According to mainman Tobias Forge, GHOST have recorded covers of songs by RUSH, MISFITS, U2 and MOTÖRHEAD which could be released at some point in the future
GHOST mainman Tobias Forge has revealed in a recent talk with NME that there are recorded cover versions of songs by RUSH, MISFITS, U2 and MOTÖRHEAD by GHOST which could see the light of day at some point in the future.
These tracks came about during the sessions for the upcoming “Phantomime” EP, which is scheduled for release on May 18.
“During the demoing of [GHOST‘s latest studio album] ‘Impera‘, I kept working on demos for what I just referred to as the ‘cover album’,” Forge tells NME. “Originally, the idea was to have 10 songs on this covers record, because I wanted to make a complete record and that LP was going to basically mirror ‘Impera’ somehow.
“Originally the selection was a little bit more eclectic,” Forge revealed. “Look, I’m not going into great detail about them, because we might use some of them at a later point. But it was basically like a piano version of a MOTÖRHEAD song. There was [also] a MISFITS song that was really cool and a U2 track. We recorded it all. In fact, we did a really finished demo of RUSH‘s ‘Distant Early Warning’, and then after ‘Impera‘, I was just like, ‘I want to do a rock EP. A pure rock EP.'”
Forge went on to say that the reason for the cover tunes EP instead of a full album was because he felt “fried” by the album sessions for “Impera“.
“I thought I’ll sort of take away some of the more experimental stuff, and just focus on the rock songs — the ones that are energetic,” he said. “The ones that don’t go into any excursions, as in not a piano-led MOTÖRHEAD track. There were even instrumental covers; like proper instrumentals. But I just wanted to basically make a new recording that was as opposed to ‘Impera‘ as could be — quick and fairly simple.”
A diverse and spellbinding sampling of the Grammy Award-winning band’s musical DNA, “Phantomime” is comprised of covers of classics and deep cuts by TELEVISION, GENESIS, THE STRANGLERS, IRON MAIDEN and Tina Turner. “Phantomime” pays tribute in equal measure to every one of these unlikely bedfellow, influences while stamping them all with GHOST‘s undeniable sonic signature.
The announcement of “Phantomime“‘s impending release also solves the mystery of GHOST‘s recent “Jesus Is Coming” campaign, as referenced in the Good Friday premiere of the newest installment of the band’s long-running webisode series, “Chapter 17: Nap Time”. “Phantomime“‘s May 18 release via Loma Vista Recordings is heralded by GHOST‘s interpretation of GENESIS’s 1992 satirical stab at televangelists “Jesus He Knows Me“, available now to stream and download.
This second coming of “Jesus He Knows Me” is accompanied by an Alex Ross Perry-directed video that will surely make the case that one person’s beauty is another’s blasphemy. Culminating in a climactic ritual that must be seen to be believed, GHOST‘s visual interpretation of “Jesus He Knows Me” rises to the occasion in unholy fashion — and then some. You can watch the music video below.
GHOST “Phantomime” track listing:
- See No Evil (TELEVISION)
- Jesus He Knows Me (GENESIS)
- Hanging Around (THE STRANGLERS)
- Phantom Of The Opera (IRON MAIDEN)
- We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Tina Turner)
GHOST are also set to hit the road for their upcoming “Re-Imperatour” summer 2023 U.S. tour with special guest AMON AMARTH.
Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 27-date run will commence on Wednesday, August 2 in Concord, California at the Concord Pavilion and wrap-up on Monday, September 11 with a gig at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.com.
GHOST are continuing to tour in support of their latest studio album, “Impera“, which arrived on March 11, 2022. The acclaimed 12-song effort was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace.
GHOST and AMON AMARTH “Re-Imperatour” 2023 tour dates:
Aug. 02 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Aug. 04 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Aug. 05 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
Aug. 07 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Aug. 08 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre *
Aug. 11 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 12 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Aug. 14- Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug. 15 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Aug. 16 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Aug. 18 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Aug. 19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Aug. 20 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Aug. 22 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
Aug. 23 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Aug. 24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 25 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aug. 27 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Aug. 29 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
Aug. 30 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Aug. 31 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sep. 02 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Sep. 03 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sep. 05 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sep. 07 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Sep. 08 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sep. 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum ^
- Non-Live Nation date
^ AMON AMARTH not on this date
