List of Opeth band members

Opeth performing in 2016.

Opeth is a Swedish progressive death metal band from Stockholm. Formed in 1989, the group originally featured vocalist David Isberg, guitarists Micke Bargström and Dan Nilsson, bassist Martin Persson, and drummer Rille Even. Isberg reformed the band the following year with Mikael Åkerfeldt, who would later take over as frontman in 1992. The current lineup of Opeth features Åkerfeldt on lead vocals and guitar, Martín Méndez on bass (since 1997), Fredrik Åkesson on guitar and backing vocals (since 2007), Joakim Svalberg on keyboards and backing vocals (since 2011), and Sami Karppinen on drums (since 2021).

History[]

1989–2003[]

David Isberg formed Opeth in 1989 with Micke Bargström, Dan Nilsson, Martin Persson and Rille Even.^[1] 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.^[2][3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[5][6] Founding frontman Isberg also left Opeth in early 1992 due to "creative differences".^[7] 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".^[5]

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.^[8] After a period as a three-piece, Mattias Ander briefly joined as the group's bassist,^[9] before Stefan Guteklint joined later in the year.^[8] 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.^[6] 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^[12] He later became an official member of the band in 2005.^[13] 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.^[14] By the following May the regular drummer had officially left the band, with Axenrot officially taking his place.^[15] 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.^[16] In April 2011, it was announced that Wiberg had left the band.^[17] He was replaced by Joakim Svalberg.^[18]

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.^[19]

Members[]

Current[]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Mikael Åkerfeldt	1990–present	guitar lead vocals (since 1992) bass (1990, 1992, 1997)	all Opeth releases
	Martín Méndez	1997–present	bass	all Opeth releases from Still Life (1999) onwards
	Fredrik Åkesson	2007–present	guitar backing vocals	all Opeth releases from Watershed (2008) onwards
	Joakim Svalberg	2011–present	keyboards backing vocals	all Opeth releases from Heritage (2011) onwards
	Sami Karppinen	2021–present (touring)	drums	none as yet

Former[]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	David Isberg	1989–1992	vocals	none
	Micke Bargström	1989–1990	guitar
	Dan Nilsson
	Martin Persson		bass
	Rille Even		drums
	Anders Nordin	1990–1997	drums percussion	Orchid (1995) Morningrise (1996)
	Andreas Dimeo	1990–1991	guitar	none
	Nick Döring		bass
	Kim Pettersson	1991	guitar
	Johan De Farfalla	1991 1994–1997	bass backing vocals	Orchid (1995) Morningrise (1996)
	Peter Lindgren	1991–2007	guitar (from 1992) bass (1991–1992, 1997)	all Opeth releases from Orchid (1995) to The Roundhouse Tapes (2007)
	Mattias Ander	1992	bass	none
	Stefan Guteklint	1992–1994		Orchid (1995) – 2000 reissue bonus track only Morningrise (1996) – 2000 reissue bonus track only
	Martin Lopez	1997–2006	drums percussion	all Opeth releases from My Arms, Your Hearse (1998) to Ghost Reveries (2005)
	Per Wiberg	2005–2011 (touring 2003–2005)	keyboards backing vocals	all Opeth releases from Lamentations (2003) to Heritage (2011)
	Martin "Axe" Axenrot	2006–2021 (touring 2005–2006)	drums percussion	all Opeth releases from The Roundhouse Tapes (2007) to In Cauda Venenum (2019)

Timeline[]

Lineups[]

References[]

External links[]

• Opeth official website