The following obituary was written for The Black Flame, the international forum for The Church of Satan, in december 1997, shortly after LaVey's death.

Dr. Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997)

Respect to a master magician, now deceased.

At first, I was shocked, saddened and depressed by the news. 67 years is far too tender an age to die. I was just going to fax him and let him know the good news that the first edition of the Swedish "Satanic Bible" had sold out and that we're pressing more.

I had so much looked forward to another meeting in San Francisco during 1998. Time to chat, to watch some movies, have grand dinners, listen to music... But no, destiny would have it otherwise.

As a youngster of 21, I recorded a track with my band "White Stains". The song was a pompous ode to Jayne Mansfield - Satanic Goddess - and the lyrics touched upon the relationship between her and the Church of Satan. Just for the hell of it I sent a copy of the record to Dr. LaVey, as it was an homage to him as much as to Jayne.

Lo and behold! I received a jovial letter with Satanic thanks. I knew very well that he didn't like the music (totally nonsensical rock'n'roll), but somehow the words must have been audible in - in my opinion - a terrible mix.

He made me a member (an honour indeed!) and when I visited San Francisco in 1989, I met the Doktor and Blanche for the first time. Nights of wonder, nights of magic. And nights of many good movies.

And thus it continued up until 1993, when I last met him. I had been in San Francisco every other year or so and each time was a joyous occasion. Not just for the fun and the good times, but for the fascinating feeling of "Wow!" that always hit me whenever I left The Black House.

He made an impact.

And he made this impact not only by fascinating people with his experiences, collections and many, many talents. No, he made an impact by reading people there and then and, if he felt the person or persons in question deserved it, he transmitted chosen tidbits of magical wisdom through anything from stories, anecdotes, jokes or through wonderful musical sessions in his kitchen.

Magic moves in subconscious and emotional realms. The Doktor knew this very well and appreciated people who resonated with his own interests in culture. Through an active resonance, he would communicate not with the actual words spoken or the keys played, but rather with the powerful atmosphere he created through them.

He was a master.

Anything he wanted to, he could achieve. And he certainly achieved a great deal during his varied and colourful lifetime. But there comes a time in every true magician's development where he or she starts to consider the wellbeing of others and/or so-called higher goals. And this was no different in Dr. LaVey's case.

Where most people mistakenly see him as a self-possessed charlatan, it doesn't really take much effort to see a man who strived really hard to share his findings and results with others. Through his own person, through his books, his records, videos, interviews etc. His material is now readily available for the (in)taking. The future will show who can grasp what it's all about and who has the guts to go his/her own way. These people will shine. These people will be proud. These people will be strong. They will be Satanists. They will cherish life.

The Doktor cherished his amazing life, one befitting the amazing character he was. He had a will to live, a will to indulge and a will to explore the areas, phenomena and people he was attracted to. And what characterises a true magician? This very trust in intuition, the acceptance of hunches and emotions as guidelines. The breaking of taboos regarding social and moral conventions and habits. The creation of one's own gratifying universe, one's own perfect world.

Dr. LaVey personified all of these traits and qualities, and even took it to the length of creating an entire Church based upon this, his philosophy of life.

If you decide to move upstreams, you're likely to find more interesting fish. But you'll also run into more trouble and harder work. The Doktor led a controversial life, filled with strife and troubles simply because he advocated a true freedom. A freedom that allows those who dare to create brave new worlds and majestic manifestations of subjective quality rather than of externally imposed quantity.

His terminology naturally raised more than a few eyebrows - and the hatred of many a bigoted and fearful fool. But that aside, the true "threat" that The Church of Satan poses lies in the fact that it's a synthesis of ideas and directions that has the power to liberate those who are bold enough to thread on the Satanic path. Those who embrace reality as fact, and those who see magic not as a fascinating system of symbols but as an actual tool for change.

He was an advanced magician with his own complicated systems of ritual and he was also an elitist. He couldn't have cared less if people in general "understood" what he was transmitting. But he cared a whole lot for the the fact that the material should be available - You never know when a young Satanist awakens to his (or her, for that matter) call! And the words of wisdom from the Occult Synthesizer par excellence, the Great Szandor, will always be helpful to those persons who dare see through their own fears and who can appreciate an obstinate attitude as a magical formula.

He was - truly - a master.

With respect, love and condoleances to the Doktor's family, I end this death rune. I've reached the end of memory lane. It's time to work.

P.S. (Is that Post Scriptum or Pro Satan?): In case you have the time and opportunity to read this, Anton: I thank you from the depth of my soul for all the encouragement, inspiration and love you passed in my direction over the years in many different ways. That will never, ever be forgotten. And neither will you, Doktor LaVey. Neither will you.