In a fresh chat with Neil Jones of TotalRock, Candlemass singer Johan Längqvist opened up about Candlemass' recent special appearance with former vocalist Messiah Marcolin. The collaboration happened at Rock Hard Festival Greece on September 13, 2025, in Athens.
When asked whether the performance was planned as a single, standalone event, Johan said: "Yeah, that's the way it was supposed to be."
"Candlemass were very popular in Greece when they started up the band," he continued. "And now the fans have seen me performing with Candlemass in Greece for a couple of years. So, they just had a wish that, 'Could you do something with Messiah as well?' And we were all talking about it. And we all said, 'Yeah, for sure.' And it turned up to be one show with Messiah," he added.
He was also asked if he joined Messiah Marcolin on stage for the set. Johan made it clear he did not: "No, no, no, no. I wasn't there at all, actually. But Messiah had my blessing."
Johan went on to explain that while he's familiar with most of the vocalists who have fronted Candlemass over the years, his personal connection with Messiah Marcolin is relatively new: "I pretty much know all the singers that have been in Candlemass through the years, but actually I just met Messiah last year. And we've had a couple of nights together. We're grown-up people these days. If the fans wanted to see a show with Messiah, I don't have a problem with that at all, actually."
The appearance at this year's Rock Hard Festival Greece was a notable moment for long-time listeners, marking Messiah Marcolin's first live performance with Candlemass in nearly two decades.
Speaking to Rock Hard Greece editor Sakis Fragos after the show, Marcolin was obviously thrilled about the experience: "That was some fantastic show with Candlemass at the Rock Hard Festival Greece.
"I wanna thank all the fans from all around the world who traveled from 40 different countries — big, big thanks from the heart. And also all the Greek fans, who traveled all across Greece to come here. It was, like — I don't know — 4,500 people [going] crazy and everyone was singing, and it was so much fun — singing, screaming, doom dancing, just the way it should be. So I'm very happy about it. And a big thank you."
Marcolin also hinted there could be more shows with him at the mic: "I never said this is the only show we're gonna do — Leif [Edling, Candlemass bassist and main songwriter] said that.
"But I would tell all the promoters of the world, get in contact with Candlemass's manager, Mr. Olé Bang, and try to book Candlemass featuring Messiah Marcolin, because I just think it's such a shame for all the Candlemass fans in the world not to be able to see [us play], the ones who couldn't be there [in Greece]. That's how I feel. I don't know how they feel. They're probably tired of me already, but I just think it would be great."
He added: "If they can treat us as well, these promoters and the big festivals in Europe and all around the world, in Japan — I don't know — everywhere, if they can treat us as well as Rock Hard Festival Greece did, I see no problem with playing any more shows. 'Cause we're all getting old, and I'm the youngest — I'm 57. I'll always be the youngest. But anyway, what I'm saying is I don't see a reason for it not to happen again. For me, it's kind of like the vintage Candlemass."
