| Swedish multi-instrumentalist musician, founder of the band Bathory Date of Birth: Country: Sweden |
Thomas Forsberg, better known by his pseudonym Quorthon, emerged as a Swedish musical force in At the tender age of 17, he founded Bathory, a band destined to revolutionize metal music. Prior to Bathory, Quorthon had honed his skills in the Oi! band Stridskuk.
With the support of his father, Börje Forsberg, Quorthon recorded Bathory's debut album in the garage of pop hitmaker Peter Himmelstrand. As the band's mastermind, Quorthon penned the songs, performed the majority of instruments, and served as the driving force behind Bathory's unique sound. Other musicians played sporadically, while live performances were kept to a minimum.
Bathory's eponymous debut album, released in , became a foundational work in both viking metal and early black metal. Quorthon's music was infused with the mythology and aesthetics of Norse culture, establishing a template that would be emulated by countless bands.
In the mids, Quorthon temporarily departed from Bathory to release an EP and two full-length albums under his own name. This project showcased a departure from his previous work, featuring a blues-influenced rock 'n' roll sound. However, Quorthon soon returned to his primary musical focus, Bathory.
On a fateful night in June , Quorthon succumbed to a congenital heart condition while sleeping in his Stockholm apartment. The news of his death initially appeared on , where his true name, Thomas Forsberg, was revealed along with his connection to Black Mark Production owner Börje Forsberg. Bathory's official website obituary referred to him as "Ace/Quorthon," while throughout his life, Quorthon had amused journalists by providing false names such as "Runka Snorkråka" and "Pugh Rogefeldt."
Even after his untimely passing, Quorthon's legacy continued to live on. In , his final work, the single "Silverwing," featuring his sister, singer Jennie Tebler, was released posthumously.