Mikael spoke of this gig in a podcast he did recently on Spotify, about being a breakthrough moment for him and the band. He told that they didn't bring their instruments because they traveled to US (for the first time ever) with tourist visas, so that's why they are playing with borrowed strats. Also he commented that, as you can see, the audience was screaming from the first minute the band was on the scenario and sang every song/lyric according to him. That gig basically was what made Opeth continue with their career because Mikael felt the band had a future after all.
Hey man, I got a question for you! I got into Opeth about 2001. Obviously a lot has happened since then and Opeth have been my favorite band for 23 years. Can you tell me a little bit about the atmosphere surrounding Opeth in America at the time? Before this, in Mikael’s words, they weren’t really that big. And their reception at the Milwaukee metal fest was quite surprising to him. What was the word, or buzz on the street regarding Opeth Before they arrived at Milwaukee metal Fest?
I will never forget being at this show...the onslaught of my mono and strep throat was kicking in, and the room was so packed nobody could budge if they wanted too. What's worse, the smell and sweat of the fat guy in front of me was so horrific that I felt like I had to vomit the entire show. Still, seeing Opeth here at their first US performance, especially with the songs they played, was worth it even with the suffering.
I was there! 21 years old, living in the Bay Area. I went to Milwaukee Metal Fest specifically because it was the first time OPETH, KATATONIA, and ANATHEMA played in the United States. I also remember seeing NOVEMBER'S DOOM and TODAY IS THE DAY play amongst many others. What a time to be alive. Damn, time flies
Reading the interviews where Mikael has made statements like "this gig saved Opeth" really show especially when you see vids of their Orchid/Morningrise line up shows their stage prensence was so different then, You can tell Mikael wasn't used to crowds such a massive size or highly praising them with a warm welcome like "OPETH OPETH OPETH" yet. It's truly a beautiful sight to see how happy yet caught off gaurd he was here.
Can you believe that before this tour, the last time they played was in 1997, where they only did 2 shows? Before that they only did one tour, for Morningrise. To think that one of the most prolific live bands in prog / metal barely did live shows until their 4th album just speaks to the quality of their music and how well it must have been reviewed. And Still Life wasn't even released in the US at this point (or it was just released), but the crowd is going insane for them. Warms my heart to know they only went to greater heights from this point onwards.
@@bilbobaggins9451 I think back in the day, most people relied on magazines like Terrorizer or sites like Chronicles of Chaos to find reviews of new metal bands. I'm sure there were many metal forums or BBS boards where they would have been talked about, so people outside of Europe would have found out about the band there.
@@bilbobaggins9451 I went to university of Illinois from 95-99 and moved to San Diego in 00. I had all of their albums they released prior to Black Water Park due to easy access to the internet at university…. Between studies I would search for new bands… especially European bands. I think the first few albums were distributed by Century Media under the “century black” sub-label… I could be wrong. In San Diego I remember having to order Still Life from Europe for some reason. I didn’t go back to the mid-west for this Milwaukee metal- fest but I went to the one where Amon Amarth and Darkane debuted in the US…. That was a bad ass show too!!!
@@henrikjohannessen3017 They had been interviewed in a lot of underground Zines especially once Still Life came out. It was a huge album in the underground metal scene. Not sure how old you are but Zines were self published magazines with metal reviews and interviews. Great way to find out about bands back in the day before the internet. Also lots of tape trading. That's how I first heard them.
I was there. This is still my most favorite concert ever. Witnessing Opeth live for the first time at this point in their career was the most amazing thing. The energy in that room was explosive.
This footage is unreal insight... Thanks so much for this. We are lucky it's so well preserved. Thank you my friend for capturing this and sharing it to the world. Now after knowing the story of how influential this event was for Mikael and the band it's even more powerful.
Saw them play The Rave in Milwaukee for the support of Deliverance. The little Mikael did say to the crowd, was that Milwaukee has a special place in his heart from Milwaukee being their first US show.
I wonder if this was from the same show where I used to download clips on Limewire back in the day. Never saw Moonlapse live til clicking on this. What an awesome find!
