What is Mikael Åkerfeldt's Net Worth?
Mikael Åkerfeldt, a Swedish musician, boasts a net worth of $6 million. He is widely known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the progressive metal band Opeth. Additionally, he has been the lead vocalist for the death metal band Bloodbath, guitarist for the short-lived band Steel, and a member of Katatonia and Storm Corrosion.
Åkerfeldt is celebrated for his distinctive fusion of progressive rock and metal, masterfully incorporating clean baritone and growled vocals. His exceptional guitar skills earned him the 42nd spot on Guitar World's list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time and 11th on MetalSucks' Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists list.
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Career
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt was born on April 17, 1974. A metal aficionado from a young age, he credits Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" and Kiss' "Lick It Up" as his gateway into the genre. In 1987, at the age of 13, Åkerfeldt formed his first death metal band, Eruption, where he served as the vocalist until 1989. He then joined Opeth initially as a keyboardist, but soon transitioned to bassist and then to lead vocalist.
Åkerfeldt contributed death vocals on Katatonia's album "Brave Murder Day" and the EP "Sounds of Decay." In 2009, he contemplated a solo acoustic album but chose to focus his creative efforts on Opeth's future projects instead. A significant career milestone was Opeth's performance at the Royal Albert Hall, a highlight he shared during an interview with STIM magazine.
In 2020, Åkerfeldt ventured into film scoring. He was approached by director Jonas Åkerlund to compose the soundtrack for the Swedish Netflix series "Clark," which premiered in May 2022.
(Photo by Mariano Regidor/Redferns)
Influences
Mikael Åkerfeldt's musical style is heavily influenced by obscure 1970s rock and heavy metal albums, which he avidly collects. His love for these genres is reflected in Opeth album titles like "Blackwater Park," "Still Life," and "My Arms, Your Hearse," and in songs such as "Master’s Apprentices" and "Goblin." He is also influenced by jazz, Ritchie Blackmore, Magma and its founder Christian Vander, and Hideki Ishima.
He regards Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" as the greatest heavy metal album of all time and holds Judas Priest's "Sad Wings of Destiny" in high esteem as his favorite metal album.
Personal Life
Mikael Åkerfeldt married his longtime girlfriend in 2003, and the couple has two daughters. Unfortunately, their relationship ended after several years. In a 2016 interview with The Quietus, Åkerfeldt opened up about the challenges he faced post-separation, describing it as a period full of ups and downs. This tumultuous time, however, sparked his creative energy, leading to the creation of the album "Sorceress."
