Move over, Shakespeare — there’s a new drama king in town, and he’s wearing a papal robe, face paint, and a serious case of divine entitlement. Tobias Forge, the man behind the Swedish satanic pop-punk opera known as GHOST, recently sat down with the Associated Press to spill the holy beans about his alter-egos, his songwriting process, and why he’s basically the Pope of Rock™ — just with better riffs and fewer sermons about abstinence.
In a virtual interview that was somehow both deeply philosophical and mildly theatrical (like if your drama teacher also played guitar and worshipped the Antichrist), Forge revealed that GHOST’s entire lore — the masks, the theatrics, the “Chapters” that fans dissect like ancient scripture — was born not from divine inspiration, but from a record label guy saying, “Cool band, but where’s the story?”
Forge recalled his early days with Rise Above Records, a tiny indie label run by Lee Dorrian of CATHEDRAL, who apparently believed that the best way to promote a band was to do… absolutely nothing. No interviews. No social media. Just smoke, silence, and the faint smell of patchouli. “They wanted me to not have an agent, not have a manager, and preferably not play any shows,” Forge explained, probably while dramatically clutching his pearls. “I was like, ‘Beg your pardon, but I didn’t sign up to be a hermit with a Fender.’”
So, naturally, he ghosted them (pun very much intended) and signed with Loma Vista, a label founded by Tom Whalley — a man who, in the music industry, is basically the Dumbledore of rock. This is the guy who signed DIO, NINE INCH NAILS, and Tupac. He’s the guy who could make your band famous with a single nod. And what was his first note to Forge? “I love your band. But… what’s the story?”
And just like that, GHOST became a full-blown rock opera. No pressure, right? One minute, they were a mysterious anonymous band from Sweden; the next, they were a multi-Papa saga with more plot twists than a Scandinavian Netflix series. Forge basically had to invent a whole mythology on the spot, like Moses coming down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, except instead of stone tablets, it was a contract and a merch spreadsheet. 📜💀
Now, let’s talk about the Papas. Oh, the Papas. Forge has cycled through more frontman personas than most bands do singers in a lifetime. Papa Emeritus I, II, III — each more dramatic than the last, each killed off or retired like a aging Bond villain. Then came Cardinal Copia, who was basically the awkward middle child who finally got his big break. And now? Enter Papa V Perpetua, the latest in Satanic succession, who looks like if the Pope attended a rave and never came back.
Forge, in his infinite wisdom, has turned GHOST into the only band where the lead singer gets “fired” every album cycle. It’s like American Idol, but with more incense and fewer tears (okay, maybe just as many tears). “It keeps things fresh,” he probably said while sipping red wine from a chalice that may or may not be cursed.
And let’s not forget the live shows — because if you haven’t seen GHOST live, are you even alive? The 2026 “Skeletour” is shaping up to be less of a concert and more of a religious experience. Think cathedral meets Broadway meets a Tim Burton fever dream. The stage is designed like a brutalist church (because nothing says “worship the devil” like concrete architecture), complete with a giant Grucifix — that’s GHOST’s version of a cross, but with more flair and better branding.
The lighting? Cinematic. The theatrics? Oscar-worthy. The audience? Probably all wearing black and secretly judging you for not knowing the lyrics to “Cirice.” And for the first time, they’ve got full-scale video production, because apparently, just having a guy in a mask singing about Satan wasn’t spectacle enough. Now, you get a full-blown multimedia experience — like if Disney World was run by the Prince of Darkness. 🎭🔥
Oh, and fun fact: “Skeletá” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling more copies than your favorite band’s entire discography. It was the first hard rock album to hit No. 1 since AC/DC’s “Power Up” — and let’s be real, AC/DC doesn’t even try anymore. They just plug in, play the same chord progression, and cash the check. But GHOST? They’re out here building empires of smoke and symbolism, one papal decree at a time.
So here’s to Tobias Forge — the mastermind, the showman, the man who somehow made Satanism look chic. He’s not just leading a band; he’s running a cult. And honestly? We’re all just waiting for our invitation to the next mass. 🖤⛪️🎸