In a documentary of Megadeth, "Evolver - The Marking of Youthanasia", Marty Friedman tells the camera "Please don't tell anyone that I recorded in an album with such an uncool looking guitar as this Fender Strat" :)
The story behind this one is insane, that the bands all had to share the same instruments since the organisers said 'don't worry about bringing any equipment overseas'. Katatonia literally handed Opeth these same guitars as they got off the stage. Nuts haha
@@pluto_rising 3 months late, but here ya go. This is an excerpt from a Swedish documentary about the swedish metal scene called "Hårdrock på export": (7:09. Turn on the subtitles!) ua-cam.com/video/49d2KzpdJgw/v-deo.htmlsi=cf26bnNdD0jewg80
If not for this festival In mid America, Opeth may have not even continued to make the next 6 albums or so, Thank god for this day, I love Opeth so fucking much
It was actually the festival's rented strats/bass. All bands shared the same instruments cause they were told not to worry about shipping any gear over haha
I miss Milwaukee Metalfest. Those were better times. Awesome bands came together in the brew city. I live about an hour north of Milwaukee so its basically in my backyard. Bands still come to Milwaukee but having a fest like this brought them all at once. You have to go to Chicago to see bands now. I saw incantation, dark funeral, belphegor plus others on one bill at the concorde club. It was great except dark funeral was way too loud for the size of the club.
Mikael spoke of this gig in a podcast he did recently on Spotify, about being a breakthrough moment for him and the band. He told that they didn't bring their instruments because they traveled to US (for the first time ever) with tourist visas, so that's why they are playing with borrowed strats. Also he commented that, as you can see, the audience was screaming from the first minute the band was on the scenario and sang every song/lyric according to him.
That gig basically was what made Opeth continue with their career because Mikael felt the band had a future after all.
Glad they received so much love on this side of the pond, it was well deserved and still is.
Jorge Ramírez Serrato have been listening to that podcast over and over again. Such a great band
that podcast is beautiful and their voices are so relaxing
whats the podcast called
Excuse me but these instruments Was not it the ones Katatonia used in that same festival?
Or at least the guitar?
Rare vertical headbanging from Mendez.
Good catch!
Lol xD
where
That's my Triple Rectifier Peter is using. I watched this set from the side of the stage. Good times.
That's awesome!
I watched it from 5 people back. Epic
Hey man, I got a question for you! I got into Opeth about 2001. Obviously a lot has happened since then and Opeth have been my favorite band for 23 years. Can you tell me a little bit about the atmosphere surrounding Opeth in America at the time? Before this, in Mikael’s words, they weren’t really that big. And their reception at the Milwaukee metal fest was quite surprising to him. What was the word, or buzz on the street regarding Opeth Before they arrived at Milwaukee metal Fest?
Mendez is playing that bass like never seen before, what a legend!
Orwa Smadi he is a legend
he is! and he played P bass here which made his sound really cut through the mix! Mendez + Pbass is one amazing sound
Orwa Smadi check Jared Smith from Archspire
It's the Martin Mendez band afterall
@@bits6996 someone watched every Michael video on UA-cam :D
I will never forget being at this show...the onslaught of my mono and strep throat was kicking in, and the room was so packed nobody could budge if they wanted too. What's worse, the smell and sweat of the fat guy in front of me was so horrific that I felt like I had to vomit the entire show. Still, seeing Opeth here at their first US performance, especially with the songs they played, was worth it even with the suffering.
True love 😆
You showed up in a packed venue with contagious illnesses? That's fucked.
I was there! 21 years old, living in the Bay Area. I went to Milwaukee Metal Fest specifically because it was the first time OPETH, KATATONIA, and ANATHEMA played in the United States. I also remember seeing NOVEMBER'S DOOM and TODAY IS THE DAY play amongst many others. What a time to be alive. Damn, time flies
You were so lucky. Thanks for share your memories🥺
Reading the interviews where Mikael has made statements like "this gig saved Opeth" really show especially when you see vids of their Orchid/Morningrise line up shows their stage prensence was so different then, You can tell Mikael wasn't used to crowds such a massive size or highly praising them with a warm welcome like "OPETH OPETH OPETH" yet. It's truly a beautiful sight to see how happy yet caught off gaurd he was here.
Can you believe that before this tour, the last time they played was in 1997, where they only did 2 shows? Before that they only did one tour, for Morningrise. To think that one of the most prolific live bands in prog / metal barely did live shows until their 4th album just speaks to the quality of their music and how well it must have been reviewed. And Still Life wasn't even released in the US at this point (or it was just released), but the crowd is going insane for them. Warms my heart to know they only went to greater heights from this point onwards.
Did they play Black Rose Immortal live ?
@@bilbobaggins9451 I think back in the day, most people relied on magazines like Terrorizer or sites like Chronicles of Chaos to find reviews of new metal bands. I'm sure there were many metal forums or BBS boards where they would have been talked about, so people outside of Europe would have found out about the band there.
@@bilbobaggins9451 I went to university of Illinois from 95-99 and moved to San Diego in 00. I had all of their albums they released prior to Black Water Park due to easy access to the internet at university…. Between studies I would search for new bands… especially European bands. I think the first few albums were distributed by Century Media under the “century black” sub-label… I could be wrong. In San Diego I remember having to order Still Life from Europe for some reason. I didn’t go back to the mid-west for this Milwaukee metal- fest but I went to the one where Amon Amarth and Darkane debuted in the US…. That was a bad ass show too!!!
