OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update:

"Well, the North American tour went great, in fact, I think it was one of my favourite tours ever! BARONESS were great guys and a great band, and HIGH ON FIRE...well, I love those guys. Pike was like my brother before, and now I feel like they're all great friends of mine. Can't say what my fave gig was really...the 4 biggest ones (NYC, LA, SF and Chicago) all went fantastic which was nice, but I really think the whole thing went really well. Thanks SO much for coming to check us out! We love ya!!

Bought shitloads of vinyl on this run, maybe a 100 LPs all in all. Some real nice stuff too!

Coming home was awesome (as always)! Mirjam started warming up to me after only 10 minutes and soon enough it was like I'd never been away. She wasn't shy at all. And Melinda was real happy I was back. Got them shitloads of gifts, some of which I'd gotten from fans. I got two pairs of pink cowboy boots in Texas from a girl I've met before and those are Melinda's favourites now. She wear them ALL the time! Mirjam just started walking so maybe it's no good idea for her to try hers on just yet.

Five days off back home and then off again. We had the Classic Rock Awards to attend in London, UK. Me and Mendez went and it was great fun. We didn't win though (Album Of The Year), WHITSENAKE did, so it was a good loss either way.

It was pretty weird hanging out at this posh party with all these celebs and idols of mine every where I turned. OZZY, JEFF BECK, RONNIE WOOD, WAYNE KRAMER, JACK BRUCE, SLASH, GARY MOORE and moore. We we're sipping champagne and as I turned around I saw PETER GREEN. I got shivers down my spine. He's one of my absolute heroes and I totally didn't expect to see him in the flesh ever! As I'd downed a few drinks I had to go up to him, pat him on the back and say 'I love ya Pete!!.' He just stared at me like I was Dahmer or something. Other than that I didn't really talk to anyone of my idols, but we hung out with our mates in ALTERBRIDGE a little and we're sharing tables with AIRBOURNE who were a funny bunch of dudes. All in all, a great night and the after-show party was fun too. Didn't get completely wasted or nothing either which is a plus (at my age).

Next day we had the screening of the Roundhouse Tapes DVD at Prince Charles Theater in Leicester square. It was fun too. They'd (Peaceville) set up the theater in a way so it looked like they're premiering a new horror film or something. Looked awesome! Quite a few people showed up and they all seemed to like it as well. We stayed and signed some stuff after the film was done. Then we hooked up with Steven Wilson and Richard Barbieri and some biz folks and pissed off down to the pub for a few. Fred got a bit shitfaced and blew his nose in Mendez bedsheets later on, but that's another story....

We also did a little show in Aalborg, Denmark which was fun. Rarely play Denmark for some reason but it was pretty cool! I like it there and I love some Danish prog rock!

Next, European tour....will be great! We have rehearsals tomorrow, but to be honest, we're pretty fucking tight already. I don't think we've ever sounded better, but...won't hurt with a little bit of practise."

Photo: Mark Gromen