Ghost frontman Tobias Forge defends mobile phone ban on 2025 tour
Tobias spoke to Planet Rock's Loz Guest
Last updated 5th Mar 2025
In an exclusive in-depth interview with Planet Rock, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge has explained why the band have banned mobile phones on their upcoming 2025 tour, The Skeletour.
Earlier today (5th March), Ghost launched a new era with the unveiling of Tobias Forge’s new warped clerical character Papa V Perpetua, the announcement of their sixth studio album ‘Skeletá’, and the premiere of lead single ‘Satanized.’
On the eve of the big announcement, Tobias Forge visited Planet Rock HQ in London for a wide-ranging chat with our resident Ghost aficionado Loz Guest.
Naturally, the conversation quickly moved to Papa V Perpetua, and Loz asked Tobias if there’s anything he can tell us about the new character yet.
“I actually do not know yet,” Tobias replied. “In this case, we've had pretty much the same band for some years, so there's not a whole lot of new things there.
“But at any point when we do new iterations and new costumes or a new frontman… for the last two albums, so that takes us back to 2018, we had the same frontman, which was a little bit of a luxury.
“Because then we didn't have to deal with the idea of presenting a new person, which we've done three times before where we had to sort of present, ‘here's a new person! Please love him!’ That is always a strange concept that feels foreign every time.”
When Loz noted that Ghost fans always love the new Papas, Tobias nervously responded: “So far, yes! But you know, we'll see!”
Confirming that Papa V will get his live debut when The 2025 Skeletour kicks off in Manchester next month, Tobias continued: “Because of the Black Sabbath announce (Papa V Perpetua was named on the Back to the Beginning concert poster in February), somehow people thought that that was going to be a big coming out day. That day means a lot, but not that. That is not part of it.”
Questioned by Loz whether he’s banned mobile phones on Ghost’s 2025 tour because he wants to keep an air of mystery around the band or if he simply finds mobile phones “bloody annoying,” Tobias said it was definitely the latter.
“I really want to underline that the ban has nothing to do with copyright control,” he explained. “It's not that we want to sit on all the material, and we don't want any money to monetize on. It has nothing to do with that.
“Rite Here, Rite Now, the film… not only the essence of messaging in that film was exactly that (being in the right here right now), but also us collectively working making that film.
“We filmed two shows in LA in front of audiences where they had to put their phones into pockets (Yondr pouches). You don't give it away. You have your phone, you don't have to worry about that. If you need to call, you can go out, if you need to take a photo, you can take a photo of yourself out in the lobby. That's fine.
“But what ended up happening was that we had such an engaged crowd that seemed joyous in a way that I had to go back years in time since I last saw a fully engaged crowd where everybody's actually watching. They don't have to watch me, but they're watching the band.”
Tobias continued: “I don't want to turn this into an ageist thing where I'm going to tell 14-year-olds everything was better back then. But I swear that the experience of shows and the making of memories, the making of magic was much more powerful. Some of the best shows I've ever been to, I have maybe not even seen a picture from that, because they all live here (points to his head). They live in my core. That's the memory I have of that.
“That’s an experience I wish for - obviously, the part of our crowd that are older and more aware, maybe this becomes a little bit nostalgic them. But I really believe that the younger portion of our crowd will, as they did in LA, come out saying like ‘that was not only a great concert that was also an overwhelming experience.’ Because I do believe that you will feel that.”
Watch Ghost leader Tobias Forge's Planet Rock interview:
Ghost’s sixth studio album ‘Skeletá’ is released on Friday 25th April 2025 via Loma Vista Recordings.
The new Papa and his Nameless Ghouls will kick off their world tour at Manchester AO Arena on Tuesday 15th April and play dates in Glasgow, London and Birmingham before hitting mainland Europe.
