As Ghost begin their phenomenal Skeletour, we head to the sold-out AO Arena in Manchester to meet their fans and find out why they love the band, if they’ve ever seen a real-life ghost, and which Papa has “a bit of sauce…”
Ghost’s stunning new Skeletour show is not just a total triumph for the band – it’s just as joyous for their thousands of fabulously devoted acolytes, who get to enjoy Tobias Forge and co. at the very peak of their powers with the biggest show they’ve ever done.
They’re a big congregation, and a varied one, made up of fans from all walks of life. Meeting them in the queue outside Manchester’s AO Arena on the tour’s opening night, though, there’s one thing they all clearly have in common: they’re utterly obsessed with the band. But beyond that, who are they? Let’s get to know some of the legion…
How long have you been a fan of Ghost?
“Under a year. I found them via a Ghost tribute band and fell in love with them. My friend dragged me along as she is a fan, and I agreed as it gets me out of the house! I saw them and was like, ‘I love this’ and now I’m obsessed.”
What makes them so special?
“I think it’s Tobias, and the lore and everything – I’ve not seen anything like it before. I love their music. I’ve been a bit of a rock chick all my life.”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
“Secondo! Secondo!”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
“Yes, I have! It was in my childhood home. All my family saw it – while I was waiting for my brother to get out of the bathroom it ran across the hallway. I went to see if it was my brother but he was still in the bathroom. It ran into my bedroom, so it took me a while to sleep in there again…”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I love Sleep Token. I’m a massive fan of Kamelot. I love Wednesday 13, Iron Maiden, Metallica. All of the normal hard stuff!”
And what are you wearing today?
“I am dressed up as Secondo! So I’m in a robe, I’ve got my Ghost shoes on. Yeah!”
How long have you been a fan of Ghost?
“I’ve been a fan since the lead up to [2015 third album] Meliora – and then I followed them on the Prequelle tour through the UK. It was a long-ass time! I got into them after I saw pictures of them on Tumblr. That’s a blast from the past!”
What makes them so special?
“I think they are the coolest live concept ever. I don’t think anyone can put on a show like them – it’s just sick.”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
“III – I love him. Rest in peace. He had a bit of swag about him, a bit of sauce.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
“No, but I did live in a haunted house when I was 12. There was a corner in my room that was constantly black – no matter whether you had the big light on, it was always dark in that corner. My mum used to hear stuff moving around the house.”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I’m into Rammstein. I’ve just been listening to a lot of Ghost, to be honest. And Taylor Swift! Shout-out to her! I also love Korn and Limp Bizkit.”
And what are you wearing today?
“It’s all Shein – apart from the shoes which are Dr. Martens. These are also my fugglers, they follow me everywhere…”
How long have you been a fan of Ghost?
A: “I’d say I got into them about 15 years ago. My roommates had the vinyl and told me to listen to them, and since then I’ve been obsessed.”
R: “I started listening to them three years ago when I met Adam, because he said they were his favourite band. So I was like, ‘I guess I’ll like them as well.’ That’s sometimes the way you start listening to stuff: the person you’re dating gets you into things. I can’t take any credit!”
Why are Ghost so special to you?
A: “I really love horror, and that retro horror aesthetic. And Ghost just embody that. I love cult imagery. And they’re kinda tongue in cheek – not ultra-serious. They also have great music, too.”
R: “I like the theatrics of it! I don’t know if I know another band that has that genre of theatricality in rock.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
A: “I haven’t seen one, but I think I’ve heard one. I was sleeping at a friend’s house in the country in Ireland one time, and as soon as I turned off the lights to go to sleep I heard a scream outside my window. We were in the middle of nowhere on a farm. I heard a lady scream, and apparently that’s a banshee in Irish folklore. So maybe I heard one…”
R: “I think I did when I was, like, five. I don’t know if I was asleep or not, but I do remember seeing a figure in my room – a white, ghostly figure. But that was the only time, and maybe I was dreaming. I could see the whole, room though.”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
A: “Probably Papa III – he’s got that charisma and charm, and he’s probably the funniest Papa, too.”
What other bands are you listening to?
A: “We’re both listening to Viagra Boys, The Cure…”
R: “David Bowie, always!”
A: “And The Chameleons.”
And what are you both wearing today?
