Ian Anderson, the iconic singer and flutist from Jethro Tull, has made a remarkable guest appearance on Opeth’s captivating new track titled “§4.” This dynamic song is part of Opeth’s highly anticipated album, The Last Will and Testament, which stretches over seven minutes and uniquely features a flute solo alongside Anderson’s spoken word vocals.

In a recent press release, Mikael Åkerfeldt, the frontman of Opeth, shared the intriguing backstory of how the legendary Jethro Tull musician became involved in the song. “We ended up with a flute solo by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, which was kind of an accident in a way, because I asked him to do a narration, not flute,” Åkerfeldt explained. “As he was doing the spoken word bits, he asked me ‘do you need a flute solo?’ I was like, ‘yes, please!’ while I didn’t really have a part for a flute solo! I had to shuffle through the songs quickly in my head before he would change his mind. I had him on the hook; of course, I was gonna find a piece! So, he played almost like a common response type flute solo in ‘§4.’”

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Åkerfeldt further elaborated on the track “§4,” referring to it as an “oddball song” that emerged from instinctive creativity. He humbly stated, “I’m not a clever guy when it comes to writing music.” He continued, “People call us ‘thinking man’s metal,’ I think that’s laughable. I listen to music from so many different genres; it’s impossible for me to stick to one genre.”

Make sure to listen to the remarkable “§4” below and experience the collaboration firsthand.

Ian Anderson’s Influence and Collaboration with Opeth

In addition to Anderson, Europe’s renowned singer Joey Tempest also lends his voice to The Last Will and Testament. During a candid interview with Prog Magazine, Åkerfeldt discussed his selective approach to collaborations, emphasizing the importance of genuine contribution. “I wouldn’t have guests on the records unless I felt that they could contribute something that I couldn’t,” he noted. “In this case, I don’t have that gravelly old-man voice like Ian. It just made everything so much better.”

Åkerfeldt expressed his deep admiration for Anderson, stating, “I’ve cried to Jethro Tull. Ian’s given me so much joy over the years; it’s incredible.” He added, “Just to mention his name in the same sentence as this band is incredible. Joey Tempest is the same.” This sentiment underscores the profound impact that these legendary musicians have had on Åkerfeldt and the wider music community.