Tobias Forge, frontman of Ghost, recently addressed criticism about the band’s setlist consistency. He shared his perspective on HardDrive, explaining the band’s philosophy on tour performances and why they maintain a consistent show structure across different venues.
Changing the setlist for every show would be impractical and goes against the band’s operational approach. Forge noted that many fans in different regions have not yet experienced the current tour, making it important to present a consistent production.
“In the past and, and this happens to bands all the time, you get criticized because you don’t change the set just for that specific show, which is insane,” Forge said. “You want us to reconfigure the whole thing every night? We are simply not that kind of band; we don’t do that.”
He explained the reasoning behind maintaining the tour’s structure across different cities and regions. “So we figured that, well, a whole lot of people have not seen the show now, so we will continue this tour and just present the tour,” Forge continued. “‘Here’s the tour.’ I mean, just because people in Europe have seen it… If you live in Baltimore, you have not seen it, so you’re gonna get the same thing.”
Ghost has incorporated elements of variety to keep performances fresh for both the band and audiences, despite the consistent framework. The band added rotating song slots that change nightly, ensuring no two shows are identical.
“The only thing that we added was a little bit of circulating slots,” Forge explained. “Each and every night there’s a slot over here — I think it’s number four and number five, and then there’s one later where there’s a circulation of songs — it rotates. So it’s never really the same show. And we added more songs now, so that becomes a little bit of a roulette every night.”
This approach benefits both fans seeking variety and the band members themselves. It keeps performances mentally engaging and prevents monotony.
“And that is for fans, yes, but that’s also for us, because that keeps you on your toe a little, and that keeps everybody fresh a little,” Forge said. “And if you wanna play yourself a little game, you don’t look at the setlist and you’re just sort of, like, ‘Oh, we’re playing that tonight. Oh, cool.’ And for me, mentally, that’s a little bit of a good thing.”
Ghost’s approach to setlist consistency reflects a broader commitment to theatrical production that distinguishes the band from many of their contemporaries. Forge emphasized that Ghost prioritizes a cohesive, visually stunning show over setlist spontaneity, as reported by Blabbermouth. The band’s highly produced performances feature intricate stage setups, lighting, and visuals that make nightly setlist changes impractical.
The 2025 “Skeletour” World Tour marks a significant chapter for Ghost. It features new frontman Papa V Perpetua and prominently showcases songs from the album Skeleta. Glide Magazine reported that the tour opened with new tracks like “Peacefield” and “Lachryma,” alongside fan favorites such as “Spirit,” “From the Pinnacle to the Pit,” and “Call Me Little Sunshine.” The band integrated four new songs into the live rotation.
Ghost’s setlist structure is closely tied to the album cycle. New tours are built around the framework of the new record. Loudwire noted that the core setlist—starting with “Peacefield,” following with “Lachryma,” then a mix of classics and new material—remains stable night after night across various U.S. and European venues. This reflects Forge’s deliberate artistic vision.
Ghost has implemented additional measures to enhance the live experience beyond setlist considerations. The band introduced a strict no-phone policy requiring fans to lock devices in Yondr pouches. Forge believes this decision has significantly improved audience engagement and the overall concert atmosphere. This commitment to creating an immersive, distraction-free environment further underscores Ghost’s philosophy that the complete theatrical experience takes precedence over spontaneous setlist variations.
