
Founded by Amanda Smith-Skinner, aka the B*** an Tony Skinner, aka the Beast, in 1984, its members lived in a matriarchal polyamourous, feminist commune in France.
They quickly gained notoriety for their live shows which saw members perform completely naked.
They would also engage in live sex acts on stage, not only with each other, but also with audience members via what the band called the ‘Golden Condom’.
The condom would be thrown into he crowd during the show and the audience member that caught it was then taken backstage to engage in sex with the band.
While careful not to break any laws in the regions they played, they unsurprisingly caught the attention of British police and faced strident opposition from local councils in the towns they toured their strictly adults only show.
With venues willing to stage such a provocative act becoming increasingly rare, and pressure from the band’s record company to tone down their act, led to the band splitting in 2002.
