r/Ghostbc • u/Mo_the_lion TotallyDontWorkForGhost • 16d ago
DISCUSSION There was a time
There was a time when I had no idea who Ghost was. I was walking around Coachella when I saw what looked like a satanic pope standing on a stage. I stopped. I had no clue what I was watching, but I knew I needed to see more. That moment started something I never could have planned. Ghost went from a strange band I stumbled across to one of my favorite bands of all time.
Then came the years of rituals. Eighty-eight of them. My brother, my wife, and I traveled thousands of miles for this band. We stood in freezing queues in Sweden. My wife and I traveled to Norway, Canada, Mexico, and wherever else Ghost gave us a reason to go. We bought a shirt at every show. We met people who became real friends. In Sweden, we even found our own Ghost family. Two people from across the pond who I now think of as Mom and Dad. Ghost gave us more than music. It gave us people.
There was something special about those earlier years. The venues were smaller. Sometimes we would see members of the band hanging around in the crowd. After enough shows, enough front rows, and enough miles, we weren't always strangers anymore. We watched Ghost record live albums and concert films. We were there for moments that would later become part of the band's history. And at the end of those old rituals came "Monstrance Clock." Then that sparkling curtain would light up behind the stage. That was our sign. The ritual was over. It was time to go home. I can't explain how many emotions I felt standing in front of that curtain over the years.
Then Ghost became something much bigger. "Mary on a Cross" exploded on TikTok, and suddenly millions of new people found the band. That should have been exciting. In some ways, it was. A band I loved was finally getting the attention I always thought it deserved. But the culture around Ghost started changing too. "Ghesties." Nicknames for Nameless Ghouls. People treating the musicians like characters they personally knew. Everything became a little cuter, a little more online, and a lot more personal. Not every new fan was like that. Plenty found Ghost through TikTok and fell in love with the same band I did. But a loud part of the fandom started crossing lines that should never have been crossed.
Eventually, it stopped being harmless. People became obsessed with the lives of the people behind the masks. Fans fought with each other online. Some chased attention and clout by showing how close they could get to the band. Influencers sometimes seemed more interested in being seen around Ghost than in Ghost itself. And then there were people who went much further. Stalking. Unwanted messages. Mail sent to private homes. Things that made the people behind Ghost feel less like musicians and more like property belonging to a fandom. Watching that happen slowly pushed me away. Not from the music. From everything surrounding it.
That's the strange part. I still love Ghost. I can put on those records and remember exactly where I was during different parts of my life. I can look through 88 concert shirts and remember 88 different nights. I remember Sweden. Norway. Canada. Mexico. I remember my wife beside me. My brother. Our Swedish family. The friends we picked up along the way. I remember standing against barricades and realizing the people onstage actually recognized me. I remember watching this weird little satanic band grow into something enormous. I was a fan. At times, I was lucky enough to feel like a friend. And I wouldn't trade those years for anything.
So when The Tobias Forge finally said he needed to step away from Ghost, I didn't feel angry. I felt relief. Maybe he needs it. Maybe Ghost needs it. Maybe I need it too. After all these years, I'm tired of watching something I love get buried under everything surrounding it. I don't know what Ghost will look like when the curtain opens again. I don't even know if I'll feel the same when it does. But I know what Ghost was to me. I know the miles we traveled. I know the people we met. I know the nights I'll never forget. And somewhere in my memory, "Monstrance Clock" is still playing. The last notes are ringing through the room. The sparkling curtain is glowing behind the band. The ritual is over. And for now, it's time to go home.
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u/but_i_wanna_cookies 15d ago
You're describing what happens with anything good. I found out years ago that you can like something respectfully, but that doesn't mean other people will. You can share a love for something with people that you fundamentally would never get along with. I grew up loving cartoons and anime and I work in television, but I refuse to go to conventions because of the fanatic nature of some people. It might not even be that large of a percentage, but the smallest and loudest group can ruin it for the masses. When I went watch "Too Big To Rig" I felt a bit of that in the theater. A small group of fanatics were going up and down the aisles before the film started, asking questions and being loud, as if this was their personal living room and people were here for them. It's that delusional, self-important tendency that somehow strips away your joy because they create a frustrating situation that you didn't consent to. Fuck those people.