A: “This denim jacket and a T-shirt of a band we saw in London called Moth Slut – they’re a small band from Manchester.”
R: “Demonia boots, and a bunch of leather!”
How long have you been a fan of Ghost?
“I saw them at Bloodstock the first year they played [in 2017] and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
What is it about them that keeps you listening?
“Every album is different, and their stage presence. The ever-changing frontman, not knowing who you’re going to get next… I love it!”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
“Cardinal Copia, because he’s just silly – he’s a silly little guy.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
“When my friend Gopal [pictured below Amy] is hungover, he is ghastly. I work in elderly care and all of my colleagues would say the home was haunted. But I’m like, ‘Nah…’”
What other bands are you listening to?
“AFI, Levellers, lots of Ghost. Lots of old-school emo and pop-punk. Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, that kind of thing.”
And what are you wearing today?
“Black jeans, a Ghost T-shirt – the scarecrow orange one – and some Vans, because I’m an old emo.”
How long have you been a fan of Ghost?
“I’ve been a huge fan since Square Hammer came out in 2016. I had that video recommended to me on YouTube – I was 17 at the time. I heard it and it’s been my favourite song ever since. When I learned to play it on guitar I was like, ‘I am an amazing guitar player!’”
What is it that keeps you listening to the band?
“Strong songwriting. You can tell Tobias has got so much experience – how he structures the songs, the chords he uses, every album they release the complexity increases. It may be less heavy and less traditional ’70s rock, but it’s always evolving. People say it’s more pop but that’s cool in a rock context, because a lot of metal and rock songwriters don’t pay attention to the little details that go into the overall arrangements. There’s so much about Ghost.”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
“Papa III – he was such a personality.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
“Maybe myself when I’ve been hungover…”
What other bands are you listening to?
“I’ve always been obsessed with Gojira, and recently I’ve also been diving more into Death’s discography.”
And what are you wearing today?
“This jumper, which is limited-edition and was bought for me by my wonderful partner. And this battlejacket, which I made for Bloodstock 2018.”
How did you both get into Ghost?
T: “Accidentally! I found them on YouTube. It was suggested for me – Dance Macabre popped up in my feed. I listened to it, watched it and I fell in love.”
J: “Mine was a follow-through for him. He played it to death and at first I hated it! Then eventually I found them myself – I think it was a later album, I was recommended a song and I fell in love with them on my own.”
What is it about Ghost that keeps you listening?
T: “The evolution – it’s a story that’s constantly evolving. I love the fact that you can live the life they’re living. You look forward to the next chapter. I’m in my 40s going into my 50s and it’s an obsession with me.”
J: “I’m more or less of the same way. They’re a story, as well as a band. You’re rooting for the frontmen but then in the evolution they get killed or go back, and you don’t want them to go. I loved Papa IV, but I’m looking forward to the new one.”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
J: “On appearance it’s got to be Secondo, but as far as personality it’s probably IV. He was the most entertaining for me.”
T: “Cardinal Copia before he became IV – what a character!”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
T: “I have! I was brought up in a town called Neath in South Wales. I was staying with a friend at this house, and all five of us who stayed over saw a ghost standing on the stairs. It turns out it was the ghost of famous actor Ray Milland, who comes from Neath, and it was his birthday! He wasn’t holding a birthday cake. But there was a figure standing on the stairs for 20 minutes and we all saw it.”
J: “I can’t say I’ve seen a ghost, but I’ve had dreams where I’ve predicted the future.”
What bands are you listening to at the moment?
J: “Avenged Sevenfold. I saw The Darkness recently and they were absolutely superb. And twenty one pilots, too – I’m seeing them in May.”
T: “I’ll be there as well! I took Jack to Download last year and we saw Avenged there. I like retro stuff, I like Led Zeppelin, I do like late Beatles – not early Beatles. And I like Pink Floyd. Ghost are my favourite band, though.”
And what are you wearing today?
T: “This is Papa IV loungewear! I hope you’ve seen it, but I’ve got the [Bulgari parody] Vvlgari T-shirt on. And this is Papa without his make-up on.”
J: “I’ve got this Ghost jacket on, a Papa mask, Papa make-up and casual Ghost-themed clothes.”
How long have you all been Ghost fans?
