Mikael is such an incredible song writer that there’s no room for 2 in Opeth. It’s his vision that’s made it what it is with help from others. Without Mikael there is no Opeth.

Funny how Opeth havnt been the same since lopez and lindgren left. Ghost Reveries was their last solid album imo. Watershed was ok but just lacked what Still Life to Ghost Reveries era had. Heritage onwards completely lost me.

Isn't Dirge for November written by Peter?

the thing that frustrates me about music is that people don't treat it like a business. they don't understand that a band needs to have an identity and a sound that can essentially become a product. it takes a long time to establish and you can risk messing it up by throwing in other peoples ideas just to appease them. its the same reason that restaurants don't let waiters write the menu. People need to know their roles in bands just like any other job. Mike is the boss. He's a benevolent one, but ultimately the livelihood of the band is better left to him as far as songwriting is concerned. If Peter could write music as good as Opeth or better, he would have by now. (thats not a diss, I wish he was still in the band personally, but thats how it is).

Tbh this was a terrible idea for Michael to relieve him

Definitely don’t sacrifice the quality for favor. He should have told him at the time though, it may have kicked Peter in to a higher gear…

somehow Mikael still comes off as a really good guy in an interview where he says "his riffs were shit" and "I write a lot of really good stuff that I throw away" 🤣

The only money one makes as a musician is publishing rights, and Mikael is well aware of that. Publishing is and will always be the power in any music business. Every band member wants a dip in that, hence why everyone's trying to "get in" gets fired.

5:30 I want to hear this tape. More riffs in the style of Morningrise / MAYH can only be a positive thing in my mind. The band were never the same after Peter left.

It’s not shameful to not be good musician enough for Åkerfeldt and Opeth. Bar is very high. Similarly, not all athletes are at the Olympian level, even though they are gifted and hard-working.

Opeth had been going downwards since Peter and Lopez left.

Sad interview. That’s what happens when somebody in a band gets left behind for one reason or another. Peter wasn’t half as talented as Mikael, however harsh that may sound.

Opeth to me is Morningrise. I LOVE that album SO much, it is my heart. BUT, weirdly, i don't dislike their new direction(s) They've covered SO much ground musically that it makes sense to evolve, and even tho the music is different, its never 'bad'. The ferocity may be gone but whats replaced it is weird, spooky jazz which in itself is hugely interesting and compelling. I look forward to whatever they do next. (Tho i HAVE to say, im pretty sure i would have VERY much liked what was on Peters Riff-Tape. - The meandering contrapuntal black metal riffs from the first few albums are my FAVOURITE.)

bring back johann de farfalla

part of me felt bad about Pete back at when i first saw this video despite the fact that i like a lot Fredik as a person and really respect him as musician as well of course and also his signature PRS guitar as well XD

To be honest I’m really glad Peter quit. Frederik is soooooooo many thousands of times better as a lead guitarist. His phrasing his technique his melody. Everything is better.

Musicalmente era necesario la partida de Peter, el que sea músico entenderá el porqué

He's just self aware. He knows he's the songwriter/star if u wanna call it. So yeah.

They lost me after Watershed. But I'll always cherish the back catalog.

I think mikael is telling too many lies here just to bother peter after replacing him with fredrick if he was honest ..why is the album watershed not as good as the old albums ? Peter really had his touch on their music

