My musical roots and inspiration lie not in rock n' roll or metal music, but first and foremost in classical music, balalaika, and in underground house music.

I've been offered, I think it was £300,000 to play live two concerts in London some years ago. And I said 'No. No thanks.' I would rather stay home here and change oil on my car, or collect some rotten wood from the forest, spread on my ruined former agricultural land.

I never do anything to make money. I do make money, but that's because I do something. Big difference.

Time moves too slowly for me to notice any evolution in my creative tendencies.

I am sorry, but recording an album is just hard work; tedious, repetitive, and not very fun at all. Mixing is a bit better, but still pretty boring.

I have barely seen my son since he came into the world. Even though I hear his voice on the phone almost every day, it is very tough to not be present while he is growing up.

Burzum was never formed, as Burzum is no group, only Count Grishnackh of many colors.

I am not a philosopher, only frustrated by the development of the world we live in - and too stupid to keep my mouth shut when I see injustice.

I expect either total success or total failure. That's my lot in life.

I just make music. If you don't like it, you don't need to buy or listen to it.

I know too much about religion to be religious, so to speak, and I am not that stupid, either.

I have learned from my mistakes and become older.

I make music, and if anyone wants to dislike it because of my logo, or lack thereof, then fine by me.

Globalization is very destructive to our species.

I think metal fans are more loyal than other fans, and they are often more inclined to collect the albums of their favorite bands.

I live in the present and in the future. Not in the past.

I enjoy making music and take my time to do everything until it is 'perfect.'

I do vote, and naturally, I vote for so-called extremist parties, the further to the right the better, but that's where my participation in politics ends.

I think the growing disregard for the environment, culture, and heritage is a natural consequence of capitalism.

My musical roots and inspiration lie not in rock n' roll or metal music, but first and foremost in classical music, balalaika, and in underground house music.

If you want to change the world - I do - you have to start with yourself.

I look forward the day that I could work on my farm, create music, write books, and be with the wife and kids around the clock - and live a normal life.

Life treats me very well, as has always been the case, no matter where I have been.

What I think is more important than actually believing in reincarnation or thinking about a post-death existence is to live in the present.

I wrote, exercised, ate healthy, and responded to life in prison very well.

I don't think I have an image of being an underground musician. I have an image of being an uncompromising musician, and I am well known in Norway partly because of that.

I live an isolated life, and I rarely meet others.

I am not the 'Count' that has been portrayed in the media.

To record an album is cathartic, or at least it was with 'Belus,' but to make music is more fulfilling than anything else, I think.

Until I was around 12 or 13, I only listened to classical music, mostly Tchaikovsky. But around that age, I started listening to Iron Maiden, and that's when I purchased my first guitar, a pearl-white Westone.

Burzum was never my choice of life. I didn't even want to become a musician.