Tobias Forge: Last News

GHOST have given another teaser of their “new” frontman Papa V Perpetua with a billboard in Las Vegas – see the image below.The Swedish occult metal band are led by Tobias Forge, who since the band began has inhabited a series of different characters, with a different incarnation fronting the group for every new touring cycle.The most recent character was Papa Emeritus IV, who led the band through their album ‘Impera’ in 2022 and its accompanying ‘Imperatour’ tour that wound up in October 2023.Last month, when Black Sabbath announced the full line-up for their final ever show in Villa Park, Birmingham on July 5, among the stacked list of supporting acts was the name ‘Papa V Perpetua’.Shortly after that announcement, GHOST took to their official Facebook page to share a post that read: “[MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY] We wish to inform you V is coming ………. To Birmingham on July 5th.”Now, a billboard has popped up in Las Vegas with the band’s logo and phrase “V is coming…” beneath it.

Ghost’s Tobias Forge has explained the band’s “phone-free” rule for their 2025 world tour, saying it’s “so hard to get people to engage”.Back in October, the Swedish metal band announced a 55-date tour that will kick off in Manchester’s AO Arena on April 15 and run throughout the UK, Europe and North America, rounding off in Mexico City on September 24. Find any remaining tickets here.At the time of the announcement, Ghost made it clear that the shows will be “phone-free experiences”, explaining that audience members’ mobile phones would be secured in Yondr pouches, so that they maintain possession of their phones at all times.Now, in an interview with Loudwire Nights, frontman Forge opened up about the policy, saying “we want [fans] to be there in the moment”.He explained that the first time they tried it in Los Angeles, the crowd was “phenomenal”, despite finding it “hard” to get modern crowds to “engage” with the show.“We came off the first night and were just blown away that these people were so engaged,” he added.

Ghost have teased the name of their “new” frontman as part of the latest evolution of the metal band’s singer.Today (February 5), Black Sabbath announced their final-ever live show, which will take place in Birmingham on July 5. The band has also announced star-studded opening acts and special guests, which include the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, recent Grammy-winners Gojira and more.Eagle-eyed fans noticed that the poster of the legendary metal band’s final show featured “Papa V Perpetua” of Ghost among the list of special guests.

Ghost have announced a new comic book series, which is co-written by frontman Tobias Forge – find out more below.The Swedish metal band took to social media over the weekend to announced the Sister Imperator series by Dark Horse Comics. The four-part mini-series will tell the origin story of Sister Imperator, the fictional character who served as “the revered representative of the Clergy and behind the scenes overseer of Ghost’s dark machinations”.The first issue of Sister Imperator is scheduled for release on March 5.

Ghost’s film, RITE HERE RITE NOW, is set for a global online premiere later this month.The film was given an initial cinema run worldwide on June 20, and managed to rake in $5million plus across its four-day release.It included concert footage of Ghost performing at The Forum in Inglewood, California last year, as well as premiering the new track ‘The Future Is a Foreign Land’.

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge and filmmaker Alex Ross Perry have spoken to NME about the band’s debut feature film, RITE HERE RITE NOW.Out today (June 20), RITE HERE RITE NOW sees the band combine a typical concert film with an intricate narrative surrounding the band’s mysterious lore – one that’s been told since 2018. The film comes at the tail-end of Ghost’s touring cycle behind 2022’s ‘Impera’ as fans are left wondering where the band goes from here.RITE HERE RITE NOW‘s mashing of the band’s fictional backstory and their music is the next step in band’s evolution.

Ghost have shared details of a debut feature film, titled RITE HERE RITE NOW.Set to arrive in cinemas worldwide next month, the film is the first of its kind from the metal group, and will combine footage of their September 2023 shows at The Forum in Los Angeles with a narrative that picks up plot threads from the band’s long-running webisode series.It has been directed by the masked Swedish collective’s frontman Tobias Forge, alongside American filmmaker and actor Alex Ross Perry, and is set to arrive in cinemas globally on June 20 and 22 only.A full trailer is set to launch next Thursday (May 9), and tickets for screenings will be available then too.

Ghost frontman and founder Tobias Forge for a whopping amount of money.According to a Discogs report, detailing the most expensive records sold in January this year, someone purchased an unreleased solo album from Forge for US$5,434 (£4237.95). The album is titled ‘Passiflora’ and per the listing, was “released” in 2008.