My man is on some meth, adderall, or cocaine or he dropped some lucy before the interview hes calm as ive ever seen him and I love it. No wonder hes so fuckin good- i was a meth head and got shredder status in just three years on guitar, people think ive been playing since i was a kid. I wonder if hes stayed up a few nights just consumed with beer and music. The special disk on ‘venemum’ box set vinyl called “amphetamine”. Hmmmm anyways im clean now 1 year. What i would do commitment wise if i could get the chance to play with composers of such talent, id be making his meals, fluffing his god damned pillow, playing Zappa live in New York, 76 on his system cause i wanna see his reaction to that insanity and literally waiting on him hand and foot in order to get songs flowing and the recording going smoothly. We could release an album, and the next day id be working until i cant keep my eyes open on riff writing, learning the ins and outs of exactly how all the toys are hooked up, CHanging strings, tuning the guitars, i would immediately start singing lessons to offer backing vocals, id be setting up interviews and marketing us into more cash flow. I can’t understand how you can have that opportunity, and throw it away by being lazy, and jealous of your friend who is obviously a savant. My older brother is a concert pianist, and ill never be anywhere near his level of absolute genius, and its amazing to help him in any way possible, mikael must have gotten all the chicks thats why he was bitter

didnt opeth kick a guy out for not getting vaxxed or is that a different band?

I was waiting for him to say: he fucking left the band😦

Cardiacs and Opeth are two of the greatest bands ever. Tim Smith and Mikael Aekerfeldt....two geniuses.

Typical Dutch interviewer, haha. Straight to the point, cutting questions. Good stuff.

I wish something like this had happened in In Flames a few years ago especially after clayman and jesper had kicked anders's ass. Anders Friden totally fucked the band and they became a big nothing on me anymore.

Funny, he does not look so worried now about the comp....

What a duo they were.

I want to hear all Mikael's demos that he throws in the trash. The ones he states that are good, but also the ones he doesn't think are good. Could always use more Mikael music eh. Give us the good stuff u throw away at least! ha

From this you see how you can come out as an asshole if you say the truth

You either have it, or you don't. And most musicians don't, and thus why they never really go anywhere with their music. That seems to be the case with Peter. The cream didn't rise to the top.

Open and honest. Love this guy! Love Opeth!♥️🤟🏻

The funny thing is, it's not like *every* Opeth song is fucking amazing. So while I do understand his point, I also understand that sometimes including your bandmates ideas is vital to keeping the band together. Say what you want about where Opeth is now, but they were better with the original lineup and maybe including 1 or 2 of those "mediocre" riffs would have kept them together.

Mikael is so honest and kind man he's the best

🥲

Maybe if Peter was still in the band they would still be great. Guess we'll never know.

Damn. I wish Mickael had talked through a proper response with a publicist before saying what he said. He could have easily said “we’re not on the same page anymore” or “we’ve grown in different directions” and everyone would understand without it being harsh. Some could argue “Mickael is just being honest” but he admitted right here on the tape that he WASN’T honest with his band mate when he gave him the tape. Mickael is obviously a musical genius but selfish leaders often drive great musicians into laying down their instruments. I hope Mickael has learned from this.

Love the Dutch accent from the interviewer 😂😂

Funny things he talks 'bout moving forward, while right now Opeth is basically a '70s prog-rock cover band ... meh

You can really tell that Mike truly cares about how other people feel.

So the question is: if Peter wasn’t contributing to songwriting, why did Opeth go so downhill after he left? Granted, Lopez left as well and he was a big contributor, but it seems like Mikael has been really uninspired lately.

Best interview ever with Åkerfeldt. Maybe he was tired but that was awesome. Peter is brilliant guitarist.

Sounds like Peter made a serious miscalculation.

There is always two sides to a story . We never heard Peter’s

I don't like the turn your music took around Deliverance, Mike. I think it's shit.

For me, Pete is really important for the band even he is not so "creative" based on what Mikael said in the interview. You can see how Opeth fell after Pete left. Mikael can write damn good riffs with him even in standard c and e. I am not saying that Opeth after Watershed is not good (I actually love Sorceress album and some songs in Pale Communion), but Pete is the protector for Opeth's death elements.

I'm basically Peter when it comes to pair programming in computer science class

This interviewer makes me cringe bad

0:53 "that stepping toes an-" WELL

when you start a band and write all the songs you can sure as shit call all the shots....I'm not sure why people have a problem with that. And he doesn't even really do that necessarily, but in the end it's his vision...his vision IS the bands vision. It's his fuckin' band he started it.