SOILWORK – “There’s Not a Single Day That I Don’t Think of David.”
Words by: Tom Wilson @thetomwilsonexperiment - Sense Music Media | Wednesday 2nd November 2022
Remembering David Andersson – Doctor & Metalhead
SENSE was saddened to hear of the death of SOILWORK guitarist David Andersson in September, with the Swedish metal titans releasing a statement attributing his death to mental health and alcohol. The doctor and guitarist was just 47. Speaking to us in a café in Sweden right before getting on a plane to Australia for their national tour, bassist Rasmus Ehrnborn remembered his friend.
I was lucky enough to interview David at the end of 2020, on the promo tour for Wisp of the Atlantic … David struck me as a very soft-spoken guy who chose his words very, very carefully. I remember having a laugh at the time, because he spoke in such a slow and careful manner that, when I had transcribed the entire interview from start to finish, the whole thing was 750 words, and it was a 20-minute interview. [Laughs] … How would you describe him, man?
[Laughs] Kind of like that. He was a highly intelligent person, and he always knew what he was talking about, somehow. He was also … I would describe him as efficient in his way. When he was saying something, he chose the right words to be as efficient as possible to get his message through, you know? There was no small talk with David. It was always very substantial conversation, you know? He was kind of like that with everything. He was thorough. Everything was really smart with that guy, you know? I still haven’t gotten used to talking about him and he’s not here. That’s tough. I’m truly going to miss him.
It's a huge thing. He’d been in the band for ten years…
Yeah, it’s weird.
You guys have released an album recently, which you’re obviously touring and excited about, but I imagine it would be strange to hear his guitar through these works of art. What kind of emotions come up with that? How is that experience?
Well, it’s mixed emotions. The first emotion that hit me, we were rehearsing some of the songs yesterday, some of his songs, and the first emotion I got was sadness, you know? He’s not here to play with us. And the next emotion that comes is more of taking pride in the way it should be done, and imaging him hearing it and approving … It’s going to be weird being onstage playing his songs.
You could kind of make each show a small tribute to him in a way. Because you’re there with the fans, and they’re looking at you, you could take a moment to appreciate it.
Yeah, maybe. One of the tributes we’re actually paying David is actually honouring one of his wishes, and that’s actually keeping on touring, and keeping on going with the band. That was his wish, so that’s one way that we honour him, and we’re going to keep on playing his songs, and I think he’s going to be with us always. There’s not a single day that I don’t think of David.
Is this something that he had talked about in the past, or, pardon me, was it a note that he left or something? Or just a general feeling amongst the band?
That’s actually from a conversation between him and Björn, where he specifically asked Björn to continue with the band, no matter what happened.
We won’t get into the circumstances around his death, because it’s really nobody’s business, but when you mentioned (in the band statement) alcohol and mental health, it hit me hard, because I’m a recovering alcoholic. I quit drinking over four years ago.
Nice! Good job man.
Thank you man, I appreciate it. Mental health is something that I take very seriously, because I will go a few months and then hit a fucking brick wall. Fortunately I’ve got a great support network. [David] was double-hatting – he was a guitarist in a metal band, and he was a gastroenterologist, who basically got steamrolled into COVID with all the rest of the medical profession, so he was probably going a year-and-a-half without a break.
Yeah. I mean, that’s like David – everything he was doing was top notch. He was the top doctor, he was the top guitar player. I remember when we did our studio sessions, him and me used to cook together, and he’s an excellent cook, you know? [Laughs] Everything, he was so good at it, you know? He was making sure he was top-notch.
[Laughs] It’s funny, man. I’m just going to quote him from this interview because it was great. I said to him, “I feel like being a doctor who’s also in a major metal band, are you an over-achiever?” And he just laughed and said, “I don’t know if I’m an over-achiever. I do have a busy mind. I like doing stuff, and if I don’t get to do stuff, I get a bit itchy!”
[Laughs] There we go!
The man had an itch and he just did not stop scratching it, bless him. Obviously, you’ve had a whole day of press interviews talking about losing your friend, so I am cognisant of that. Is someone stepping in for him on this tour?
Yes. Actually, David has not been touring full-time with the band for a couple of years now, and that is all due to his job as a doctor, and afterwards when he got sick, of course. So we have a lovely guy called Simon Johansson. He’s the guitar player for a band called WOLF, and another band called MEMORY GARDEN. He’s been stepping in for David since 2019 for some of the tours, and he’s going to do it now again, and he’s a fantastic guitar player.
SOILWORK are touring Australia now. Get tickets here.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, you are not alone. Help is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or go to www.lifeline.org.au
SOILWORK circa 2019 featuring Daniel