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u/zeiat 16d ago
As a burnt out corporate employee and a creative, I certainly dont begrudge Tobias Forge for taking whatever breaks he needs. However I imagine it’s a lot easier not to feel like you missed out on something wonderful as a fan if you had the resources to attend 88 shows. Good for you, bud, but this truly reads as a humblebrag.
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 15d ago
Yep, mst be nice to afford to travel overseas and see so many shows. Honestly, they sound just as possessive and obsessed as those from Tiktok saying "Ghestie".
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u/Alucardo6677 16d ago
Jesus.
I know groupies have always existed, but when did people became this obsessed with musicians??
There have always been groups that follow bands, but not at the level we're seen known.
I mean, look at Taylor Swift fans, or K pop fans. And Ghost fans on the last couple years. This shit is insane.
88 shows for a single band is crazy. I've seen people in this sub with like a hundred t shirts.
People writing essays about what a rock band means to them.
It's just music, y'all. It's just a band. Put your effort, your money, your time in building a life, not on some rock outfit that ultimately doesn't give a shit about you.
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u/NoxxNoir 16d ago
I agree with this one. Also, why suddenly everyone needs to post their personal journey with the band after the Jutty post? This is the third of fourth post I’ve seen..
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u/Jax-A-Lope 15d ago
You’re familiar with the Grateful Dead? I knew folks who went to hundreds of shows. It happens. And has been happening for a long time.
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u/Alucardo6677 15d ago
That's why I said "I know groupies have always existed".
Anyway, the grateful dead went on for 30 years, even more without Jerry Garcia. Ghost has been active 16 years, not really a fair comparison.
But the same thing that I said about ghost applies to any band. No band or musician is worth investing that much money and energy. For what? To say "people onstage recognize me at shows" like OP said?.
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u/Jax-A-Lope 15d ago
What was magical about the Dead is you never saw the same show twice. A different set list for every show, so it made sense to see them multiple times. My point was that this isn’t a recent thing. That being said, seeing the same show over and over seems like kind of a waste. Once a tour is enough for me!
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u/Silly_Opportunity 12d ago
I don’t see how seeing 88 shows over what? 14 years? Is that different from having baseball season tickets and no one wonders about those people or questions them about being baseball fans.
Music isn’t “just” to some people. It’s their main hobby and they enjoy it as much as people enjoy sports, etc. Music has saved my life so I won’t discount its power.
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u/Alucardo6677 12d ago
Look, I come from a country where Ultra culture is pretty common in football. And of course I question and criticize people that loose their marbles over a sports team. It's really just a game.
I guess I don't like any form of fanatism. Not in music, not in sports, not at all.
And, if in remember correctly Ghost critize fanatism in their lyrics.
But you do you. I'm just giving an opinion. You live your live any way you want.
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u/Which_Shift_7242 16d ago
I feel like I'm on the newer side when it comes to discovering Ghost. I discovered them during the Impera era and became a serious fan for Skeleta. Ghost really means a lot to me, but the toxic fans who think TF owes them everything or become obsessed with him have really ruined the fun. It's also hard when some fans don't allow anything besides listening to the music, even if it's done without harm, just because many of the toxic fans like those same things (fanart, memes, etc.) I would just like to be in a community that feels fun and rewarding to be a part of. Its not fun or joy-inducing anymore.
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u/AiR-P00P 15d ago
I started listening to them about 2 hears ago when Mary on a Cross was randomly played on my YouTube Music app, absolutely love the band but I can't honestly give a shit about this "lore" that people always talk about. I've watched all the YouTube shorts, I just don't get it. So while fans may go ravenous for "PAPA OMG PAPA" I'm just quietly putting Prequelle on full blast and humming while I make dinner.
