Ghost’s Tobias Forge Discusses the ‘Significant Influence’ of Black Saturday: ‘Heaviness is Awesome, But There’s So Much More to Explore’

Influence of Black Saturday

Tobias Forge’s Ghost discovered the “huge influence” of Black Saturday on him throughout his life.

• Read more: Tobias Forge on the new material and the future of Ghost: “If fans need knowledge to please the group, this element will end pretty soon”

Performance Details

The frontman of the Swedish occult metal group is set to perform as the pope at Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert of KO at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday, July 5. The most iconic composition of Black Sabbath will be featured in this upcoming show, with Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward making their first appearance together on stage in two decades.

This impressive lineup also includes acts such as Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, recent Grammy winners Gojira, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Tool, and Jason Momoa among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbwuqhwpo_o

As the last guest on NME‘s In a Series of Conversations, Forge discussed the significant impact of Black Saturday on his life. He expressed, “They had a huge impact on me. Ozzy as a frontman and Ozzy as a solo artist are what I differentiate between, especially since I grew up in the 80s when he was much more of a rock star than a shadow of his former self.”

“Currently, I love most of Black Sabbath’s releases. I even appreciate their albums from the 80s and 90s, and the Dio era holds a special place in my heart. They have always been a source of inspiration for me,” he added.

He continued: “Regarding introspection and a more audacious lyrical approach, you can see that in Geezer’s lyrics. He has always been much more open and daring than many give him credit for. Most metal fans focus solely on severity, but there is much more depth to it. While success is remarkable, there is a breadth of experience beyond it, which isn’t often explored.”

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The New Era of Ghost

The upcoming concert will feature Forge taking on the role of a new ghost of GHOST, presenting as the extravagant Papa Perpetua, adorned in vivid purple attire with chromatic details—marking a modernized chapter for the band. This new iteration of the singer follows the group’s tradition of evolving their frontman with each LP cycle.

In conversation with NME, Forge elaborated on how this character fits into a broader narrative about Ghost: “I can’t reveal too much until he finds his place. The characters in this lore experience the same fears and needs as everyone else. They are all seeking a sense of purpose.”

The highly anticipated sixth studio album from Ghost, titled Skeletá, was released on April 25 and is available for pre-order here.

Additionally, the band is set to embark on their own tour across the UK, Europe, and the USA next month, commencing on April 15 at Manchester’s Ao Arena. You can find a complete list of dates and any remaining tickets for the UK here and for the US here.