Ghost frontman Tobias Forge has dismissed the idea of toning down the band’s image in order to reach a wider audience.
Back in November, Swedish rockers Ghost were the centre of an odd international controversy, after a US pastor in Texas led a prayer group to protest the band’s ‘satanic’ nature.
“I think the community should be alarmed about it,” Pastor Larry Long explained. “This is not healthy for our community. Because we Christians believe the devil is real, so when you have a devil-worshipping band…”
“And I’m sure the band believes the devil’s real; I doubt that they’re just doing this as a part of their schtick for music and music they produce and so on.”
Following the venue that booked the group coming to their defence, the show went on as planned, and Ghost seemed relatively unfazed by the whole ordeal. Now, frontman Tobias Forge has addressed the question of whether the band would ever change their image to help their mass appeal.
Speaking to The Eddie Trunk Podcast recently, Tobias Forge was asked whether or not the group’s ‘satanic’ image was ever seen as an obstacle by the band.
“I think the nature of our show will of course have – as opposed to Coldplay, we will always have a handicap that some people will shun away,” Forge explained. “I don’t necessarily see that as an obstacle to overcome, I think that there are enough people out there.”
“We haven’t reached all people that would potentially be interested in what we are doing yet, so I can live with the idea that not everybody likes you yet. This is not for everyone.”
Check out Ghost’s ‘Dance Macabre’:
While host Eddie Trunk noted that band’s such as KISS had seen similar backlash in the past, he asked Ghost’s frontman whether or not he would choose to shun his stage persona in favour of something more palatable.
“No, I think that within Ghost there are certain parameters that I do as a professional musician who’s making my livelihood,” Tobias Forge explained. “This is what I do, this is my life, so I have to accept that there are certain parameters that I need to sort of move within.”
“I do believe that even though some of the artists that had similar troubles with the moral right, I think it’s all how you present yourself and how you handle that.”
Ghost are set to return to Australia next year, appearing as part of the 2019 Download Festival. The band also announced a sideshow for Brisbane during their visit next March. Check out all the details below.
Check out Ghost’s ‘Square Hammer’:
Ghost Australian Tour 2019
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Live Nation
Also appearing at Download Festival 2019
Saturday, March 9th, 2019
Parramatta Park, Sydney, NSW
Monday, March 11th, 2019 (Long weekend)
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, VIC
Download Festival 2019 Lineup
Sum 41 (Only Aus Shows)
Pennywise (Only Aus Shows)
Thy Art Is Murder
Polaris
Twelve Foot Ninja
Slaves
Voyager
Joining…
Ozzy Osbourne (Only Aus Shows)
Slayer (Final World Tour)
Judas Priest (Only Aus Shows)
Alice In Chains
Ghost
Rise Against (Only Aus Shows)
The Amity Affliction (Only Aus Shows)
Anthrax
Halestorm (Only Aus Shows)
Behemoth
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
I Prevail
Converge
Frenzal Rhomb
Luca Brasi
Code Orange
Andy Black
The Fever 333
War On Women
High Tension
Outright
Ruins
Alien Weaponry