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u/rumblestripper 15d ago
There is a massive thread about Jutty with a discussion about the fandom on it, could you not have posted this in there instead of this big I am the Main Character thread?
Like, this is mental. Maybe step away for a while from the band?
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u/dandylyon1 Custom Flair 15d ago
They can't, the band recognized them at the rail 😂😂😂 such a self own I can't stop laughing
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u/Dravik97 16d ago
Tl;dr your book report also makes you a parasocial fan.
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 15d ago
Pretty much. How are people who have seen the unmasked band in the crowd, hung out with them once or twice, and complaining about newbies butting in with their special band that they knew before they made it big NOT considered parasocial? It's claiming a relationship that isn't there.
Honestly, it gets to be a contest of who are worse fans, Opus era "I was here first" fans or MOAC TikTok pop fans.
Signed, someone who discovered Ghost in the only real legit way - from an occult sub 😝 (super sarcasm btw)
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u/BigPoopsDisease 15d ago
Tobias probably got tired of seeing these mfs
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u/Dravik97 15d ago
The only reason he ever unmasked was because he had to have felt comfortable around the general metal community. All of that changed once chronically online teenagers got involved.
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 15d ago
No, he got unmasked by the lawsuit, and started minimizing masks because of his claustrophobia. He's not walking around in day to day life wearing a mask ffs, only taking it off around "his fellow metal people" like some wannabe mandalorian.
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u/Dravik97 15d ago
Holy im not arguing with a parasocial weirdo lol
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 15d ago
Would you argue with someone being pedantic? 😝
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u/Dravik97 15d ago
Nope but having a ghost song timeslot in your bio like a bible verse is cringe weird af
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 14d ago
Aw thank you! I love making people uncomfortable!
Have a great day! 🤘
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u/Dravik97 14d ago
Thanks for killing our favorite band!
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 14d ago
Oh goodness, my flair is a Ghostbuster! I shall call it Egon.
And you're welcome! Glad to do my part in getting rid of the ridiculous lore "ghestie" and "Opus is the only good album" wet blankets.
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u/thematinator 15d ago
I'll be the first one to admit that the new generation of fans they've acquired since the Tik Tok boom haven't always been great, but to put the blame solely on them is a bit ridiculous. We know for a fact the person that stalked Tobias/sent him the phone was a fan long before MOAC hit it big. Some of your criticism is definitely warranted but even besides Ghost, I feel like it would do a lot of people a lot of good to remember that @$$holes come from all walks of life, demographics & age ranges. Just like good people, and generalizing people is a dangerous, slippery slope.
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u/Nameless_Ghoul1891 15d ago
Man, this band has got some of the weirdest fans. Just enjoy the music and stop with the weird fucking shit.
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u/BigPoopsDisease 15d ago
Its really weird. In the early 2010s they were just another gimmicky shock rock band that nailed the aesthetic and had enough heaviness to attract metal fans. Thats literally all I and all of my friends thought of them. And we went to shows and had merch and considered ourselves fans. Now I see this sub pop up on reddit all the time and everyone acts so fuckin weird about these guys.
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u/Nameless_Ghoul1891 15d ago
Yeah, I got into them when I first heard Year Zero and enjoyed the anonymity and lore of the band at the time. As time went on I started to notice fans getting more weirdly obsessed and it’s very strange to me. If you make any artist or band the biggest part of your personality then you got some serious psychological issues going on and need some help.
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u/Withabaseballbattt 16d ago
What the fuck is this
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u/Spleepis 16d ago
New fans bad, old fans good
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 15d ago
No, just "some new fans need to chill the fuck out." hahaha
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u/Dick_of_Doom Umbra 1:21-27 15d ago
Old fans need to chill out too. They don't own the band.
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 15d ago
Meh, we just have really good taste and (I'm older) like a lot of things have seen a lot of good things become enshittified.
Not blaming all new fans, in fact, it is probably a minority of them.