Ghost are working on a movie with “a concert element”, according to frontman Tobias Forge.Speaking to Metal Hammer, Ghost’s Tobias Forge revealed that the movie is currently in development, and that the band have already filmed two nights worth of concert footage during their recent concerts at the Forum in California – the second night of which included a ban on mobile phones to avoid leaks.While little else is known of the upcoming film right now, Tobias Forge told Metal Hammer that “it’s going to be a film with a concert element. So a lot of what you experienced [at the two Los Angeles shows] is going to be part of this project.When asked if Ghost’s upcoming film will akin to Metallica‘s 2013 cinematic concert film Through The Never, which included concert footage alongside a fictional plot starring Dane DeHaan, Forge replied: “In a sense that it’s a concert with something else combined.”The Ghost frontman also spoke of the two Forum shows, saying they were among the best he’s experienced in his career.

Ghost and actor Patrick Wilson have teamed up to cover Shakespears Sister‘s ‘Stay’ as part of the Insidious: The Red Door soundtrack.The track, a cover of Shakespears Sister’s 1992 goth-pop hit ‘Stay’, features in the closing credits of the newly released horror film. It also marks Ghost’s first release since their recent covers EP ‘Phantomime’ in May.Listen to Ghost and Patrick Wilson perform ‘Stay’ below.Wilson – who also directed Insidious: The Red Door – revealed via a press statement that he got word that Ghost were planning to release a cover of the track, and reached out to Tobias Forge for a collaboration.“Ghost, for me, is one of the most unique rock bands out there.

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has shared an update on his health after being attacked last month outside of a hotel in Florida.Back in March, the drummer was attacked outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A man rushed the 59-year-old drummer, causing him to fall to the ground and injure his head.

Ghost have shared a cover of Genesis‘ ‘Jesus He Knows Me’, announced a covers EP and spoken to NME about new music, the future, and being inspired by personality politicians like Trump.Following the release of their rendition of Genesis’ 1992 hit ‘Jesus He Knows Me’ over Easter, yesterday (Sunday, April 9) the band followed up with the news of a new five-track EP, ‘Phantomime’ – featuring more re-imagined songs from Iron Maiden, Tina Turner, Television, and The Stranglers.As frontman Tobias Forge told NME, ‘Phantomime’ could “cast a glimpse as to where I want to go with the band now”.“That doesn’t mean that all of a sudden we’re going to sound like Television!” he said. “It just means that there are practical things in there that have inspired me to record this EP in a slightly different way than I have done previously.”Speaking about his decision to put ‘Jesus He Knows Me’ as the lead single for ‘Phantomime’, Forge believed the “song is more relevant today than it probably was in 1992”.

Ghost have shared a cover of Genesis‘ ‘Jesus He Knows Me’, announced a covers EP and spoken to NME about new music, the future, and being inspired by personality politicians like Trump.Following the release of their rendition of Genesis’ 1992 hit ‘Jesus He Knows Me’ over Easter, yesterday (Sunday, April 9) the band followed up with the news of a new five-track EP, ‘Phantomime’ – featuring more re-imagined songs from Iron Maiden, Tina Turner, Television, and The Stranglers.As frontman Tobias Forge told NME, ‘Phantomime’ could “cast a glimpse as to where I want to go with the band now”.“That doesn’t mean that all of a sudden we’re going to sound like Television!” he said. “It just means that there are practical things in there that have inspired me to record this EP in a slightly different way than I have done previously.”Speaking about his decision to put ‘Jesus He Knows Me’ as the lead single for ‘Phantomime’, Forge believed the “song is more relevant today than it probably was in 1992”.

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge and Def Leppard vocalist Joe Elliott have spoken to NME about working together on their collaboration ‘Spillways’, as well as their morning spent together in an Irish pub and why Måneskin are proof that the rock revival is real.‘Spillways’ originally featured on Ghost’s 2022 album ‘Impera’ but earlier this year the theatrical rockers released a reworked version featuring the Def Leppard icon. Speaking to NME, Elliott described it as “this big love-in.”He has been a fan of Ghost since the release of 2015’s ‘Meliora’ after being introduced to them by band Phil Collen and really loved ‘Impera’. “I played the shit out of Ghost’s music on my [Planet Rock] radio show, and then we saw that they had been bigging us up in the press,” said Elliott.Forge then revealed that a lot of ‘Impera’ was actually inspired by Def Leppard.“I’ve always been a fan but with this album, I really looked at their songwriting,” he said.

Ghost were forced to cut short their headline set at Hellfest over the weekend after their frontman Tobias Forge lost his voice.The Swedish band topped the bill at the Clisson, France festival on Saturday (June 18), with Deftones and Gojira also headlining the event’s first weekend (the second will take place from June 23-26).According to Setlist.fm, Ghost ended their headline show 17 songs into the set on Saturday. The band’s 2022 live set has typically consisted of at least 20 songs, including the usual closing track ‘Square Hammer’.Fan-shot footage from Hellfest shows Forge (AKA Papa Emeritus IV) thanking the crowd after performing ‘Dance Macabre’, before adding: “My voice is completely fucked.