Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt recently explained why his collaboration with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy hasn’t happened yet. He addressed the topic in a statement shared on Louder Sound.
The statement focused on creative differences and concerns about working dynamics between the two musicians.
“I love Mike, but I remember, once, we sat down and talked, [and I asked] ‘If we were to do something, what do you wanna do?’ He said he wanted to do something heavy,” Åkerfeldt said. “My mindset at the time was like, ‘I’d rather do something not heavy.’ We weren’t seeing eye-to-eye, at least at that point.”
Åkerfeldt elaborated on his approach to musical collaborations and the importance of having a clear creative vision.
“I wouldn’t want to be involved in the project unless it has a musical purpose,” he continued. “I like the initial idea to be there, other than, ‘Let’s make something heavy.'”
The Opeth frontman also expressed concerns about potential studio dynamics and maintaining their friendship.
“Mike is a really lovely guy, but I never worked with him, and I can foresee that he would be a bit of an alpha in the studio,” he said. “If we were to have a disagreement, what route would we take? Working with someone, especially if you’re passionate about music, can be a risk if you’re friends.”
This isn’t the first time the potential collaboration between these progressive metal giants has been discussed. Their musical relationship spans over a decade of mutual admiration and shared interests.
Metal Injection reported that Portnoy has been talking about doing a band with Åkerfeldt since at least 2010. The project never quite came to fruition. The two musicians have maintained a friendship built on their shared passion for music and record collecting over the years.
Their collaboration attempts have involved other notable musicians as well. Metal Injection noted that early talks even involved Steven Wilson for a project that produced 15 minutes of music. The project eventually stalled amid growing hype and expectations.
The friendship between Åkerfeldt and Portnoy extends beyond potential musical collaborations. Louder Sound revealed that the pair are longtime friends and fellow music enthusiasts who have toured together and shared record-collecting conversations. This demonstrates their mutual respect despite creative differences.
Despite the challenges, Portnoy has continued to express interest in working with the Opeth frontman. In 2017, he told Prog Magazine: “I love Mikael and I’m still patiently waiting to work on a project with him.” This shows that the door remains open for future collaboration between these two progressive metal icons.
