Interview

MIKAEL AKERFELD of OPETH (PART 2)

This is my third time interviewing Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth and each time he has been a true gentleman. He is also probably one of the nicest guys and most un assuming 'rock star' that I have met over the years. Then again, I am not at all surprised as OPETH is not your ordinary band of musicians. You hear a lot of musicians say that they are in a band not for the money or the chicks but for the love of music. Once you hear these guys you will realize that these four guys mean it and the others are playing for chicks and money. Listening to an OPETH song is like going on a musical journey through time and cultures and styles. Their music speaks for itself and it does it best at loud volumes.

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Amir - How do you feel being the first metal band to play in a country such as Jordan?

Mikael - We are excited to play the show in Amman, Jordan. A promoter over there contacted our management and made us an offer we could not refuse and we are basically going there and playing one show and coming back. I am hoping that I will get to see a bit of the country as well. We have sold 6000 tickets for the show which I believe is a sellout there but we were told to only play the mellower Opeth stuff so there will be no screaming vocals. Last year we played in Istanbul, Turkey at at festival so we have been to that region before.

A - So do you somehow feel as though you may be the ambassadors of metal for that region.

M - Yeah right. Actually speaking of Ambassadors, the Swedish Embassy in Jordan has contacted us and invited us to the embassy while we are there and of course they are all coming down to see the show as well. We get a lot of mail from fans in different parts of the Middle East and I imagine a lot of them will be traveling to Jordan to see the show. I am hoping that this will open doors for other bands to play the region.

A - I remember last time you and I hung out there were a couple of fans who had travelled all the way to Cleveland from Israel to see you play.

M - We actually have a large following over in Israel and have had many offers to play there but we have had to turn them down due to the dangerous climate over there. Obviously any country can be the target of terrorism and it does effect us as a touring band. We try not to dwell on that but management has to weigh the risks in travelling. I think that if those countries were to open up to our brand of music that it could start a huge scene for music. Opeth draws a lot of inspiration from the music from that region of the world.

A - What is next for OPETH?

M - Obviously the gig in Jordan and then a tour of Australia and after that hopefully home for a break. We have been so busy that I never got a chance to take my wife on a honeymoon yet so she is joining me in Australia and we are going to stay there for two extra weeks. After that I believe I will take a month or two off and begin writing again.

A - What plans do you have for the next Opeth cd?

M - I think it will be typical Opeth material with some heavy and some mellow stuff.

A - What is more challenging to play. The heavy material or the Damnation stuff?

M - Definitely the softer stuff is more challenging. It is harder to make that come across as great as the loud and heavier shit. I dont want the audience to leave thinking of OPETH as a death metal band that can pull off the soft stuff. I want them to think of us a band that is just playing what feels natural.

A - In the past you have said that you are not happy being labeled a death metal band.

M - Well that music was a major influence on me growing up but I think individually and collectively we all listen to many other forms of music and that shapes the OPETH sound and I dont think death metal incapsulates our style.

A - What are you listening to currently.

M - I have brought some stuff along on the road including some of the early Priest stuff and just the other day I bought some old Joni Mitchell albums as well.

A - At the beginning of this tour you had to cancel a few shows due to drummer Martiz Lopez. What happened?

M - Well we actually only cancelled one show and the other two we ended up playing five song sets with our drum tech playing. In Calgary we were joined by Gene Hoagland from Strapping Yound Lad on drums. At the time, Martin was experiencing panic attacks and depressions and as you can see, he is here with is now and all is well.

A - Is there any interest in OPETH playing the Ozzfest?

M - Not really. In order to play the Ozzfest you have to buy your time on the tour. To play the second stage it costs $75,000 for 6 weeks. It is not really about the music at all but more about money and greed. For a band to pay that kind of money to play for 45 minutes is just ridiculous.

A - Tell me about the songwriting process within OPETH

M - I primarily write everything but I do not tell the guys how to play anything either. I have a vision and an idea and they just play and it all works because of the chemistry we have.

A - Mikael, have you been to my website yet?

M - No I have not. Basically, as busy as I have been, I only have time to have sex with my wife, eat a good dinner and check my e-bay account. One of my hobbies is collecting play station games and also vinyl albums so I am always on e bay. Other than that if I am lucky I will have time to rehearse and hangout with my three cats.

A - When you arent on the road, do you guys still see each other a lot. Would you consider yourselves great friends?

M - Oh yeah sure we are but when we are at home in Sweden it is really difficult for us all to speak because I have caller I.D and when any of them call I just dont answer. (laughs)

A - You recently got married. Has that changed any aspect of your life including being on the road?

M - Definitely. I think about her more now and as for going out on the road I am more secure about us being apart. I would never fuck around on her anyways but the fact that we are now married cements that.

A - I will make sure and print that.

M - Exactly (laughs)

M - It is great to know that she is supportive of us and what we do.

A - Growing up who influenced you as a guitarist?

M - Yngwie Malmsteen who is also from Stockholm. The Priest guys, Michael Schenker, Matthias Jabs, Uli Roth, Tony Iommi and Blackmore.

A - Do you have any unfulfilled dreams?

M - I would love to someday open up my own record store selling vintage vinyl. Perhaps once I save my money from Opeth I can buy large collections.

A - Tell me about life in Sweden

M - It is like the US. Spring time is beautiful, summers are hot and the winters are very cold. We get all four seasons. Lots of nature there and very clean.

A - How have fans reacted to Damnation being an all mellow album?

M - I just dont want them to call us sellouts because if they have studied the history of metal, they would see that all their heroes have done ballads. Ballads have always been a part of metal. Judas Priest, and Sabbath both had ballads.

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4/24/2006