It's the exact same with Symphony X. It wasn't till their 4th album when they started touring too. It was even around the same time as Opeth's start
@@FabioDish They played it two times in the 90s, but not the entire track.
I was there. About halfway back. Front man from Shadows Fall was a bit in front of me.
That room was packed.
I envy you, sir.
How did you guys hear about Opeth? They'd never been to the US and had barely played any gigs, and the crowd went crazy for them!
@@henrikjohannessen3017 They had been interviewed in a lot of underground Zines especially once Still Life came out. It was a huge album in the underground metal scene. Not sure how old you are but Zines were self published magazines with metal reviews and interviews. Great way to find out about bands back in the day before the internet. Also lots of tape trading. That's how I first heard them.
this is why youtube is wonderful - watching an dug up vhs-footage of my favorite band (besides Tool), back when it was the good old lineup \m/
Mendez is freakin shredding!
Hell yeah! Crazy to think that he'd only been in the band for about 2 years at the time of this video.
No kidding! This is basically the perfect recording to reference if you wanna pick up these songs by ear on bass.
@@finnthehu200 Actually three years
He joined the band in 1997 after Lopez
I was there. This is still my most favorite concert ever. Witnessing Opeth live for the first time at this point in their career was the most amazing thing. The energy in that room was explosive.
Best Opeth lineup.
Agreed
absolutely yes
Timestamps:
1:37 Moonlapse Vertigo
11:04 Forest of October
24:55 Advent
38:30 White Cluster
48:29 Demon of the Fall
Mendez's playing here is tight as hell!
Underrated bassist in my opinion
I revisit this often - such an awesome video. Iconic. Glad we have this preserved!
This footage is unreal insight... Thanks so much for this. We are lucky it's so well preserved. Thank you my friend for capturing this and sharing it to the world. Now after knowing the story of how influential this event was for Mikael and the band it's even more powerful.
The strats actually did a good job playing the heavier Opeth music. Gotta love them strats !
As a strat player i can confirm that Opeth is tight in any kind of guitar👍
I remember reading about this band who never played live before coming to America and how highly anticipated it was.
Nice to see what it was like.
I actually like how a lot of the heavier sections sound with the strats. The riffs are more discernible, but still badass-sounding
Such a cute moment at :50 where Mike realizes damn these people rly like us lol and he turns to look at Peter
Saw them play The Rave in Milwaukee for the support of Deliverance. The little Mikael did say to the crowd, was that Milwaukee has a special place in his heart from Milwaukee being their first US show.
I was here!! I was 17 and they're my favorite band. So awesome to see them on their first US tour. What a treat!!
Thank you to this Milwaukee crowd.
You guys saved Opeth.
♥️🤘
Ohhh man, my 1st time seeing Opeth ... such a great time!
This was my favorite lineup of the band. My first show was deliverance sitting cross leg on the stage in between Peter and Mik,s pedal boards. 😊
Mikael had to shush the audience, hell i would be screaming if I was there as well. I am glad they got what they deserve and it makes me happy.
I really miss this lineup.
such an amazing band
I wonder if this was from the same show where I used to download clips on Limewire back in the day. Never saw Moonlapse live til clicking on this. What an awesome find!
Opeth´s Best Line up ever
Missing Mike's 'stache here, though.
@@abeigor yeah also he was a bit Chuby
To think where they would be at just 5 years later
Holy cow did they play DOTF fast. That's like 1.5x tempo.
@Zedrik Allen the worst is Deliverance. I feel like nowadays they're playing x0.65 during the first part. Imo it needs speed.
rare one, thanks uploader !
Using Iron Maiden instruments, cool!
The first US show!
Who says that you can't play metal with a fender strat? 😂
In a documentary of Megadeth, "Evolver - The Marking of Youthanasia", Marty Friedman tells the camera "Please don't tell anyone that I recorded in an album with such an uncool looking guitar as this Fender Strat" :)
None so Vile was recorded on a strat. And that's one of the heaviest albums ever.
@@janparadowski4894 WHAT NO WAY
They're playing through 90s Mesa dual rectifiers so even a strat will sound filthy
Wintersun’s first album has songs recorded with a tokai telecaster, it can be heard on “beautiful death” great sound
Martin Mendez is such a freaking beast
What a great days ..