Ghost’s ‘Skeletá’ track-listing:
Peacefield
Lachryma
Satanized
Guiding Lights
De Profundis Borealis
Cenotaph
Missilia Amori
Marks Of The Evil One
Umbra
Excelsis
Meet all of Ghost's characters through the years:
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Tobias Forge's Papa Emeritus, later known as Papa Emeritus I, was the Ghost frontman from 2008 to 2012 during the cycle for the band's debut album 'Opus Eponymous.' Pictured is Papa Emeritus backstage at Download Festival 2011. This is the first of two Papa Emeritus looks and features a red and black chasuble with upside-down crosses and a mitre with the black crucifix.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Papa Emeritus I – aka Tobias Forge – in his imperious live glory at Download Festival 2011. Ghost performed on the third stage (then known as the Pepsi Max Stage) on the Saturday.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A blank-faced Nameless Ghoul dressed in black robes in 2011 during Ghost's European tour.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I
Towards the end of the 'Opus Eponymous' touring cycle in 2012, Papa Emeritus was tweaked significantly. Tobias Forge now wore white robes and mitre featuring an upside-down gold crucifix.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
In keeping with their leader's image change, the Nameless Ghouls also wore all-white costumes with new Bauta masks.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus I and his Nameless Ghouls
Ghost leader Papa Emeritus I and his Nameless Ghouls band mates flaunt their new all-white guise in 2012.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
In late 2012, Ghost welcomed their second frontman Papa Emeritus II. Featuring more realistic skull face paint than his predecessor, Tobias Forge's second Papa wore black and green robes on stage with a silver and white mitre.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
In keeping with the all-new Papa Emeritus II, the Nameless Ghouls also wore all black with Bauta masks.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
A close-up at Papa Emeritus II's proper horrorshow face at Lollapalooza 2013.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II
Papa Emeritus II at Rock in Rio Festival, September 2013.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus II ‘unmasked’
The identity of Papa Emeritus II himself Tobias Forge was still shrouded in mystery in 2014. However, for a 'Papaganda' interview with Vice magazine that year, Forge hilariously 'unmasked' himself as a bald Telly Savalas-like businessman with shades and a moustache. For some unbeknownst reason he also spoke in Italian. Comedy gold.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
Coinciding with Ghost's third studio album 'Meliora', in 2015 Tobias Forge unveiled his third Papa to the world - Papa Emeritus III.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
Tobias Forge tweaked his make-up for Ghost's Papa Emeritus III. His papal gown was pure black with a white mitre featuring a gold inverted cross.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
Ghost's Nameless Ghouls wore chilling silver devil masks for the 'Meliora' era.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A close-up of one of Ghost's Nameless Ghouls in 2015.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus III
In early 2016, Tobias Forge introduced a second more stripped back version of Papa Emeritus III. Appearing at certain events and performances, the look featured a different outfit, white gloves and no mitre. Only the trademark make-up remained the same.
Ghost’s Papa Nihil
On 30th September 2017, Ghost leader Papa Emeritus III was killed off on stage at Gothenburg venue Liseberg and his apparent elderly replacement Papa Zero (later known as Papa Nihil) shuffled on stage with a walking stick and breathing equipment. Ultimately, however, Papa Nihil wasn't the band's new frontman - he was actually the band's anointer (and a killer saxophonist to boot). However, in 2019, a young version of Papa Nihil appeared as Ghost's frontman in the 'Kiss the Go-Goat' music video, which was set in the 1960s.
Ghost’s Sister Imperator
Sister Imperator is the head of the satanic clergy of Ghost and is the former lover of Papa Nihil. She was first introduced in the Meliora cycle and the 'older' version of Sister Imperator has been played by two actresses.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia
In April 2018, Papa Nihil anointed Cardinal Copia as Ghost's new frontman to mark the 'Prequelle' era of the band. Unlike his three predecessors, Cardinal Copia wasn't part of the Papa Emeritus lineage.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia
Wearing a latex mask, a variety of sharp suits and gloves, Tobias Forge was a lot more agile on stage as Cardinal Copia.
Ghost’s Cardinal Copia and his Nameless Ghouls
A publicity shot of Ghost leader Cardinal Copia and his Nameless Ghouls in 2018.
Ghost’s Tobias Forge unmasked
A rare photo of an Tobias Forge without his mask at the 2019 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
A Ghost Nameless Ghoul
A Nameless Ghoul in a black devil mask on stage in 2019.
Ghost’s Sister Imperator
A young version of Sister Imperator in Ghost's retro 'Kiss the Go-Goat' music video in 2019. She's played by actress Liz Fenning.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV
On March 3rd 2020, at the last show of the Pale Tour Named Death, Cardinal Copia was anointed as Papa Emeritus IV. Note the subtle change to his face makeup. Pictured is Papa Emeritus IV in a publicity shot for Ghost's 'Impera' album in 2022.
Ghost's Nameless Ghouls
The 2022 incarnation of the Nameless Ghouls sees them don Star Wars-esque steampunk helmets and military uniforms.
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV
Tobias Forge's 'stripped back' version of Papa Emeritus IV on stage in North America in February 2022.
Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst
Following the final arena date of Ghost's European Imperatour in Hungary on 18th May 2022, English guitarist Chris Catalyst shared a group photo backstage of the entire Ghost crew including himself standing next to Tobias Forge. Outing himself as a Nameless Ghoul, he wrote: "Amaaaazing tour with our wonderful Ghost family," Catalyst wrote. "I suppose that's that particular cat out of the bag. So great to be doing this again. Playing this fantastic music with these brilliant people makes me run out of superlatives. X" He is no longer a member of the band.
Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst
Former Ghost guitarist Chris Catalyst, who left Ghost in 2023.
Nameless Ghoul Fire unmasked
Chris Catalyst's end of tour photo also confirmed that Ghost's Nameless Ghoul lead guitarist, Fire (formerly Alpha), is former Bloodbath guitarist Per Eriksson. Fans have also given the Swedish musician's character the nickname Sodo.
Ghost's Papa V Perpetua
After his name was revealed at the announcement of Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park, Papa V Perpetua was officially unveiled to the world on Wednesday 5th March 2025. He fronts Ghost's for the band's sixth studio album 'Skeletá' and their accompanying world tour.
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