singer/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt was approached to join an Abba tribute band for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. The 50-year-old makes the revelation in an exclusive interview with , and says that he declined to participate due to feeling “uncomfortable” with mainstream exposure. When asked by journalist Rich Hobson if Opeth would ever play the Olympics, in light of extreme metal stars ’s recent , Åkerfeldt answers: “Generally I say no to those kinds of things.
” He adds: “I was asked to be part of an Abba tribute, recording as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration of them winning Eurovision [with the song in 1974]. “I was thinking ‘maybe’, but it turned into a flat ‘no’. Every time you go into the mainstream, especially something as super mainstream as that, I get really uncomfortable.
You get ushered to do things you’re not comfortable with.” Åkerfeldt goes on to describe the process of being approached for the performance, also putting his refusal down to changing plans for his role and the fact that Abba themselves wouldn’t be involved. “Right off the bat they only wanted me to sing one line, ‘For the music,’ and the thing is, I love Abba.
So I was like, ‘Are ABBA going to be there?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then, no.’ Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! They also changed their minds about me singing to playing guitar, and I was like, ‘If you want a solo, call Yngw.