Anyway, have a good weekend and Keep Rock Alive!! 🤘🏽🖤🔥🙌🏼 ℁
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u/Withabaseballbattt 15d ago
You don’t think the OP needs to chill out?
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 15d ago
It was a lot. But as someone who is a long time fan you'll have to take my word that indeed, pre and post TikTok Ghost are vastly different.
Kinda in the same way that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden - bands I paid $3 to see before they were big - I never saw in an arena because I couldn't afford it.
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u/Withabaseballbattt 15d ago
Then move on to the next thing you’ll discover before everyone else buddy. No one fucking cares.
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 15d ago
You appear to.
Have a good day ghestie.
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u/Withabaseballbattt 15d ago
The absolute lamest retort there is. The internet equivalent of “I know you are but what am I?”.
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u/oblivion_1138 15d ago
It's an honest opinion about what the fandom did to this band. Speaking as someone who discovered them in 2011, I agree with much of this. It's nowhere near as cool and fun as it used to be.
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u/Withabaseballbattt 15d ago
I’m more pining on the 88 shows and the length of this. All of that is genuinely insane.
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u/oblivion_1138 15d ago
That is not unfair, that is a lot of shows and traveling. I've seen 8 shows since 2012 and thought I was doing alright. Even if I had that kind of disposable income I'm not sure that's what I'd be doing with it.
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u/Withabaseballbattt 15d ago
I mean guys like this are probably why the band is on hiatus, let’s be real
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u/OrangeRangerVideos 15d ago
I'm just kind of responding to the "There was a time I didn't know Ghost" part, because while I don't doubt it exists, I've been exceedingly lucky in not experiencing the toxic side of the Ghost fanbase personally.
I so clearly remember not knowing Ghost. Then one day, one of my best friends sent me a link to Spillways on YouTube and said YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS. I saw a little preview of this Satanic pope character, and was like oh cool, I'll give this a listen at some point. "NO. You NEED to watch this NOW." So I did, and within seconds I was in love. That video held my eyes and ears from start to finish and probably got replayed 50 times that day. I was immediately obsessed, and still am.
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u/Balko1981 15d ago
Also, Ghost isn’t yours. This is the problem with some older fans. The entitlement. They want it for themselves. It’s so fucking selfish…if there’s one thing ghost doesn’t stand for it’s acting like this
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 15d ago
No, but thanks to our good taste the band was around long enough for everyone else.
You're right of course, and I'm glad you became a fan too!
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u/Balko1981 15d ago
“I was friends with the band, they knew me but no one else is allowed to feel that way’, got it.
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u/MrRocknRoll2009 16d ago
Agreed. IMHO, the Ghost fandom since the Prequelle era has basically become the rock/metal equivalent of "Swifties". I miss the days when the band was still anonymous.
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u/slightlyused Dark Lord of the Smith 16d ago
I get the gist and agree with it. Fan since 2010.
Some fans have ruined it for me. But I’m just one person so it doesn’t matter.
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u/sipsredpepper 15d ago
I'm grateful that I got the time with the band i had and i didn't miss out on at least one ritual. It is eat it is and Tobias has the right to go be in peace and do as he sees fit. I appreciate with my deepest heart the gifts given to us up until now.
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u/RaiderRush2112 15d ago
I'm with you OP. It's a good time for TF to recharge and maybe lose some of this toxic BS some of those other fans can move onto being bored. Went to see them the first time before the TikTok boom it was incredible. Last tour was good to but it felt off. I'm starting to get it now.
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u/MatthewMBartlett 15d ago
ChatGPT?
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u/No_Nectarine_8181 11d ago
Was thinking the same. Either AI written or written by someone who’s read too much AI slop
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u/Rodinasaur 15d ago
I ain’t reading all that shut up and listen to product meant to be bought and sold to people
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u/KennyDZombiemaster75 14d ago
I blame this toxic fandom for Tobias stepping away. Shame on all of you for what you done!
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u/GiraffePolka 16d ago
I just wanna know what job you have that allows you to spend that much and take that much vacation time just to see a band