I love Mendez's no bullshit aproach at every turn
The story behind this one is insane, that the bands all had to share the same instruments since the organisers said 'don't worry about bringing any equipment overseas'. Katatonia literally handed Opeth these same guitars as they got off the stage. Nuts haha
Hello, where can i see this interview? 😊
@@pluto_rising 3 months late, but here ya go. This is an excerpt from a Swedish documentary about the swedish metal scene called "Hårdrock på export":
(7:09. Turn on the subtitles!)
ua-cam.com/video/49d2KzpdJgw/v-deo.htmlsi=cf26bnNdD0jewg80
13:39 Lopez reminds me of Paul Mazurkiewicz
He reminds me of Chuck Bello of Anthrax
That day came to an end, and they did not lose their faith in their fans. Eh, murica prolly got Opeth to not quit. noice
At least we’re good for something
@@tharkdrone77 well we also invented mostly everythig important haha..the great parts of us are the best ehhh
Nice I was there, awesome and very late in the night if I remember correctly.
It's so strange watch Opeth playing with Stratocaster
Magic. I was there too! EPIC
Mikael looks fat lol
+Jose Santos He was fat
So cool
So cool to see Mike with a strat!
It's crazy they both played with strats. Strats are underappreciated in metal ngl
Great upload. I just wish that the audio woulda been there for the second half of Forest's solo where Peter takes over.
Just epic.
What an unique concert!
I've seen it all. They've played from Jacksons Flying Vs to Stratocasters to PRS xD
Love the band, anyways. Fan since 2007
If not for this festival In mid America, Opeth may have not even continued to make the next 6 albums or so, Thank god for this day, I love Opeth so fucking much
What a fucking set. Forest Of October is a fucking beaut, they are all favourite songs.
Who remembers the crusty punk girl getting hit by a van right in front of the venue the first day of this fest?
This was actually in July 2000, not August.
Super cool to see this, I was there and remember we went record shopping the guys in opeth earlier that day
How young and nervous they were back in the early 2000s, I'm happy I saw them in 2001 here in Los Angeles
Praise Opeth!
This is gold
this is treasure!!!!!
Mendez is such a fucking boss!
Opeth using strats! love it
EXCELENTE! legendary Mikael Åkerfat
FUCK. Why wasn't I there instead of being 5 in England?..
Damn This is awesome
50:47 when you’re a demon but this fall ain’t big enough for the both of us.
I never expected to see Mikael with a strat. But hey, even tho it sounds like cowboy guitar here, Mikael still managed to make it awesome.🤘😈
😂👍🤘🇸🇪
Looks like mikes rented strat is loaded with hotrodded pickups. Maybe some hotrails
It was actually the festival's rented strats/bass. All bands shared the same instruments cause they were told not to worry about shipping any gear over haha
wish I had hair like Lindgren's. Sucks bein' 50 with a bald spot. Just kidding. Being 50 is awesome. Why not?
As long as all body parts are in great shape, why not? :)
the bass is louder than mikael voice
:O
The bass is louder than Mikael voice, Mikael's Guitar is louder than Peter's guitar, and the drums is louder than everything haha
First time in America!
I was there
💿💿💿💿
ALSO THE CAMERA ANGLES ARE ALL WRONG
Opeth and Children of Bodom played in this Fest, right?
30:35 you came for this
Did I?
I didn't know
I was there!!!!
Does matter wearing a Godflesh t shirt?
Wars the name of the podcast? Greetings from Sweden 🤘🇸🇪
Metal with a strat is not that rare but death metal. Thats something else
Heheh...Mikael let his weight get a hold of him in 2000.
Thank goodness for the Purge for November.
This festival had Children of Bodom , I wish I could have been there!!
Advent slaps live
28:22 you're welcome
Mikael was so confused of the hype😂
tracklist?
Moonlapse Vertigo
Forest of October
Advent
White Cluster
Demon of the Fall
Did children of bodom play this consert as well?
yes
singlecoilpeth
Underrated! 🤣👏
Mikaels got a belly
beğen butonu parçalandı.
And they say you can’t play metal on a Stratocaster 😅
Ni se escucha su voz xd
I miss Opeth. In cauda V. Is so Boring
Memnoch De La Rosa 🤦🏼♂️
Memnoch De La Rosa I agree
As most pro musicians say about that album..its amazing. of course this opeth is amazing, but cauda is insanely well written
Calling ICV boring is like calling the Shining boring
But it's by far the best album out of their new Prog Rock era!
I miss Milwaukee Metalfest. Those were better times. Awesome bands came together in the brew city. I live about an hour north of Milwaukee so its basically in my backyard. Bands still come to Milwaukee but having a fest like this brought them all at once. You have to go to Chicago to see bands now. I saw incantation, dark funeral, belphegor plus others on one bill at the concorde club. It was great except dark funeral was way too loud for the size of the club.