A: “Not that long…”
R: “About a year.”
A: “It started off ironically and now it’s become a problem!”
Did you all get into them at the same time?
H: “Exactly the same time.”
R: “It was all Alex’s fault.”
A: “It was – I’m patient zero. With Year Zero, that was the song. It started off with cat memes where they’re all singing Hail Satan, then a deep dive on YouTube and a Rite Here, Rite Now watch party. We did the face paint and sat there eating pizza. That was a wild Saturday night.”
What is it about Ghost that turned you into fans?
A: “The ’80s throwback vibe – that’s it for me.”
H: “I think it’s how they tread the line between earnest artistry and massive camp without going too far each way. That tightrope is really interesting. It’s really engaging.”
R: “It’s theatre, isn’t it? It’s music but it’s also theatre.”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
R: “I was attacked by a poltergeist. I used to work at a country estate in Lancashire which is apparently haunted by a poltergeist called Cuthbert. They said to me when I was opening up the house that you need to say hello to Cuthbert in the mornings. I thought that was rubbish, so I didn’t say hello. They had big Georgian windows, and this big bar on the back of the window lifted off and hit me across my knuckles. It did damage to my hands! So after that I always said good morning to Cuthbert.”
A: “Maybe we could summon Cuthbert tonight?”
H: “We could put him to rest.”
What other bands are you listening to at the moment?
R: “We’ve all hyper-fixated on Ghost.”
A: “All Ghost, all the time. But Lady Gaga. Hamish Hawk.”
H: “I’m drawing a total blank – I’m shamefully letting the algorithm do its thing. Oh! I am listening to The Darkness at the minute – they’ve got a new album out [Dreams On Toast].”
Who’s your favourite Papa?
R: “IV!”
H: “IV!”
A: “Always IV!”
And what are you all wearing today?
A: “This was my mother’s. I’m wearing AliExpress – she’s really up and coming.”
R: “I can’t compete with that, can I?”
How did you both get into Ghost?
T: “I’ve known them since about 2019.”
C: “I think 2020.”
T: “It was in lockdown when we were just listening to music at home.”
C: “We came to see them live a few years ago. We needed to see them again, they were so incredible.”
T: “We saw them in 2022 in Manchester and Birmingham, and we did our faces up like this then as well.”
C: “We saw them in Manchester and liked them so much we booked tickets straight after to see them in Birmingham a few days later!”
What is it you love about them so much?
C: “They’re just so theatrical, it’s a whole show. It’s not just seeing a group jamming out on a stage, it’s the whole performance.”
T: “Yeah, being a part of the whole story and knowing the lore behind it. Seeing all the characters come together and seeing them in the flesh is very entertaining.”
Do you have a favourite Papa?
T: “Yeah, Papa IV!”
C: “I’m gonna have to agree, but I do like the new guy, Papa V. I like his vibe. I’m Papa II at the moment, but I just like his face make-up – I think it’s really cool. It’s my favourite one to do as it’s got the most detail in. But I do like Papa V. I wanna wait and see what he can bring us!”
Have you ever seen a ghost in real life?
C: “I’ve had spooky happenings but I’ve never seen anything. When I moved into my parents’ house a few years ago we went into the basement and there was a spooky children’s shoe. I found out it was a Victorian house, and that night the burglar alarm went off, which hadn’t gone off in many, many years. I thought it was really spooky. Apparently if you touch a Victorian child’s shoe that’s been places in a Victorian house, it brings out the bad juju…”
T: “There were some kind of catacombs under the house, we were crawling around and we shouldn’t have been in there, really. I touched it and got cursed, I think.”
How’s your life been since?
T: “It’s been good but it’s definitely cursed. Maybe a good curse. There’s some little negatives but overall a pretty decent curse.”
What other bands do you listen to?
T: “I love Avenged, I just can’t get over them.”
C: “We listen to the same music, pretty much, so we do love a bit of Avenged Sevenfold. We also love Linkin Park and have been listening to the new stuff with Emily Armstrong.”
T: “And a bit of Megadeth, too.”
And what are you both wearing tonight?
T: “I am Papa IV – Ciara has done my make-up for me. She’s the artist here.”
C: “I did the outline and you filled it in.”
T: “Then just thought I’d do a leather jacket and big boots.”
