OPETH: EXPLAIN CANCELLED SET 5/7/2012 MAPLEWOOD, MN

Swedish progressive death metal legends OPETH have sent this update explaining the bands cancelled set last night 5/7/2012 Maplewood, Minnesota as vocalist/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt was injured on the bands tour bus yesterday.

EDITORS NOTE: OPETH WILL play the remainder of the HERITAGE/HUNTER TOUR with MASTODON and GHOST.

FROM OPETH: Many have already learned that yesterday’s performances at The Myth In St Paul had to be cancelled due to Mikael having an accident. 

Right before stage time Mike bumped his head on the tour bus which resulted in a pretty deep cut that required urgent medical attention. Mike was taken to hospital which he left a little later with eight stitches and a nasty headache. He’s doing OK now and we expect him to be up and running (though slightly slower) again for tomorrow’s show and onwards.

Mike & the band were very disappointed not being able to play yesterday but thank everyone for their understanding and for the tons of get-well-wishes Mike has received since.

The band also thanks their friends in Mastodon for playing an extended set that hopefully kept all who attended happy.

FROM MIKAEL AKERFELDT (OPETH): 
Hi guys! I'm writing from beyond the grave. Seriously, I was not in a car crash and I haven't broken my arm. All that happened is I hit my head in mastodons tour bus as I was getting a new pair of (red) underwear out from my suitcase. Wish the story was more rock and roll, believe me. Anyways I split my head open down to the skullbone and had to be taken to the emergency. They gave me a bunch of shots in the wound, cleaned me up and stapled my head shut with 8 metal staples. Head is sore and if I smile it feels like the wound is gonna burst open again, but I'll be on stage by tomorrow again. I feel extremely disappointed that we couldn't play at the myth in Minneapolis, but paramedics told me I couldn't. We will reschedule the show for our next trip to the USA. So all rumors of me being in a car crash are false. I did crash my head into a car though, well...a bus really. Sorry for disappointing our fans in Minneapolis but I hope you understand. See you next time. Best. Mikael

FROM MASTODON: 
“[The audience was] told  by a roadie, after Ghost played, that Mikael Åkerfeldt was involved in an accident and had to go the hospital. Opeth did not perform because of this, but we were told he is fine. Mastodon played a longer set (Including ‘Iron Tusk’ and ‘March of the Fire Ants’) and after the last song, [Mastodon drummer] Brann Dailor updated the crowd that it was a head injury and that’s why Mikael went to the hospital. Brann said he should be fine as well, so hopefully it’s nothing to worry about.”

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-