PETER WICHERS QUITS SOILWORK… AGAIN!
When I was 14 years old and pining over some broken teenage romance whilst getting a haircut, my barber gave me some sage advice: if it doesn’t work out once, it’s probably never gonna work out at all.
I might’ve told myself the same when chief songwriter/awesomeman Peter Wichers returned to Soilwork in 2008 three years after quitting, only I willed myself into thinking it was meant to be, that Wichers’ true and only place in the world was kicking out sweet melodeath jams with Soilwork. I wanted to believe! And now my heart has been broken once again, like that forlorn 14-year old of yesteryear in the barber chair.
Here’s Wichers’ official statement via Soilwork’s Facebook, with a brief preface citing “creative differences”:
I want to thank everyone who has supported Soilwork over the years. It has been a wild and fun ride, but it’s time for me to explore different options in my career. I will cherish all the amazing moments I have gathered from my time with Soilwork, and I would not be where I am today without the help from you Fans, my family and Soilwork.
Thank you!
Peter Wichers
When Wichers quit Soilwork the first time he cited the heavy touring schedule and the desire to spend time with his family as the reasons behind his decision. I’m not really buying this whole “creative differences” thing — sure, the lineup’s changed quite a bit over the years, but these guys have written seven albums together (plus one without Wichers) so how “different” could their “creative” vision really be at this point? It’s friggin’ Soilwork, so make it sound like Soilwork. Unless Wichers wanted to turn the band into a progressive djentcore outfit or something and the other guys weren’t on board. More likely, I’d say Wichers is probably quitting for the same reasons he did the first time; dudes wanna tour because touring is fun and they gotta eat, and Wichers doesn’t wanna (which is understandable). This is all conjecture, of course.
Anyway, this sucks. The one prior Wichers-less album, Sworn to a Great Divide, suffered in his absence. It’s re-Wichersed follow-up, The Panic Broadcast, bore his distinct mark. I’m sure the rest of the dudes will write a perfectly OK Soilwork album without Wichers, but it won’t have that certain je ne se quoi. Also: are they gonna ask Daniel Antonnson back into the group after unceremoniously booting him for Wichers’ return? Or someone else? And what’s Wichers gonna do now, go back to producing?
Of course, lots of folks stopped giving a shit about Soilwork years ago. I just can’t do it; fan 4 life. At least this year we’ve got the fantabulous Night Flight Orchestra album to tide us over.
-VN
