In pursuit of Jandek (day 7)

Anton "Maiden" Gustafsson rose to fame in 1999 when he uploaded mp3s of himself singing Iron Maiden songs.

He would download MIDI or MOD files and record his own vocals over them on his home computer using a cheap microphone. Much like his fellow Swedish cover artist Eilert Pilarm (see yesterday's post) Anton couldn't sing. At all. Not even a little.

But his intentions were genuine and he did his best, and that's all you could ever ask of anyone. I'd say that's another "rule" of outsider music, doing it honestly and from the heart. The strangeness of your music should be come naturally, but be completely unintentional.

If you deliberately try to be cooky and weird, or willingly make music that sounds a bit off, you're no longer an outsider - you're a novalty artist, which is something different all together. Nothing wrong with being a novalty artist, but let's just make that distinction very clear.

What the world didn't know however, was that Anton suffered from deep depressions and frequented various online suicide forums. In the winter of 2003 he asked for advice on the most efficient way to end his life, and was recommended to use a method that would be as merciful as possible for whoever would find his remains.

On the evening of October 31st 2003 he left the following message:

"Tonight is the night, wish me luck.

If I don't post again, consider me dead."

Three hours later he was dead, after following the instructions given on the forum. His disappearance made national news, and his body was found a week later. He was only 23 years old.

(mp3) Anton Maiden - Hallowed be thy name (highly recommended!)
(mp3) Anton Maiden - Run to the hills

Anton on the TV show Sajber (1999):