Ghost’s Tobias Forge Defends ‘Phone-Free’ Tour Policy: “The Making of Magic Was More Powerful”

In a new interview with Planet Rock, Ghost mastermind Tobias Forge shed light on the decision to implement a ‘phone-free experience’ for the band’s 2025 world tour. Announced last fall, the tour will require attendees to secure their devices in Yondr pouches, allowing them to maintain possession of their phones while preventing in-show usage.

The move has sparked debate among fans, with both supporters and critics weighing in. While phone restrictions aren’t unheard of in live music—Tool being a notable example—such policies remain rare in heavier genres. However, as Forge explained (via Blabbermouth), the decision has nothing to do with controlling content:

“I really wanna underline that the ban has nothing to do with, let’s say, copyright control. It’s not that we wanna sit on all the material and we don’t want anybody to monetize [Ghost videos]; it has nothing to do with that.”

He pointed to the band’s “Rite Here Rite Now” film, which documented performances in Los Angeles where phones were similarly restricted. The result, he noted, was a more engaged and immersive audience experience:

“I really wanna underline that the ban has nothing to do with, let’s say, copyright control. It’s not that we wanna sit on all the material and we don’t want anybody to monetize [Ghost videos]; it has nothing to do with that.”

“‘Rite Here Rite Now‘, the film, the essence of messaging in that film was exactly that, but also I, but us collectively, working, making that film… We filmed two shows in L.A. in front of audiences where they had to put their phones into pockets. You don’t give it away. You have your phone; you don’t have to worry about that. If you need to call, you can go out. If you need to take a photo, you can take a photo of yourself out in the lobby; that’s fine.

But what ended up happening was that we had such an engaged crowd that seemed joyous in a way that… I had to go back years and in time since I last saw a fully engaged crowd where everybody’s actually watching [the show]. They don’t have to watch me, but they’re watching the band.”

Forge believes the restriction will enhance the live experience, particularly for younger fans:

“I don’t wanna turn this into an ageist thing where I’m gonna tell 14-year-olds everything was better back then. But I swear that the experience of shows and the making of memories, the making of magic, was much more powerful. Some of the best shows I’ve ever been to, I have maybe not even seen a picture from that because they all live here [in my head]. They live in my core. That’s the memory I have of that.

And that is an experience I wish for… Obviously, the part of our crowd that are older and more aware, maybe this becomes a little bit nostalgic then. But I really believe that the younger portion of our crowd will, as they did in L.A., come out saying, like, ‘That was not only a great concert; that was also an overwhelming experience.’ Because I do believe that you will feel that.”

The interview follows Ghost’s recent unveiling of their new front persona, Papa V Perpetua, alongside details for their upcoming album, Skeletá, due out April 25th, and its first single, “Satanized”.

Ghost‘s previously announced world tour is set to run as follows:

04/15 Manchester, UK – AO Arena
04/16 Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
04/19 London, UK – The O2
04/20 Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
04/22 Antwerp, BEL – Sportpaleis
04/23 Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle Frankfurt
04/24 Munich, GER – Olympiahalle
04/26 Lyon, FRA – LDLC Arena
04/27 Toulouse, FRA – Zénith Toulouse Métropole
04/29 Lisbon, POR – MEO Arena
04/30 Madrid, SPA – Palacio Vistalegre
05/03 Zürich, SWI – Hallenstadion Zürich
05/04 Milan, ITA – Unipol Forum
05/07 Berlin, GER – Uber Arena
05/08 Amsterdam, NET – Ziggo Dome
05/10 Lodz, POL – Atlas Arena
05/11 Prague, CE – O2 Arena
05/13 Paris, FRA – Accor Arena
05/14 Oberhausen, GER – Rudolf Weber-ARENA
05/15 Hannover, GER – ZAG Arena
05/17 Copenhagen, DEN – Royal Arena
05/20 Tampere, FIN – Nokia Arena
05/22 Linköping, SWE – Saab Arena
05/23 Sandviken, SWE – Göransson Arena
05/24 Oslo, NOR – Oslo Spektrum
07/05 Birmingham, UK – Back To The Beginning
07/09 Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
07/11 Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
07/12 Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
07/13 Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
07/15 Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
07/17 Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
07/18 Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
07/19 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
07/21 Boston, MA – TD Garden
07/22 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
07/24 Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
07/25 Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
07/26 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
07/28 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
07/29 Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
07/30 St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
08/01 Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
08/02 Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
08/03 Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
08/05 Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
08/07 Denver, CO – Ball Arena
08/09 Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
08/10 San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
08/11 Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
08/14 Austin, TX – Moody Center
08/15 Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
08/16 Houston, TX – Toyota Center
09/24 Mexico City, MEX – Palacio de los Deportes
09/25 Mexico City, MEX – Palacio de los Deporte

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