Hank von Hell
Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby (15 June 1972 – 19 November 2021), also known as Hank von Helvete and Hank von Hell, was a Norwegian singer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Turbonegro.[2][3]
Hank von Hell | |
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Hank von Hell at Coachella 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hans Erik Dyvik Husby |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | 15 June 1972 Vestvågøy, Norway[1] |
| Died | 19 November 2021 (aged 49) Slottsparken, Oslo, Norway |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1993–2021 |
| Formerly of | |
Career edit
Von Hell's former band Turbonegro is most well known for their tongue-in-cheek humor dealing with homosexual aesthetics and punk rock antics, and the formation of a genre they label "death punk". The band formed in the late 1980s and released several albums before disbanding in 1998 when von Hell's drug addiction made him unable to perform. After going through rehab, von Hell reunited with Turbonegro in 2002. He left the band in 2010 to focus on his family and career outside of rock music.[4][5]
In 2009, he had a number 1 hit alongside Maria Solheim in the Norwegian Singles Chart with "Rom for alle". The song spent three weeks at the number 1 spot, including the Christmas chart for 2009. In 2010, von Hell portrayed singer-songwriter Cornelis Vreeswijk in the Swedish film Cornelis. He released a cover album with Vreeswijk songs titled I ljuset av Cornelis later that year.
On 6 June 2011, von Hell and his new band Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult, released their first album I Declare: Treason. In late 2011, he was a judge in the Norwegian TV series Idol. His biography was released in Norway October 2012, written by writer and poet Håvard Rem, where he spoke openly about his life and career.
Solo career edit
On 31 August 2018, von Hell released his first single, "Bum to Bum", from his forthcoming solo record Egomania. The album was released on 2 November through Sony Music/Century Media worldwide.[6]
He wrote the album with the help of guitarist and band member Eric Bachman, also known as Cat Casino. Von Hell was asked why he decided to return and produce a solo record in an interview in 2018, stating: "The timing was just right. I was done with others "angels" in life, and it felt like it was time to go back and do what I always should've done – ROCK. And shake ass."[7]
On 25 January 2019, the song "Fake It" was chosen for competition in the Melodi Grand Prix 2019 to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.[8]
Personal life and death edit
Von Hell and his family moved frequently during his childhood and adolescent years, living in various places across Norway. His early childhood years were spent in the village of Å on the southwest edge of the Lofoten islands, later moving to Fauske, Rognan and Tvedestrand.[9]
Following Turbonegro's split in 1998, von Hell went through detox while living at the island Moskenes in Lofoten, where he worked as a guide at Norwegian Fishing Village Museum and as a presenter at Moskenesradioen, a local radio station.[10] Von Hell was married to model Gro Skaustein from August 2009 until October 2014. The couple had a daughter together who was born on 21 December 2008.[11]
Von Hell died suddenly on 19 November 2021, at the age of 49, and was found dead in Slottsparken in Oslo.[12] No cause of death was made public, but his manager later denied rumours that he had committed suicide, stating that "his body had finally given in" after a long life of drug abuse.[12] Turbonegro and former bandmates Happy-Tom, Euroboy and Tim Skold paid tribute to him on social media, as did Tony "Duke of Nothing" Sylvester, his replacement in Turbonegro, who wrote "I never tried to fill your shoes as that would have been impossible."[13][14][15][16][17] Other tributes were made by Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes, Steve-O, Behemoth frontman Nergal, former-Queens of the Stone Age drummer Joey Castillo, Sum 41 bassist Jason McCaslin, Danko Jones, wrestler Darby Allin and actress Juliette Lewis.[18][19][20][21][22][23] On 9 December, von Hell was buried in Lillestrøm.[24][25]
Discography edit
With Turbonegro edit
Studio albums edit
- Never Is Forever (1994)
- Ass Cobra (1996)
- Apocalypse Dudes (1998)
- Scandinavian Leather (2003)
- Party Animals (2005)
- Retox (2007)
Live albums edit
- Darkness Forever! (1999)
Compilation albums edit
- Love It to Deathpunk (2001)
- Small Feces (2005)
With Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult edit
- I Declare: Treason (studio album, 2011)
With INRI edit
- Breakfast Serial X (EP, 1992)
With Maria Solheim edit
- "Rom for Alle" (single, 2009)
Solo edit
Studio albums edit
- I ljuset av Cornelis (2010)
- Egomania (2018)
- Dead (2020)
Guest appearances edit
| Year | Artist | Title | Song(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Bandkind | Look Away, Kids | "Nihil Sleighride" |
| 2004 | Schtimm | Featuring... | "Waybackthens", "Idiotsong" |
| Valentourettes | Valentourettes Speller Jokke | "Narkoman" | |
| 2009 | Carola | Christmas in Bethlehem | "Silent Night" |
| 2011 | With Tobias Fröberg, Peter Morén, Trygve Haug and John Eriksson | GateGrep | "Ballad Om En Gammal Knarkare" (Cornelis Vreeswijk cover) |
| 2018 | Mustasch | Silent Killer | "Fire" |
| 2021 | Charlie Benante | Silver Linings | "Public Image" (Public Image Ltd cover) |
| Me and That Man | New Man, New Songs, Same Shit. Vol. 2 | "Black Hearse Cadillac" | |
| 2022 | CKY | Thoughts & Prayers | "Fuck Shit Help & Yeah" |
References edit
- ^ "Hank von Hell's profile". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Turbo charged Sydney Morning Herald – 3 October 2003
- ^ Turbonegro Bring Boners Back to Times Square – Vulture. Nymag.com (26 September 2007). Retrieved on 29 June 2011.
- ^ Hartmann, Graham (10 July 2019). "Hank von Hell's Life Is No Longer About Self-Destruction". Loudwire. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Enis, Eli (20 November 2021). "Hank Von Hell, Turbonegro Singer, Dead at 49". Revolver. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Century Media Records -".
- ^ "INTERVIEW - Hank Von Hell - I stole the idea from Gandalf..." November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ Melodi Grand Prix entry: Hank von Hell
- ^ Moslet, Håkon (8 December 2021). "Gutten som ble Hank von Helvete". ballade.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ NRK (4 August 2003). "Hertugen fra Lofoten". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ [1] Seher.no Retrieved on 17 July 2015.
- ^ a b Blabbermouth (22 November 2021). "HANK VON HELL's Manager Denies Former TURBONEGRO Singer Committed Suicide". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Eggertsen, Chris (23 November 2021). "Hank Von Hell, Former Lead Singer for Norwegian 'Deathpunk' Band Turbonegro, Dies at 49". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Bu, Fanny; Tønnessen, Maria Schiller; Fossheim, Kenneth (20 November 2021). "Planla reunion-turné: - Jeg er det tristeste jeg noensinne har vært". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Schreiner, Knut (20 November 2021). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Skold, Tim (19 November 2021). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Sylvester, Tony (20 November 2012). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Hughes, Jesse (21 November 2021). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Fosse, Anders Lohne (20 November 2021). "«Jackass»-stjernene hyller Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Darski, Adam (20 November 2021). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Castillo, Joey (20 November 2021). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Jones, Danko (20 November 2021). "Twitter post". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Stephens, Chris (25 November 2021). "Darby Allin Pays Tribute To Recently Deceased Punk Singer On Dynamite". SE Scoops. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Blabbermouth (1 December 2021). "Public Funeral Service For Former TURBONEGRO Singer HANK VON HELL To Be Held Next Week". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Persen, Kjell; Habbestad, Mariann (29 November 2021). "Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby skal begraves i Lillestrøm kirke 9. desember". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 19 November 2023.