Ghost (Swedish band)

Ghost
Ghost performing at Sweden Rock Festival in 2023
Background information
Also known asGhost B.C.
OriginLinköping, Sweden
Genres
DiscographyGhost discography
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
  • Tobias Forge (as Papa Emeritus IV)
  • A Group of Nameless Ghouls
  • Papa Nihil
Past members
  • Martin Persner
  • Simon Söderberg
  • Mauro Rubino
  • Martin Hjertstedt
  • Henrik Palm
  • Gustaf Lindström
  • Aksel Holmgren
  • Rikard Ottoson
  • Linton Rubino
  • Megan Thomas
Websiteghost-official.com

Ghost is a Swedish rock band known for combining costumed theatricality, heavy metal, and arena rock.[1] Formed in Linköping in 2006,[2][3] the band released their debut album, Opus Eponymous in 2010,[1] which earned them international recognition.[4] This was followed by Infestissumam in 2013 and in 2015 by Meliora, which reached number one in Sweden and number eight in the US. This was followed by the albums Prequelle in 2018 and Impera in 2022.

Renowned for their costumed on-stage presence, Ghost's members, except for the lead vocalist, are known as "Nameless Ghouls".[5] The lead-singer has performed under the persona of "Papa Emeritus", a character known for its "demonic anti-pope"[5] imagery, while changing this for subsequent tours.[6]

In 2017, the identity of the lead-singer was revealed to be Tobias Forge after several musicians who had worked with him on the Ghost project started legal action over royalties.[7][8] The single, "Cirice", earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2016, while they have been nominated for several Swedish Grammis awards.

  1. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Ghost Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. ^ "GHOST - Infestissumam Album Details Revealed". bravewords.com. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ^ Hartmann, Graham (7 June 2017). "Frontman Tobias Forge: Ghost Is More of a Solo Project Than a Band". Loudwire. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  4. ^ "The 50 Most Evil Songs Ever". Kerrang!. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sfwinterview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Ghost Unveil Papa Emeritus IV At Final Show Of Prequelle Tour". Kerrang!. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  7. ^ Neilstein, Vince (2 May 2018). "Ghost Frontman Talks About Being Unmasked". MetalSucks. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ Appleford, Steve (2 February 2018). "Ghost Mastermind Tobias Forge Reports From Studio in First "Unmasked" U.S. Interview". Revolver.