OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following statement in tribute to late TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman Peter Steele, who passed away on the evening of April 14th from heart failure at the age of 48.

"Well, I have to say I am shocked by these horrible news...

Basically I just want to express my condoleances on behalf of Opeth. Peter and company took us out for a little spin in Germany a few years ago and we became mates with 'em I guess. Peter was always very kind to us, from the get-go he went up to Mendez and offered him his bass guitar if he wanted to borrow it. I mean, things like that simply don't happen in the rock business anymore, but I think he had a different view on things.

Last time I saw him was a few years ago when he and Johnny (Kelly) and Kenny (Hickey) came to see us playing the Irving Plaza in NYC. There was a knock on the door, I opened, and there was Peter towering over me. I said 'Hey Pete come in...' and he said 'You again, I thought you was fired!' Went straight passed me, grabbed a bottle of red from our rider and started guzzling away in the corner, leaving funny remarks at whatever conversations that was going on in the dressing room.

The dude was funny, intense, intimidating and overall, a good guy. That was my impression, can't say I knew him too well, but we did develop some type of 'heya' friendship with Johnny and Kenny. I also did a song with Josh (Silver) a few years ago even though I've never talked to him in person. Anyways, I just wanted to write something... I am in a bit of a shock I guess...

Thoughts goes out to Johnny, Kenny and Josh as well as to Peter's families and friends.

His and their music lives on, or as they say, echoes in eternity.

Peter Steele R.I.P"