Opeth guitarist quits

Opeth guitarist Peter Lindgren has left the band after 16 years. Fredrik Akesson (ex-Arch Enemy) will be stepping in to pick up where he left off. Lindgren posted the following statement about his departure:

"It is with sadness I announce that Opeth and I are going separate ways

after almost 16 years. The decision has been the toughest I've ever

made but it is the right one to make at this point in my life.

The

reason behind this is that I feel that I simply have lost some of the

enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in a band that has

grown from a few guys playing the music we love to a world-wide

industry. The love of music has always been, and still is, our motive,

but I personally have lost something along the way. The massive amount

of touring has taken its toll. 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. I have come to a point

where I realize I won't be able to give the band 100%, and from both

sides this will not be good enough for what Opeth stands for. I will

always love playing, listening to, and living music, but I will do it

differently from now on.

These years has easily been the best

of my life and I will always cherish the memory of what we have

experienced together. I would like to thank the band, our management,

record label people, all the bands I've made friends with for

everything. Most of all, I would like to thank the fans from the depth

of my heart for the support throughout the years.

I wish Mikael, Martin, Per and Axe all the best and I am confident they will continue doing the greatest music in the world!"