Mikael Åkerfeldt has shared his candid thoughts about Opeth’s cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Remember Tomorrow’ in a recent interview with Louder. The band recorded the cover during former drummer Martin Lopez’s tenure.
“We did one horrible Iron Maiden cover [‘Remember Tomorrow’] with him [former Opeth drummer Martin Lopez]. The singing’s sh*t, the playing’s sh*t,” Åkerfeldt stated bluntly.
The band released the cover version during Lopez’s time with Opeth from 1997 to 2006.
Åkerfeldt’s frank admission provides a rare glimpse into the band’s self-assessment of their earlier work, specifically their experimental phase with cover songs.
Iron Maiden Original
‘Remember Tomorrow’ occupies a distinctive place in Iron Maiden’s history. The Maiden Fans Forum notes that Paul Di’Anno’s grandfather inspired the song’s title with his frequently used phrase about hope for the future.
Iron Maiden released the original version in 1979. The song later became one of their most frequently covered tracks by other artists.
Opeth’s Cover History
Data from Setlist.fm reveals Opeth’s extensive history of performing covers. Their repertoire includes interpretations of songs by Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.
The band used these cover versions to honor their influences. They also demonstrated their versatility in adapting different musical styles to their signature sound.
Martin Lopez Era
Martin Lopez’s tenure with Opeth (1997-2006) marked a crucial period in the band’s evolution. The band released several landmark albums during this time that helped establish their progressive death metal style.
Lopez made substantial contributions to Opeth’s sound throughout this period. This fact stands despite Åkerfeldt’s current criticism of this particular cover version.
