Tobias Forge has described Ghost’s decision to ban phones at their recent UK shows as “life-changing,” calling it a turning point in the band’s relationship with touring and live performance.
The Swedish frontman spoke at a Q&A event in Manchester, where he reflected on the atmosphere shift since introducing the policy earlier this year. The rule, which asked fans to keep their devices away for the duration of the show, was first applied during the UK leg of the band’s current Skeletour run. Forge made it clear that it was more than just a logistical experiment. For him, it actually reshaped the entire experience of performing.
“Just walking off stage the first night was like, this has completely changed the entire outlook of how this feels,” he said. “It has been a fucking life-changer. Life-changer for the existence of the band, absolutely.”
Initial responses from fans were divided. Some praised the decision, saying it made the experience more immersive and immediate. Others criticised the long entry queues and inconvenience, especially during the Birmingham date. Despite the logistical challenges, Forge said the benefits far outweighed any drawbacks. He pointed to a growing lack of engagement at shows, saying audiences had become more focused on filming than participating.
“There are 18,000 people there and 10,000 phones. They are not even bouncing anymore. You start to ask, what has happened? The crowd we saw for over a decade has slowly become less involved. It became worthless. Especially at a show like ours.”
Forge admitted he came close to stepping back from touring altogether. The phone culture made him question whether performing in that environment was still worth it. Ghost now joins other artists such as Bob Dylan, Jack White and Placebo, who have also introduced phone-free policies at recent concerts. Forge believes more artists will follow.
“There are a lot of bands looking at this and wondering how they can do the same.”
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