List of Opeth band members

Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm. Formed in 1990, the group originally featured vocalist David Isberg, guitarists Mikael "Micke" Bergström and Dan Nilsson, bassist Martin Persson, and drummer Amirion "Rille" Evén. Isberg invited Mikael Åkerfeldt to play bass later that year, who in 1992 would take over as frontman. The current lineup of Opeth features Åkerfeldt on guitars and lead vocals, Martín Méndez on bass (since 1997), Fredrik Åkesson on guitars and backing vocals (since 2007), Joakim Svalberg on keyboards and backing vocals (since 2011), and Waltteri Väyrynen on drums (since 2022).

History 1990–2003 David Isberg formed Opeth in April 1990 with Mikael "Micke" Bergström, Dan Nilsson, Martin Persson and Amirion "Rille" Evén. During an early rehearsal, Isberg brought in Mikael Åkerfeldt to replace Persson on bass without informing the rest of the band, all of whom he fired following the event. The remaining pair of Isberg and Åkerfeldt completed the second lineup of Opeth with the addition of guitarist Andreas Dimeo, bassist Nick Döring and drummer Anders Nordin, and Åkerfeldt switched to guitar. Dimeo and Döring both left after the band's first show in February 1991, with Kim Pettersson and Johan De Farfalla (both members of local "sleazy metal" band Crimson Cat) taking their places. De Farfalla left after the group's second show, with Peter Lindgren joining on bass for a third performance later in the year, after which Petterson left and Lindgren switched to guitar. Founding frontman Isberg also left Opeth in early 1992 due to "creative differences". Åkerfeldt later recalled that "at the time, I thought [Isberg's departure] was good for the band, as he no longer seemed as interested as the rest of us".

Following Isberg's departure, Åkerfeldt took over as the lead vocalist of Opeth, and writing for a debut studio album began with Lindgren and Nordin. After a period as a three-piece, Mattias Ander briefly joined as the group's bassist, before Stefan Guteklint joined later in the year. Guteklint was fired by Åkerfeldt and Lindgren just over a year later, with former bassist De Farfalla returning for the recording of the group's debut album Orchid. After a tour in promotion of the group's second album Morningrise in 1996, Åkerfeldt and Lindgren fired De Farfalla without consulting Nordin, which also led to him leaving. Opeth briefly considered breaking up, before bringing in drummer Martin Lopez and later bassist Martín Méndez; bass on 1998's My Arms, Your Hearse was recorded by Åkerfeldt, as Méndez had joined too late to contribute.

Since 2003 After the release of Damnation in 2003, which marked a change in the band's musical style to a more keyboard-heavy progressive rock-influenced sound, Opeth added Per Wiberg as a touring keyboardist. He later became an official member of the band in 2005. After suffering a string of stress-related illnesses and panic attacks, Lopez ceased performing with Opeth in August 2005, with Martin "Axe" Axenrot filling for a number of tours. By the following May the regular drummer had officially left the band, with Axenrot officially taking his place. Lindgren left the group a year later, stating that he had "lost some of the enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in [the] band". He was replaced by Fredrik Åkesson. In April 2011, it was announced that Wiberg had left the band. He was replaced by Joakim Svalberg.

The lineup of Åkerfeldt, Åkesson, Méndez, Axenrot and Svalberg remained stable for ten years, before it was announced in November 2021 that Axenrot had left the band due to a "conflict of interests". He was replaced for upcoming tour dates by Therion's Sami Karppinen, before former Paradise Lost drummer Waltteri Väyrynen joined as a full time replacement.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMikael Åkerfeldt1990–presentall Opeth releasesMartín Méndez1997–presentall Opeth releases from Still Life (1999) onwardsFredrik Åkesson2007–presentall Opeth releases from Watershed (2008) onwardsJoakim Svalberg2011–presentall Opeth releases from Heritage (2011) onwardsWaltteri Väyrynen2022–present The Last Will and Testament (2024)

