Footage from Ghost’s May 24 Oslo concert appeared on YouTube. This development contradicted the band’s previous announcement banning phone usage during their shows.
Ghost frontman Tobias Forge discussed the phone-free initiative in an interview with Audacy before this incident.
“It’s an experiment. And to be perfectly honest, my 16-year-old daughter was very, very, very, very skeptical of this idea,” Forge had said. “And then she was, like, ‘No one’s gonna buy a ticket.’ And I was, like, ‘I don’t know. I have no idea what people [will do].'”
Forge expressed specific concerns about modern concert experiences.
“I just know one thing, and that is that over the years it’s gone absolutely insane. If you have 10,000 people at a concert and 8,000 of them are holding a phone, there’s something deeply disconnected,” he continued. “And, obviously, this implies that I had this conversation with my daughter, but we talk about a lot of things and we speak openly about things. But I was saying, like, ‘That’s like having an intimate moment with someone and that person would just take out the phone like that.’ ‘Oh, hold on. I’m just gonna take a photo.’ I know some people do that.”
The leaked concert footage indicates challenges in enforcing the phone-free policy despite careful planning.
Louder Sound reported that Ghost’s 2025 world tour uses Yondr pouches. These magnetically sealed containers secure attendees’ phones during performances.
The security system lets fans keep their devices while preventing usage inside the venue. Blabbermouth noted that this measure aims to enhance audience engagement and create immersive concert experiences.
Other artists have embraced similar initiatives. Arrow Lords of Metal highlighted that Dave Chappelle, The Lumineers, and Jack White have successfully implemented phone-free policies. This trend continues to grow in live entertainment.
The Oslo show’s leaked footage has sparked new debates. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in balancing modern technology with authentic live music experiences.
