Tobias Forge, the visionary behind Ghost, has directly challenged Kiss vocalist and bassist Gene Simmons‘ long-held assertion that “rock is dead.” In a recent interview with Consequence, Forge, who performs as the masked frontman Papa V Perpetua, strongly refuted claims that the rock and metal scene will not produce new headlining acts.
Forge specifically addressed Simmons’ repeated declarations about the genre’s demise, citing several contemporary bands that have rapidly gained widespread popularity. He pointed to UK pop-metal sensation Sleep Token, Italian rockers Måneskin, and US hard rockers Greta Van Fleet as evidence of vibrant new talent.
“Sleep Token or Måneskin or Greta Van Fleet are all new bands,” Forge stated. “I think they prove that you can absolutely go places. You can form a band tomorrow and theoretically become a big band within a few years. I think you do so by trying to want to create something.”
Offering advice to emerging bands within the rock and metal scene, Forge emphasized the importance of innovation. “I’m gonna say this loosely now within brackets because I understand that we’re just a Mercyful Fate/Blue Öyster Cult/Alice Cooper wannabe band, but you need to do something new,” he explained. “Don’t look at your one idol and say, ‘I wanna be like him. I want to be like her. I want my band to sound exactly like that band.’ That’s most likely not gonna get you anywhere.”
Forge then circled back to Greta Van Fleet, anticipating potential criticism of his advice given the band’s frequent comparisons to 70s hard rock acts like Led Zeppelin. “And I don’t wanna hear anything about Greta Van Fleet now,” he continued, “because I think that their intentions are true. And they just happened to sound like someone else, but that’s not their fault. So, stop it.”
Ghost released their latest album, Skeletá, in April and are currently touring in support of the new material. The band is scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, July 23, before performing at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, July 24.
Their 2025 tour dates are notable for being “phone-free” events. Attendees are required to place their mobile phones into magnetically sealed bags, which remain with them throughout the show. These bags can only be unsealed upon exiting the auditorium by a security member. Forge elaborated on this policy in a March interview, calling it “an experiment” aimed at addressing the increasing “disconnection” caused by widespread phone use at concerts. Earlier this month, he indicated that the initiative has “paid off” and described it as a “life changer for the existence of the band.”
Ghost – Remaining 2025 U.S. & Mexico Tour Dates:
- July 24, 2025: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI, US
- July 25, 2025: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY, US
- July 26, 2025: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, US
- July 28, 2025: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI, US
- July 29, 2025: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI, US
- July 30, 2025: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO, US
- August 1, 2025: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL, US
- August 2, 2025: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN, US
- August 3, 2025: CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE, US
- August 5, 2025: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO, US
- August 7, 2025: Ball Arena, Denver, CO, US
- August 9, 2025: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV, US
- August 10, 2025: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA, US
- August 11, 2025: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ, US
- August 14, 2025: Moody Center ATX, Austin, TX, US
- August 15, 2025: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX, US
- August 16, 2025: Toyota Center, Houston, TX, US
- September 24, 2025: Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
- September 25, 2025: Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