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsDavid Isberg1990–1992vocalsnoneMikael Bergström1990guitarDan NilssonMartin PerssonbassAmirion "Rille" EvéndrumsAnders Nordin1990–1997Andreas Dimeo1990–1991guitarsnoneNick DöringbassKim Pettersson1991guitarsJohan De FarfallaPeter Lindgren1991–2007all Opeth releases from Orchid (1995) to The Roundhouse Tapes (2007)Mattias Ander1992bassnoneStefan Guteklint1992–1994Martin Lopez1997–2006drumsall Opeth releases from My Arms, Your Hearse (1998) to Ghost Reveries (2005)Per Wiberg2005–2011 all Opeth releases from Lamentations (2003) to Heritage (2011)Gene Hoglan2004 drumsnoneMartin "Axe" Axenrot2006–2021 all Opeth releases from The Roundhouse Tapes (2007) to In Cauda Venenum (2019)Sami Karppinen2021–2022 none

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsFredrik Nordström1997My Arms, Your Hearse (1998)Steven Wilson Nathalie Lorichs2007–2008female vocalsWatershed (2008)Karin Svensson violinAndreas TengbergcelloLisa AlmbergChristoffer Wadensten fluteBjörn J:son Lindh2011 Heritage (2011)Alex Acuña2011percussionCharlie Dodd sound effectsDave Stewartstring arrangementsWil Malone 2016Sorceress (2016)Pascale Marie Vickery spoken wordsMirjam Åkerfeldt2024The Last Will and Testament (2024)Ian Anderson Joey Tempest backing vocalsMia Westlund harp

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1990David Isberg – vocals Mikael "Micke" Bergström – guitars Dan Nilsson – guitars Martin Persson – bass Amirion "Rille" Evén – drumsrowspan="8" 1990David Isberg – lead vocals Mikael Åkerfeldt – bass, guitars, backing vocals1990–1991David Isberg – lead vocals Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, backing vocals Anders Nordin – drums Andreas Dimeo – guitars Nick Döring – bass1991David Isberg – lead vocals Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, backing vocals Anders Nordin – drums Kim Pettersson – guitars Johan De Farfalla – bass1991David Isberg – lead vocals Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, backing vocals Anders Nordin – drums Kim Pettersson – guitars Peter Lindgren – bass1991 – early 1992David Isberg – lead vocals Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, backing vocals, bass Anders Nordin – drums Peter Lindgren – bass, guitars1992Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals, bass Anders Nordin – drums Peter Lindgren – bass, guitars1992Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals Anders Nordin – drums Peter Lindgren – guitars Mattias Ander – bass1992 – early 1994Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals Anders Nordin – drums Peter Lindgren – guitars Stefan Guteklint – bassOrchid (2000) Morningrise (2000) Early 1994 – spring 1997Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Anders Nordin – drums Peter Lindgren – guitars Johan De Farfalla – bass, backing vocalsOrchid (1995) Morningrise (1996)Summer 1997Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals, bass, piano Peter Lindgren – guitars Martin Lopez – drumsMy Arms, Your Hearse (1998)Fall 1997 – June 2003Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, vocals Peter Lindgren – guitars Martin Lopez – drums Martín Méndez – bassStill Life (1999) Blackwater Park (2001) Deliverance (2002) "Still Day Beneath the Sun" (2003) Damnation (2003)June 2003 – May 2006Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Peter Lindgren – guitars Martin Lopez – drums Martín Méndez – bass Per Wiberg – keyboards, backing vocalsLamentations (2003) Ghost Reveries (2005)May 2006 – May 2007Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Peter Lindgren – guitars Martín Méndez – bass Per Wiberg – keyboards, backing vocals Martin Axenrot – drumsThe Roundhouse Tapes (2007)May 2007 – April 2011Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Martín Méndez – bass Per Wiberg – keyboards, backing vocals Martin Axenrot – drums Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocalsWatershed (2008) In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall (2010) "The Throat of Winter" (2011) Heritage (2011)June 2011 – November 2021Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Martín Méndez – bass Martin Axenrot – drums Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocals Joakim Svalberg – keyboards, backing vocalsPale Communion (2014) Sorceress (2016) Garden of the Titans (2018) In Cauda Venenum (2019)November 2021 – September 2022Mikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Martín Méndez – bass Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocals Joakim Svalberg – keyboards, backing vocals Sami Karppinen – drums September 2022 – presentMikael Åkerfeldt – guitars, lead vocals Martín Méndez – bass Fredrik Åkesson – guitars, backing vocals Joakim Svalberg – keyboards, backing vocals Waltteri Väyrynen – drums, percussion, backing vocals The Last Will and Testament (2024)

References

External links Opeth official website