After 16 years playing in Opeth, guitarist and co-founder Peter Lindgren has left the band. In a statement, Lindgren said he decided to move on because he no longer feels as excited and creatively inspired being in the band and doesn’t enjoy spending so much time on the road.
“The decision has been the toughest I’ve ever made but it is the right one to make at this point in my life,” he said. “Opeth has worked extremely hard to get where we are right now and in order to persist and maintain the quality of the music, it is necessary that we continue to work hard and always stay focused. But in doing so, it means that we nowadays spend 18 or 19 months on the road and I don’t feel the same enthusiasm for the upcoming world tour that I have felt earlier.”
Band frontman Mikael Ã…kerfeldt was disappointed by Lindgren’s decision to leave, but insists there is no bad blood between the two.
“Peter and I had been working in this band together for almost half of our lives and we shared some unforgettable experiences together all over the world,” he said. “We will obviously remain friends, and this ‘break-up’ has been on very good terms from both sides. We all wish him the best of luck with his future ventures.”
Lindren’s position will be filled by ex-Arch Enemy guitarist Fredrik Ã…kesson, whose first show with Opeth will be in mid-July at the Ilosaarirock Festival in Joensuu, Finland.
“Fredrik was the only name that popped up thinking about a replacement for Peter,” Ã…kerfeldt said. “In my opinion he’s one of the top three guitar players out of Sweden. We all get along great as we’ve known each other for maybe four years and he already has the experience to take on the circus-like lifestyle we lead as members of Opeth.”
From Lindgren’s happier days, here’s the video for “Grand Conjuration”:
Was shocked when I read this. Opeth is without a doubt one
of the greatest metal bands ever. Fredrik should fit in well
& and I’m ready for their next cd!
now mikael is the only founding member of opeth left, however it seems like fredrik will be a great replacement and hopefully opeth will continue with another string of awesome albums. i’ve loved opeth ever since the first time i heard “still life.”