Mikael Åkerfeldt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mikael Åkerfeldt
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Åkerfeldt with Opeth in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Born | 17 April 1974 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt (born on April 17, 1974) is a talented musician from Sweden. He is best known as the main singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Opeth. This band plays a type of music called progressive metal, which mixes heavy sounds with complex song structures.
Mikael Åkerfeldt has also been part of other music groups. He was the singer for a death metal band called Bloodbath. He also played guitar for a band named Steel and worked with Steven Wilson in a project called Storm Corrosion.
People know Åkerfeldt for his unique singing style. He uses both clear, deep vocals and a rough, "growled" voice. His songwriting is often inspired by progressive rock music. He has been recognized as one of the top heavy metal guitarists.
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Mikael Åkerfeldt's Music Journey
Mikael Åkerfeldt grew up in Stockholm, Sweden. When he was just 13 years old, in 1987, he started a death metal band called Eruption. After Eruption broke up in 1989, he joined Opeth. He first joined as a keyboard player.
Later, the original bassist left Opeth, and Åkerfeldt took over playing bass. When the guitarist left, Åkerfeldt became the lead singer. He has been a key part of Opeth ever since.
Åkerfeldt also provided the "death vocals" (growled singing) for some songs on the albums Brave Murder Day and Sounds of Decay by the band Katatonia.
In 2009, Åkerfeldt thought about making a solo acoustic album. However, by 2014, he felt he could put all his musical ideas into Opeth. He didn't need a separate solo project.
One of the most memorable moments in his career was when Opeth performed at the Royal Albert Hall. This is a very famous concert venue.
In 2020, a director named Jonas Åkerlund asked Mikael to create music for a Swedish Netflix series. The show was called Clark and came out in May 2022. This was Mikael's first time composing music for a TV show.
What Inspires Mikael Åkerfeldt
Mikael Åkerfeldt loves collecting old rock and heavy metal albums from the 1970s. These older bands often inspire his music. He even named some Opeth albums after them, like Blackwater Park and Still Life.
He is also greatly influenced by jazz music. Other musicians and bands that inspire him include Ritchie Blackmore, Magma, and Hideki Ishima.
When asked what music made him love metal, he often mentions The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden. He also likes Lick It Up by Kiss. He has said that Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is his favorite heavy metal album. He also considers Judas Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny to be a top metal album.
Mikael Åkerfeldt's Life
On August 15, 2003, Mikael Åkerfeldt married his girlfriend, Anna. They had their first daughter, Melinda, in 2004. Their second daughter, Mirjam, was born in 2007. Mirjam even spoke some words on a song from Opeth's 2024 album, The Last Will and Testament. In 2016, Mikael shared that he had gone through a divorce.
Mikael Åkerfeldt is good friends with Steven Wilson, who is the leader of the band Porcupine Tree. Steven Wilson also helped produce some of Opeth's albums like Blackwater Park and Damnation. He is also friends with Mike Portnoy, the drummer for Dream Theater, and Jonas Renkse from Katatonia. Mikael Åkerfeldt does not follow any religion and considers himself an atheist.
Mikael Åkerfeldt's Music Gear
Mikael Åkerfeldt mostly uses PRS guitars. He even has his own special signature model. He also sometimes uses guitars from other brands like Gibson and Jackson.
Electric Guitars
Here are some of the electric guitars Mikael Åkerfeldt uses:
- PRS SE Mikael Åkerfeldt Signature Guitar
- PRS Custom 24 (in different colors)
- PRS SC 245
- PRS Modern Eagle
- Gibson Flying V
- Gibson Les Paul Standard
- Gibson SG Standard
- Fender Stratocaster
- Jackson RR USA Model
- B.C. Rich Mockingbird
Acoustic Guitars
Mikael Åkerfeldt also uses these acoustic guitars:
- Martin guitars
- Takamine 12 String
- Seagull
- Amalio Burguet 3am (classical nylon)
- Landola CT/2/w (classical nylon)
Amps
For his sound, Åkerfeldt uses these amplifiers:
- Marshall Vintage Modern 2466
- Laney GH100L
- Laney VH100R
- Laney VC30
- Fender 1000 Rocpro
- Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra preamp / effects processor
- Marshall JCM900
Microphones
- Shure microphones
Mikael Åkerfeldt's Music Albums
With Opeth
- Orchid (1995)
- Morningrise (1996)
- My Arms, Your Hearse (1998)
- Still Life (1999)
- Blackwater Park (2001)
- Deliverance (2002)
- Damnation (2003)
- Lamentations (2003)
- Ghost Reveries (2005)
- The Roundhouse Tapes (2007)
- Watershed (2008)
- In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall (2010)
- Heritage (2011)
- Pale Communion (2014)
- Sorceress (2016)
- In Cauda Venenum (2019)
- The Last Will and Testament (2024)
With Katatonia
- Brave Murder Day (1996) – sang harsh vocals
- Sounds of Decay (1997) – sang harsh vocals
- Discouraged Ones (1998) – sang backing vocals
- Tonight's Decision (1999) – helped with vocal production
With Bloodbath
- Breeding Death (2000, EP)
- Resurrection Through Carnage (2002)
- The Wacken Carnage (2008, CD/DVD)
- Unblessing the Purity (2008)
- The Fathomless Mastery (2008)
With Steel
- Heavy Metal Machine (1998, EP)
With Storm Corrosion
- Storm Corrosion (2012)
As a Solo Artist/Composer
- Clark (Soundtrack From The Netflix Series) (2022, OST Album)
Other Music Appearances
Mikael Åkerfeldt has also appeared on albums by other artists:
- Ayreon: He sang the part of "Fear" on the album The Human Equation (2004).
- Candlemass: He sang one song on their 20-year anniversary DVD.
- Devin Townsend: He was a guest singer on the song "Stand" from the album Deconstruction.
- Dream Theater: He spoke a part in the song "Repentance" on their 2007 album Systematic Chaos.
- Edge of Sanity: He provided vocals and guitar parts on their 1996 album Crimson.
- Ghost: He played acoustic guitar on the song "Helvetesfönster" from their album Prequelle (2018).
- Horrified: He sang some growled words on "Avatar of the Age of Horus".
- Ihsahn: He performed on the song "Unhealer" from the 2008 album angL.
- OSI: He sang lead vocals on the song "Stockholm" for their 2009 album, Blood.
- Porcupine Tree: He sang backing vocals on several songs and played a guitar solo on "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" from the 2005 album Deadwing.
- Roadrunner United: He sang on the song "Roads" for the Roadrunner Records 25th Anniversary album.
- Soilwork: He sang vocals on the title track of the album A Predator's Portrait.
- Steve Hackett: He sang on "Supper's Ready" from the album Genesis Revisited II (2012).
See also
In Spanish: Mikael Åkerfeldt para niños
