OPETH Parts Ways With Longtime Drummer MARTIN 'AXE' AXENROT
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OPETH has parted ways with longtime drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot. The Swedish progressive metallers announced Axenrot's exit from the group in a social media post earlier today. The band wrote: "Due to a conflict of interests, Martin Axenrot is no longer part of the OPETH collective. His replacement for the North American tour with MASTODON and ZEAL & ARDOR will be powerhouse drummer Sami Karppinen [THERION]. His first show will take place today (November 16) at Harrah's Cherokee center in Asheville, NC."
OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt added: "However sad it is to not have Axe in the band anymore, we're not in a position to linger on anything that is going to hold us back. We need to soldier on.
"Needless to say, we're incredibly thankful that Sami is helping us out, making this tour possible and all. On top of that, he's quite outstanding, really!
"All of us wish the best for Axe in all and any of his future endeavors. He has been a incredibly important part of the band for many years now, and we're all heartbroken it didn’t work out in the end. But that's life, I guess…"
Shortly after he joined OPETH back in 2005, Axenrot told Drummerzone about how he landed the gig: "During OPETH's tour in the U.S., [then-OPETH drummer] Martin Lopez got ill. The band temporarily used the services of Gene Hoglan [who is also featured in OPETH's video for the song 'The Grand Conjuration'] but needed someone else for their European trek. While they were still in the U.S., I received a phone call from singer Mikael Åkerfeldt whom I already knew from our mutual project BLOODBATH. Soon after we all met in OPETH's rehearsal studio in Stockholm and here I am today."(Source: www.blabbermouth.net)
